Educational Discrepancies

Here's the deal. I'm a teacher - you all know that by now, I'm sure. If you count my student teaching, I've been a teacher for over two years. I have the responsibility to make sure that my students know the details of the assignments, when they are due, my expectations, the general outline for the quarter, etc. I have to make sure that the grades are updated every week at least, give out grades twice a quarter and collect them signed at mid-term at least to "maintain communication with parents."

That's the job. That's what I signed up to do. I think every teacher knows that, within the basic parameters, this is the job of a teacher, regardless of the grade/level of students.

As you know, I'm currently taking three classes. These are classes that all three teachers have taught before - all of them several times, and while there isn't a teacher I know who is really good who teaches the exact same thing the exact same way, once the class has been taught, the prep isn't as intense as the first time.

Here's the issue. We are entering the third week of the semester, it is thirteen weeks long. I have one professor who hasn't even got the syllabus up yet.

Hasn't changed the due dates since the last time she taught the class - last June.

We have been told that the assignments are going to be grizzly, but that's it.

This is a class being taught to teachers for the Master's of Education or Administrative programs.

I have a class where, because we only meet once a week, we have already turned in six assignments. Not one has been graded yet.

I know. Professors are busy. The assignments are bigger, they are in charge of various department...stuff, have to do research, write and submit papers, plan and/or attend conferences...I get it. But it seems like if a teacher was going to teach a program about how teachers can become BETTER teachers, actions should speak louder than words.

Of course, that is common sense talking, and we all know that it hasn't been the most prevalent in our modern society.

By the way, my third class is wonderful - gnarlly, mean, going to kick my butt, take my time, stretch my abilities, but the professor - she has all the assignments up for the whole quarter, due dates, explanations, sources for help and offered shoulder to cry on in the middle of the intense first three chapters of my Master's thesis, which has to be done in just 10 weeks.

Just thinking about it makes me want a Diet Coke. :)