Rights to a competent teacher???

[ecmst12]

If this is your last semester, you should know how to study. Get together with a few of your classmates and your textbooks and teach each other the material. You can't just lay down and die because your teacher isn't giving the lectures you would like, nor can you demand that the school not count your grades. You are going to have to pass the boards in a few months and class alone is not going to allow you to do that. If you can't be proactive and take responsibility for your own education, you will never be able to pass the boards or succeed as a nurse - you are going to be expected to learn more on the job than you ever learned in school.

 

[stealth2]

Ya know... when *I* was in college (granted, it was back in the Dark Ages), we also had professors who tested on material they hadn't taught. We had a novel approach to the problem... we learned the necessary material ourselves. Just as one does out in the real world. We didn't whine about it like OP.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Ya know... when *I* was in college (granted, it was back in the Dark Ages), we also had professors who tested on material they hadn't taught. We had a novel approach to the problem... we learned the necessary material ourselves. Just as one does out in the real world. We didn't whine about it like OP.

Did you attend classes between Crusades?

J/K

 

[tsergent]

And it is common knowledge among educators that a clinical person (nursing class instructors are very notorious for this) can have the clinical knowledge, or have had it before their health problems, and still not be a good teacher, not able to effectively tranfer and convey the knowledge to students in a manner which is helpful to them.

Any class where the largest majority of the students are not passing the tests is obviously a situation where the material is not being taught effectively. It should not be the goal of the teacher to fail all the students in a class, because that means they have not taught the material, not that the students are a bunch of slackers.

I would suggest you keep careful records of what is going on and what you're being asked to do, and that you and your fellow students continue to go to the administrators on a regular basis. Do the best you can if you cannot at this time withdraw from the class without repercussions and you have to take it from this particular instructor to obtain your degree. But do not panic at this point. The situation you describe is fairly common. Usually the perpetrator is an inexperienced teacher, but sometimes an older teacher who has slipped "beyond the pale" and is still teaching is definitely the problem.


But the departmental authorities know that if the situation becomes public knowledge, that word gets out they have allowed an incompetent and unfair teacher to fail most of the students in a class due to her own incompetence, then they will be held responsible by the university. You might call and discuss the situation with the board of regents/department of education in your state, but that would be only if your dean of nursing is not working with you and is refusing to listen to your issues as a group. How can you be asked to show that you have the knowledge required to pass the class if it is not in any cognizant manner being taught to you in this class which you have paid to take?

I just want to say thank you for you reply!!! I agree with everything you said. After hearing all the "personal" reasons why I'm in the wrong for wanting a good education from another poster its refreshing to hear from someone who is thinking intelligently.
Yes, you would think that teachers would want to pass their knowledge onto you so you could be a good nurse. Its possible this one wasn't a good nurse to begin with or just because you are good in your profession does not mean you can teach. I'm an avid believer in that. However, so far I have had some excellent teachers in nursing school who were also good in their field. I'm not an easy to please student either because I have very high expectations of a "teacher". But I feel that I should have those high expectations and the fact that a lot of students don't has ruined it for the ones who do. A lot of students are not getting an adequate eduction and they could care less so the "bad" teachers continue to "teach". I want to learn and I want to make the grades that I'm used to making, I'm not by any means a failing student. No one in my class is which is why so many have complained about the way the material is being conveyed from this instructor. You can't ignore statistics by any means. If everyone has been doing great up until now and all of a sudden everyone starts to fail, it doesn't take a genius to figure out the problem.
I have kept track of the issues like you suggest, I've kept emails from the teacher stating what would be on a test, and a lot of the others have as well. The dean has become involved and they did have a meeting with this teacher. I'm not sure if they told her to cut her load, if she said she wanted to teach only one class, or what actually went down. All they are telling us is that she won't be teaching our class and we will have substitutes come in. The problem is that they are still not allowing us to retake the tests that instructor gave us. One particular quiz is my issue because I have the email stating what will be on the quiz yet she tests us on various other topics. I refuse to accept that. I'm going to email the director and I may copy the dean but I'm going let them know it is in no way fair to us if they keep those scores. If they don't do something about it, your idea to speak to the board of regents/department of education may be the way to go. Everyone in class is so happy to get some competent instructors teaching us, I'm sure they have been blindsided by the fact that those past test scores are still not being thrown out. I emailed everyone in class yesterday voicing my opinions that we should not stop at getting a new instructor. We can't just fail because of those old tests. They were given unfairly. I know I'm not giving up until we are treated fairly no matter who I have to go through. Ultimately we are going to have to take the boards and that instructor was doing us a major disservice by not testing us appropriately. It just makes me so angry when unjust things like this happen. The sad thing is, she is still teaching that other class and will continue to teach until some students step up and demand she be removed. If that is being harsh, then so be it. I paid for an education, this is the medical field where you need to be very knowledgeable, and we are not being taught properly in our last semester, the semester before taking the boards/joining the work force.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

So what is it you want them to do??? What is your solution??? Free grades? Curved grades on random material, that show no proficiency, only luck? Retaking the entire course at two or three times the pace?

