Hostile Learning Environment

[rssniff]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

My wife attends a local community college. She has a professor who I believe creates a very hostile learning environment. Throughout the class the professor constantly swears using F**K, S**t, etc. The professor also emotionally tries to make the students feel worthless. She tells them in the profession they are going into that they will be treated like dirt, yelled at by their superiors, and that they have to keep their mouths shut, suck it up, and deal with it.This professor is the head of the program my wife is in and the only teacher available. She has two options to get away from this professor, quit school and waste the $20,000 she has invested or stay in the class.

Many days my wife leaves class in tears.

I have suggested that my wife record the class but the professor tells the students when they can turn their recorders on, when they have to be turned off, and requires the students to destroy the recordings at the end of the quarter in her presence. She says this is for the students protection. Not sure how.

I am wondering what the laws are that would/should protect a student from this. Are there any?

Personally I want the school to fire this professor and refund all money spent on her classes. Would this be reasonable?

Any help is greatly appreciated.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[Humusluvr]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

My wife attends a local community college. She has a professor who I believe creates a very hostile learning environment. Throughout the class the professor constantly swears using F**K, S**t, etc. The professor also emotionally tries to make the students feel worthless. She tells them in the profession they are going into that they will be treated like dirt, yelled at by their superiors, and that they have to keep their mouths shut, suck it up, and deal with it.This professor is the head of the program my wife is in and the only teacher available. She has two options to get away from this professor, quit school and waste the $20,000 she has invested or stay in the class.

Many days my wife leaves class in tears.

I have suggested that my wife record the class but the professor tells the students when they can turn their recorders on, when they have to be turned off, and requires the students to destroy the recordings at the end of the quarter in her presence. She says this is for the students protection. Not sure how.

I am wondering what the laws are that would/should protect a student from this. Are there any?



Any help is greatly appreciated.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

Some profs swear, some don't. It is part of the academic freedom that goes along with having your PhD.

I would suggest that if your wife has a problem, she approach the dean in person and explain the issues. The dean might make further observations of the class.

Personally I want the school to fire this professor and refund all money spent on her classes. Would this be reasonable?

Neither will most likely happen. Students have problems with professors all the time. She might be able to drop the class and get a refund, but she has paid for classes that she took and received credit for. Now that she's unable for whatever reason to continue on, that does not mean that is the college's fault.

I would suggest, non-legally, that she suck it up and deal with it, if she really wants her degree. We all have difficult people that enter our lives academically, and whether she quits or perseveres is telling of the amount she wants this degree. Grow some thick skin, because some people out there are mean and rude. If I could get a $20K return for all the times people have been rude to me, I would have bazillions of bucks.

Best of luck to her.

 

[Ohiogal]

WHAT is the profession that your wife is attempting to enter? The military?

 

[rssniff]

Some profs swear, some don't. It is part of the academic freedom that goes along with having your PhD.

I would suggest that if your wife has a problem, she approach the dean in person and explain the issues. The dean might make further observations of the class.



Neither will most likely happen. Students have problems with professors all the time. She might be able to drop the class and get a refund, but she has paid for classes that she took and received credit for. Now that she's unable for whatever reason to continue on, that does not mean that is the college's fault.

I would suggest, non-legally, that she suck it up and deal with it, if she really wants her degree. We all have difficult people that enter our lives academically, and whether she quits or perseveres is telling of the amount she wants this degree. Grow some thick skin, because some people out there are mean and rude. If I could get a $20K return for all the times people have been rude to me, I would have bazillions of bucks.

Best of luck to her.

It is not that she is unable to continue, she can. Unfortunately she has to be subjected to this trash, extremely offensive teacher. And to say that it is not the college's fault I think is rediculous. I would hope that the college is responsible for the actions of their employees. If this were your boss you would be able to sue your employer over being forced to work in a hostile environment. Why doesn't that same law protect students? Forcing yourself to deal with this trash also does not show how much she wants this degree. The fact she is carrying a 4.97 GPA is what shows she wants this degree.

 

[rssniff]

Some profs swear, some don't. It is part of the academic freedom that goes along with having your PhD.

I didn't realize that you needed a PhD to swear or that having that PhD allowed you to be abusive.

I thought using excessive, uncontrollable foul language was a sign of being uneducated trash, not a PhD.

I guess I need to go back to school, it sounds like fun.

 

[cbg]

One thing you need to learn is what is meant by a hostile environment under the law.

It does NOT mean one that is unpleasant, where you are yelled at, or where foul language is used. (Before I get flamed, yes, I realize that there are some exceptions to that; this is not one of them based on what the poster has presented.)

A hostile environment exists when, and only when, one is being subjected to either sexual harassment or illegal discrimination/harassment under Title VII and related laws (race, religion, national origin etc.).

 

[KnownOne]

A hostile environment exists when, and only when, one is being subjected to either sexual harassment or illegal discrimination/harassment under Title VII and related laws (race, religion, national origin etc.).

Or you are being murdered, for instance. That's pretty hostile...

 

[cbg]

But it is NOT a hostile environment under the law.

That's where too many people make their mistake. They assume that anything unpleasant qualifies. And it doesn't.

 

[Humusluvr]

I didn't realize that you needed a PhD to swear or that having that PhD allowed you to be abusive.

I thought using excessive, uncontrollable foul language was a sign of being uneducated trash, not a PhD.

I guess I need to go back to school, it sounds like fun.

Having a PhD should make your swearing much more creative. I think it is best used when the students don't even realize what a humorous thing you said to them, and are met with blank stares.

Swearing, in and of itself, is not abusive. I could say, "This f-ing beaker is full of s**t." and that would NOT be a hostile statement.

If the prof were to call your wife an f-ing loser, or tell her her work was full of sh**t, then that might be different.

Academia is a blast! But it also requires persistence and a general thickening of the skin.

 

[cbg]

But "hostile statements" are NOT illegal unless they fall into the definition I have provided above.

NO ONE promised anyone that their environment would always be free from unpleasantness. And if anyone did make you such a promise? They were either lying or very, very badly mistaken.

 

[Country Living]

The last thing done in most college classes is to complete an evaluation of the professor. Enough voices may be able to influence the administration's decision on retaining the professor. At the very least, the department chair has a frank chat with the professor on expectations.

On the statement about the professor wanting recordings destroyed at the end of the quarter. She should do that if she publishes. I realize times have changed - we were never allowed to record especially in graduate school.

We've all had crappy professors. We've all had bad bosses. We've all had situations that were uncomfortable. The only thing that's important is how we handled ourselves in those situations. We can't change the bad things in the world. We can decide how to react to them.