This wouldn't happen in real life, would it?

Question

I watched this rather stupid comedy called "Legally Blonde". The reason I call it a stupid comedy is mainly because of this scene I saw in beginning.

Near the beginning, she's in class at Harvard and the teacher just randomly picks her out of anyone to answer a question about what's being taught in class, she doesn't have the answer and the teacher tells her to just leave for the day.
What the hell ws up with that? That was like, really messed up..

Answer 1

It's just a movie, so don't let it get to you too much. But I imagine it very well could happen. When you've gotten your undergrad, and are on to attain a degree specialty at an even higher level, I imagine they expect you to be prepared. I can see them using a student in this way to make a point to everyone, not just the student being asked to leave. The point is, don't waste my time or yours, be prepared, get serious and then come to class.

Answer 2

Oh it can happen, I've seen that a much more happen. Now most of these events that I remember were in the 80s and 90s before there was really a concept of student rights' or a student driven school.

I had a high level history class on colonial and revolutionary America. The teacher was a lecturer. He discourages questions and just lectured for an hour. So we just sat there class after class and took notes. One day two students started talking. He told them to be quiet. They started talking again a few minutes later. He told them to leave and not return because they both just got a 'F'. We never did see those two again in that class. I didn't know the two so I didn't know what happened to their grade or whatever.

My freshman year in college I had a class in general philosophy. It was a discussion driven class. He told us the first day, that you had to answer the question if you are asked. Now all the questions were kind of opinion oriented based on reading material. So you could pretty much make up a decent answer and get away with it. During the third or fourth class, a guy was asked a question and he said he had no clue to the answer. When the teacher pressed him, he just became more adamant about not answering the question. So, the teacher told the student to go drop the class for if he continued he would certainly receive an 'F' for his lack of effort. Again he never returned to the class and I didn't know him so am unsure of what happened. I assume he dropped.

I had a graduate level class on teacher & student law a few years back. The professor hated cell phones and reminded us at the beginning of each class to turn them off, that he didn't want to hear them. In that first class, an older lady had her cell phone ring. She answers, used the hand motion for 'excuse me, I'll take this outside'. She went out of the room. The professor just sat there a minute then seemed to come to a decision. He grabbed her book and materials, closed them, grabbed her purse and bag and took them outside. He came back a few moments later, alone, locked the door and said, I'll repeat for the last and only time this year, I don't want to hear cell phones.

So, these scenes could happen. I've seen and described three that are really close to the 'Legally Blonde' scenario. I have others but these three are the most relavent.

Answer 3

As a teacher, I randomly call on students all the time. If you're in a college setting, the professor has a bit more control over the classroom than teachers of primary and secondary schools. While most professors wouldn't kick you out for the day for not knowing what's going on, it certainly could happen. But you're right- the movie is pretty stupid. :)

Answer 4

It could and has happened in real life. A person should have a general understanding of what is being taught in a class if for no other reason . . . just from the title and description of the class that you signed up for. You would have some idea of what you need to learn that would be one reason for taking that particular course. I have seen instructors tell people to leave the class room for some very simple reasons, like not paying attention, daydreaming, etc..

Answer 5

I had professors in college who stated quite clearly at the beginning of term that their classroom rules included reading all material and being prepared for class, and that if you didn't know an answer, and it was clear that you had not read the assigned material, they would invite you to leave the classroom. That's a polite way of saying they would kick you out for that day. And I did witness it more than once, so yes, it does really happen.

It never made any sense to me, because that just makes a person fall more behind, but most universities allow professors to make their own rules about how things are run in their classrooms, and if that's their rule, it stands.

Answer 6

Teachers have different methods of dealing with students. Are you saying you have never seen a student kicked out of class for not doing homework?

Answer 7

No I guess It would !
specially from mad teachers in class ('',).
and besides , I don’t blame that teacher , the girl no nothing about what the teachers taught ; so it better for her to leave the class !
just kidding : )
but its stupid though as u've said (''.) .

Answer 8

I had teachers like that in high school. If you aren't paying attention, it's not worth your time or their's for you to be in class...so they would just tell you to leave. It's messed up...but it works.

Answer 9

THAT'S what you think was messed up about the movie? if anything that's the ONLY realistic scene in the movie.

not that I don't love the movie and own the DVD

Answer 10

Hey, that's college. I'm a college student, and those kinds of things do happen!