I hate school.

[libnnc]

I'm in my first semester at grad school (US history). The professor is a friend of mine, but everyone else in the class HATES her. And I understand why. She's impossible to write for, offers vague criticisms and contradicts herself often, has formed negative opinions about certain members of our class and is blinded (I think) by those criticisms so that no matter how hard these particular students try, they can't get ahead with her.

I feel like a jerk because I've gotten fairly decent grades thus far (except for class participation...working on it) and I'm not sure if it's because we're friends or because I've earned it. I feel her expectations are way out of whack. We've got some great PhD candidates who are busting their asses and she's "not at all impressed" with them. I don't get it. Maybe I'm just a schmuck who is easily impressed.

I don't know what she's looking for.

[Kutjara]

1. Unfortunately, there is no requirement...

...that university professors have to be able to teach. As any gradeschool teacher will tell you, knowing a subject isn't enough. You have to know how to communicate that subject in a way that facilitates learning.

During my undergrad and postgrad days, I was subjected to a string of professors who shouldn't have been allowed out of the house, never mind in front of a class. They ranged from people with quite frightening personality disorders, massive speech impediments, abysmal presentation skills, poor or nonexistent English, and wildly changing expectations. I've taken exams that bore only a casual relation to the course (because the prof realized at the last minute the course he "should" have taught), endured classes that had a reading list that consisted exclusively of the professor's published books (which weren't related to the topic of the course, but needed to sell a few more copies), and watched in fascinated horror as several prima donna 'celebrity' profs had massive meltdowns because a student had the temerity to challenge them on a point.

Unfortunately, the halls of academia appear littered with those unsuitable for alternative employment. For every gifted and inspirational professor, there are a dozen broken souls who are only where they are because they fear to be anywhere else more.

I'm not saying your friend is in this category of basket case, but it certainly sounds like a teacher-training course might be useful.

[JVS]

2. Shut up and do as you're told

This is grad school and that's the job description
:hug:

[libnnc]

3. yep, that's what I'm figuring out

Our faculty is much harder on the PhD students for some reason. I'm in the MA program and have been spared most of the nastiness, though I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.