Profanity /college instructor

[tamara]

I am a very positive person. I am taking a Technical Communication English Class- The instructor has a masters degree in accounting- she is 20 years younger than me. THE POINT IS- she uses profanity- lots of profanity- reads from the text majority of class. I have been advised to send the VP an email- so in a positive/assertive way how do I say "SHE IS A DISGRACE to the school.:

[upnorthteacher]

If I were you, I would carefully outline the exact things you are concerned about. Give specific examples and don't give your feelings and opinions. Whatever you write may go back to the instructor, and could hurt your grade.

[Oak Tree]

Why don't you tell the teacher it offends you and see if she stops?

[tamara]

Thanks for your feedback- talked with someone today-someone beat me to it! But did voice my concern in a professional manner. Said that he will talk with her.

[sweetsass]

Why don't you tell the teacher it offends you and see if she stops?

I would guess from Tamara's post right after yours, that she doesn't have the nerve. But I would talk to her directly too, Oak Tree.

[kingrichie]

I would let the VP know that the language being use in the classroom is offensive and inappropriate.

[Ms.Rodman]

I am a very positive person. I am taking a Technical Communication English Class- The instructor has a masters degree in accounting- she is 20 years younger than me. THE POINT IS- she uses profanity- lots of profanity- reads from the text majority of class. I have been advised to send the VP an email- so in a positive/assertive way how do I say "SHE IS A DISGRACE to the school.:
I would agree with the latest reply. Sound unbiased by not stating the problem as offensive to your beliefs. Suggest that the behavior is more inappropriate compared to offensive. Give exact examples and maybe share some concerns from some of your fellow classmates. You do not want to sound like a ragging old-timer but as a distracted, well-meaning student.

[tamara]

I followed up with my concerns with the VP; not having the "nerve" doesn't have a thing to with the situation at all. I have values and morals; I teach, and I do not use profanity in the classroom. I guess some people have their own way of showing their igorance, whether it's using profanity verbally or their it's in "name".

[Oak Tree]

I think going to her boss and trying to get her in trouble at work is really going for the jugular. I also don’t think it was necessary because you may have been able to work it out without causing her any harm. You seem very sure and proud of your ‘values and morals’ so it might surprise you to learn that I find your behavior much more objectionable than your teacher’s. Attacking a person’s livelihood is very aggressive and to me, being more aggressive than necessary is in violation of the Golden Rule. Your professor wasn’t intentionally trying to cause you harm but you on the other hand did try to hurt her professional standing. It’s so easy to just approach her after class and say, ‘I really dislike profanity’ but instead you had to pull out the heavy artillery.

[Chef Dave]

I think going to her boss and trying to get her in trouble at work is really going for the jugular. I also don’t think it was necessary because you may have been able to work it out without causing her any harm.

I have mixed feelings about this entire thread.

When I was an undergraduate, I took a class in Spanish. The instructor was a graduate student working on his master's degree. He was incredibly profane and unbelievably sarcastic. Whenever anyone spoke up in class, he would laugh at that person's accent, criticize the grammar, and generally make us so uncomfortable that nobody wanted to participate in class.

When I tried speaking to the TA about this after class, I was cursed and ordered to leave the classroom. I suddenly found myself failing Spanish. I went from a B average to an F. The graduate student used his position as an instructor to punish me for having expressed my concern as a student.

I wound up having to go to his immediate supervisor, a tenured professor. The professor was very sympathetic but said that I shouldn't have waited until the end of the semester before complaining about my grades.

I finished the semester with a C-.

So - although I can see your point regarding the use of heavy artillery, I think that it's naive to assume that a student can easily solve a problem with an instructor.

In another related instance, I have been having problems getting information about an extracurricular student organization. The Arizona Department of Education appears to be moving towards a requirement that will require CTE (vocational education) instructors to join an extracurricular student organization.

As a culinary arts teacher, I will have to join Careers through Culinary Arts Program (CCAP), FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America), ProStart, or Skills USA.

I have been gathering information about all of these programs and have been stymied by one organization. The state program coordinator for one of these groups, for reasons unknown, will not return my phone calls or answer my e-mails.

After several months of attempted contact, I submitted a complaint to the national office. In my letter of complaint, I suggested that the program wasn't being well served if the program coordinator was unwilling or unable to respond to voice mail messages or e-mails.

My e-mail was bucked up to the national director who called me with a personal apology. He is now working to resolve this situation.

In contacting the national office, it was not my primary intention to place the program coordinator's job in jeopardy. I simply wanted information about joining the state chapter and was frustrated that I have had no reply to voice mail or e-mails for the past six months.

[sweetsass]

I think going to her boss and trying to get her in trouble at work is really going for the jugular. I also don’t think it was necessary because you may have been able to work it out without causing her any harm. You seem very sure and proud of your ‘values and morals’ so it might surprise you to learn that I find your behavior much more objectionable than your teacher’s. Attacking a person’s livelihood is very aggressive and to me, being more aggressive than necessary is in violation of the Golden Rule. Your professor wasn’t intentionally trying to cause you harm but you on the other hand did try to hurt her professional standing. It’s so easy to just approach her after class and say, ‘I really dislike profanity’ but instead you had to pull out the heavy artillery.

I'm going to co-sign that.

[Oak Tree]

I followed up with my concerns with the VP; not having the "nerve" doesn't have a thing to with the situation at all. I have values and morals; I teach, and I do not use profanity in the classroom. I guess some people have their own way of showing their igorance, whether it's using profanity verbally or their it's in "name".

That last sentence is kind of disjointed but I think you're referring to sweet's name. Just to make sure there's no 'ignorance' on the boards here I want to point out the name is 'sweet sass' and has nothing to do with flavorful anatomy.

[tamara]

Your responses are great- Do you think cultural background may be part of why she uses profanity? Also, the primary focus of this English class is appropriate oral and written communication skills. Also, a student used profanity in class and she disciplined him. And found out she is a bartender. Found out she has a Masters Degree in Fine Arts main foucus is creative writing. With life experiences and maturity, she will become a better instructor. I am old enough to be her mother.