I caught my student writing how much she hates my class... what do I do?

Question

I always care about my students and I try my best to motivate them and spend time with them. One of my college students wrote a note that I found saying how much 'she hated my class and how she hates being here'. She is nice to me and I also thought she liked this class. I was deeply hurt by the note. She apologized for it and told me she didn't hate me. I thought I was doing a good job teaching by showing extra effort in helping my students. Why would she do something so obvious and hurtful when I always talk to her every class and address her name and praise my students for their efforts?

I would like opinions from other college professors, teaching fellows, or graduate students.. The people that made immature harsh statements about me.. I volunteered 300 hours in public schools and over 150 hours in a high school and worked for free. I do care about my students.

This is a computer class and there are multiple programs. There are different learning levels. She doesn't know the computer well and gets frustrated easily.

Why are some of the answers so rude and harsh. Why are some of you assholes? I take it personally because I have a bond with these students and I take it personally because I truly want them to learn and make it in real life. Is there something wrong with that? Thank you to the people that gave polite and understanding answers.

I am teaching at a college and if you don't believe me than that is your problem. I am a teaching fellow and I am in the process of obtaining my PhD. If you do not believe me then it is your problem.

THE STUDENT WROTE "I HATE THIS CLASS I WANT TO GO TO SLEEP" on THE COMPUTER MONITOR. IT WAS NOT A NOTE .. it was exposed on the monitor when I walked down the aisle.

Answer 1

I'm so very sorry this happened to you. That must have come as a hard blow...

Listen, I can tell by your brief summary of the incident that you are a fine teacher; one which anyone would be lucky to have. So don't let this one crass comment to slow you down a bit. It is the cruel world we live in and it is not isolated to teachers (although they are probably more vulnerable being exposed to a class of students at one time.)

Criticism is not easy to swallow and many times it's not expected and therefore a blow to your security. Be secure in yourself, in knowing you're giving your best. If some students don't respect you for that, then it is indeed, their loss and not yours.

Answer 2

I have my doubts about the authenticity of this posting, because college professors--at least any that I've known, including me, regard anything a student writes as strictly private, as if it was on someone else's desk in a business setting. So how was it that the student was 'caught?' Students can write anything they wish, and it's not the professor's business unless it's something that is handed in or is in violation of the school's rules.

Every college class in the US conducts student evaluations, where the students can anonymously express their opinion on the class, and the teacher. I'm not certain that this is any sort of a service to either the students or the teachers, but the accrediting agencies require it.

As for the perfidiousness of students, it is limitless. The professor is part of the college, and the student has gone into debt to attend it, and it holds the keys to his future success. There's vast resentment there, and even without drugs and alcohol a lot of students are a bit shaky in the mental health department.

This is why a professor must stay pretty much at arm's length from students these days. Most of the old trust and honor is gone, and colleges are merely business with lots of disgruntled consumers.

Answer 3

Oh wow you care this much? I wish I had professors like this teaching here haha lol, but well there will always be that one student that hates the class no matter what, there is nothing you really can do about it. Especially since it's a computer class, those that don't understand computer will complain. Just like a chemistry or chemistry orgo. class, if you don't understand the material you will blame the class and stuff for it. It's human nature to blame others for their misunderstanding. Just don't let it get to you, it's just once student you can't be the best to all. Just keep teaching the way you are because for you to post something like this, you must really care no matter what others say. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Grade her on the quality of her work. Do not take the note into account.

One problem with teaching classes is that students often have different backgrounds, interests and needs. I've taught some classes where the students are fairly uniform, and others where there are people with graduate degrees in engineering mixed in with students with liberal arts backgrounds (I teach finance to MBA students). It is impossible to teach at the right level to everyone.

Most schools get anonomous evaluations from students at the end of the term. I always have one or two who give me low marks. But the majority rate me in the top categories most of the time. On those occasions when my ratings have been low, I have realized that I need to change the class to appeal to more students -- or work to change their expectations. But when 90% of the class gives me great marks and one person gives me low marks, I figure that it is his problem, and not mine.

Think about how you can improve -- but don't get hung up over one student's comments.

Answer 5

I asked my mother (an Education Expert,taught school 40 years in the N.Y. school system) for her views: First and foremost, you are not there to befriend the student, but to educate them. It is wonder-full when a bond or connection between a student and teacher grows, but it not the most important thing. Many factors in the school social setting(peer pressure,home situations,etc.) have a weighty influence on these young minds. Also, the stereotypical "adversary" role between teachers and students is a time honored tradition. While it is wonder full you care about your students,you have plenty to do,not only as a teacher-but as a human being paying bills and trying to have a life. Don't worry to much, when your student gets older, she will look back and be happy you cared.

Answer 6

im a college student and sumtimes yes we hate school it has nothing to do with you maybe but she might have also been bored i get like that also i love all my teachers they're great but when i dont want to be in the class i hate it with a passion it's not you it's us dont take things so seriously if she apologized and said sorry and she didnt really mean it then let it go it's not the end of the world.just think if you had to spend hours in class when it's either too hot or too cold or you're just tired you wouldnt like it either. what about those seminars teachers have to take you guys hate them even though you learn there. it's the same thing

Answer 7

I'm a high school student, so I know where this person is coming from. They probably don't hate the class. Young people face a ton of stress as I'm sure you remember from school. She is probably displacing her anxieties from another aspect of her life onto your class. Let's say her boyfriend just dumped her. Sitting in your class, all she can think of is what just happened to her. She took out her frustration on the nearest source of relief, which happened to be your class. Don't take offense to it, she'll be fine soon.

Also, keep in mind that she is nice to you and apologized. If she hated YOU or your class, she wouldn't be so courteous.

Don't worry about it, Good Luck!

Answer 8

Relax...Since you are teaching in college, there is no doubt you are familiar with Gardner's multiple intelligence theory, right? She is most likely not in a subject she likes.

Secondly, you said you care about your students, so obviously you provide challenging assignments in order to maximize their learning, correct?

You have a person that probably hates the subject, and the assignments, but not you. However, you are the bearer of bad news when it comes to assignments. I'd bet a good sum of money that this student was bored, and doodled and wrote words on a paper that simply meant, "I hate this subject with a passion and I will never use it."

Do not let that soften you up one bit. You will hate yourself later on.

Answer 9

the note said she hated the class not you, maybe she regrets the class that she has chosen not the way you are teaching it. you could ask her what she doesnt like about the class maybe she doesnt want to do the class that she has chosen and doesnt know what to do. dont put yourself down she maybe having a bad day people say they hate things even when they dont mean it. when i was a kid and my mum wouldnt give me somthing i would tell her a hated her but never meant it i was just angry and fed up, she may have been the same that day. i am sure you have woken up in the morning and thought i dont wana go to work i hate work? if your really worried ask her but i think you are being to sensitive.

Answer 10

kids are crazy. And filled with emotion, could be her home life she hates, dont take it to heart, Make it a group discussion , i remember in school when one of our teachers had a "complaint box" and all the issues us classmates were having put our problems on paper and slid it in the box..... we sat in a circle on friday afternoon and talked everything out. This was when i was 8 and im 21 now, thinking back, that teacher helped alot of students and it was an awesome way to make the class better for everyone