Graduate Student Enters the Teaching World

Last summer, just after the forth of July, I graduated with my Master's degree at the top of my class. I was ecstatic. I'd been going to school since March of 2006, I took only one break between my two degrees and that was to move cross country! I was amazed at my determination, the will to actually stick to studying. I put into my degree what I expected to see, good grades and a high GPA. This is exactly what I got!

Degree now in hand, it was time to look for a job. I knew I wanted to stay at home and teach from my office. However, this is not possible immediately. I applied to several colleges and universities, the old fear of not having any on the ground teaching experience was not a real problem for me, I knew my topic, I could teach it to anyone, anywhere. Yeah right!

I wasn't afraid to admit to myself, that people in large groups scared the heck out of me, let alone being able to articulate the information available so that the students would get it, would require time and patience on my end. Little did I know, that in August of 2010 when a local college hired me to teach their Business Applications course, that it would be the wildest term ever.

Fall Term Begins

I'm so green, its not even funny. Where were the courses to teach you how to teach? It's certainly not something you can learn by sitting in an online classroom for all your degrees. The college who hired me, offered continuing education courses, in the event that new and tenured professors who wanted to learn new ways to present material could do so. I was going to need more than one class.

On my first day of class, after attending the what to do and what not to do at the college level classes, I failed miserably. The first thing out of my mouth was scary to say the least, I asked myself if I was really cut out to be a professor! I opened my class with a rigidness that no other student had ever seen in a professor. I was alarmed.

These students could not write simple English. Second year college students should have a better handle on English than this! I have a very firm rule, no plagiarizing. I am deadly serious on this topic. In my class, my rules and all the above, its not allowed. I had created guidelines, which the students promptly had tossed in the trash, stating on their way out of class, that I was a waste of time. Sure, I agreed.

Out of twenty six students, three told me their friends had said this was an easy A class. Ha! That is something you should never tell the professor. I had two paralegal students in my class, what a trip, why did they need to be in MY class? One was very calm and took the assignments as they came, the other protested, argued and went to my department chair every time there was something she did not like. If you have great control over your class, good on you, try to avoid paralegal students.

Early on one of my students had to quit for medical reasons. How do you not get attached to your students no matter their age? He was a great guy, nice and knowledgeable. I looked forward to hearing what he thought about the assignments each week as met for class. However, its odd, these people who know so much give up on life and I am wondering is it truly worth it?

Another one of my students began the term very pregnant, I was concerned as anyone else would be, if she would have the ability to finish the course. She assured me, she would be able to do all the work and more! Yeah, right! After having her baby, a few issues arose and she never finished the work. There was no communication at all. I tried, but was I failing really?

Then there were the wanna be yuppies. I mean come on, I know you're from a rich family, but that does not excuse the fact that you left your book in North Carolina over the weekend, and missed your assignment because of it. It's not my fault, but technically it is, because the week closed and the grade that was given was unsatisfactory.All the whining and griping in the classroom, the interruptions, the non-course related questions. Oh my! I am so surprised, I'd had it. I simply said "Use your common sense, next time". The blank stare, told me the lights were on, but no one was home.

I think the final straw to my face to face teaching came with this arrogant student, who spent time before each of my classes drinking, not just a little, but enough wine to be tanked. I mean seriously, I can tell there is an issue with the student, when his eyes are dilated, he's confrontational and extremely pushy about a non-current course work question. It was time to notify campus security of the breach with the student and his contract. The environment at the college campus is supposed to be safe, but with an alcoholic on board, it was a trip I will never forget.

Attending a Meeting

It wasn't a normal sit down get to know you type meeting, it was a how are you settling in type. I was not happy to say the least. I think this is where my issues with this college began. I sat around the conference table with a bunch of seasoned instructors from the English department. Just the department who needed to hear they were doing a horrible job! Not out of my mouth would those comments come, but I wanted to inform them.

As we talked about the state of the current budget, what was expected of the professors and what was actually happening I felt I was in some surreal world. Not attached to this group. As if the glory of being a paid instructor was not what everyone made it out to be, yet, the dying light of my journey to this point was still glowing faintly.

Online teaching was so much more easier, you only had to acknowledge the students, make sure they did the assignments according to the outcomes provided  and respond to them on the discussion boards at least twice a week, answer their questions within twenty four hours and it was just easier.

A Turning Point

After the term ended, I was signed up to teach a hybrid course, but for whatever reason, the class was canceled. I am not sure I am happy about being dropped, but I know students who lie and are vindictive were in my class. Several made statements totally untrue about events that never happened in my classroom. If you are ever in a situation in a classroom, have a video recorder and a voice recorded handy, they play several roles in protecting the Instructor!

College students today, need to realize teachers can't help them, if they are not willing to help themselves. It's amazing that so many instructors pass students just to get rid of them. The evidence is in their writing, lack of comprehension and more over their inability to accept what is presented to them as factual information created to benefit them, not the instructor.

I'll be teaching again, not on the ground though this term. I enjoyed the roller coaster at the college that hired me, but in the future I will be teaching online, where I am comfortable and sure in my foot steps and knowledge.