 

[tsergent]

If this is your last semester, you should know how to study. Get together with a few of your classmates and your textbooks and teach each other the material. You can't just lay down and die because your teacher isn't giving the lectures you would like, nor can you demand that the school not count your grades. You are going to have to pass the boards in a few months and class alone is not going to allow you to do that. If you can't be proactive and take responsibility for your own education, you will never be able to pass the boards or succeed as a nurse - you are going to be expected to learn more on the job than you ever learned in school.

Ok, its not like we don't know how to study here. The biggest problem I have is this...and I will say this AGAIN because judging by your comment that we're just not happy with the way the teacher is lecturing tells me you didn't pay attention to all my qualms....my problem is this teacher saying certain things WILL NOT be on a test and then they ARE. I don't study any more than I have to for a test...for instance, I don't study CARDIAC and RESPIRATORY if a teacher says ONLY cardiac is on a test. Who would do that? We have a test every single week over 8 chapters, 200 pages...you can't do that. So its not like I'm whining that she just doesn't teach effectively...she reads from her notes, who knows where she gets them because she never knows where we are in the book, she doesn't do it effectively but most importantly...she says something will be on the test and it is NOT, and she says something will NOT be on the test and it IS. Big issue, bigger problem...that doesn't get solved by students studying habits. You can't study the whole book in anticipation that she could ask you anything.

 

[tsergent]

So what is it you want them to do??? What is your solution??? Free grades? Curved grades on random material, that show no proficiency, only luck? Retaking the entire course at two or three times the pace?[/QUOTE

I want DIRECTION!!!! Tell me the test is over chapter 1, 2, 3, 4...whatever and let is be just that. If there are 25 students and only 3 pass four different exams...what do you suppose the problem is? These same students have been in the same class together since first semester. Obviously with those kind of grades we would never have gotten through the first semester. Besides, you have to have a high GPA to get in...I didn't get a 3.9 by getting free grades, curves, and courses two or three times the pace....thank you very much. When a teacher says a test will be over something, I expect it to be over that topic...not three different topics she said it would NOT be over. Obviously judging by some of the people on this board, that is asking for too much. Or if the tables were turned, they would not accept this situation either. I think some people just like to pass judgement.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

You received direction. Ask to retake the class, with enrollment preference. Your response to to my last post does not fix what has occurred.

 

[tsergent]

Ok, obviously I set myself up for this but I'm going to say it anyway. I'm pretty much against forums so I'm not even sure why I posted on one. I guess I was hoping to come across one intelligent person among countless idiots. Which I think I did get that accomplished, I have gotten one or two good suggestions for my problem. However, there have been some really ignorant suggestions as well. I think with most of these forums most people like to pass judgement but I can just about guarantee that if the tables were turned, they would in no way accept unjust and unfairness passed on them. Oh no, how dare someone be unfair to me...however, who cares about everyone else right? These days everyone wants to say something negative or pass judgement like I just said. No one wants to offer some helpful suggestions like the board was meant for. Most of those people who do pass judgement I've come to find are either passing it because they are not happy with their situation or themselves for that matter. So for those of you who don't want to actually read the entire problem as a whole just pick apart what you want to read...don't bother offering any suggestions. That goes for my question as well as others...because I've read the same ignorant answers to others problems on this forum.
So with that said...I know there's a problem at my college. There is a problem when a teacher doesn't know how to convey material in an effective manner and out and out lies about what is going to be on an exam. There is a problem when a student has to accept a grade when the teacher lied about what was going to be on the test by saying cardiac when in fact she put respiratory on it. Those of you who say we should already know how to study and should help the teacher...give me a break. I know how to study but all the studying in the world won't work if you are not studying the right freaking material. OK? Anyway...anyone that don't see an actual problem with a teacher that does this, I think the problem is you. Please don't waste your time by replying to what I've said because it will be just that...a waste of your time. Work on your own problem...then make your life better by listening to others first and then trying to offer helpful suggestions

 

[Zigner]

Ok, obviously I set myself up for this but I'm going to say it anyway. I'm pretty much against forums so I'm not even sure why I posted on one. I guess I was hoping to come across one intelligent person among countless idiots. Which I think I did get that accomplished, I have gotten one or two good suggestions for my problem. However, there have been some really ignorant suggestions as well. I think with most of these forums most people like to pass judgement but I can just about guarantee that if the tables were turned, they would in no way accept unjust and unfairness passed on them. Oh no, how dare someone be unfair to me...however, who cares about everyone else right? These days everyone wants to say something negative or pass judgement like I just said. No one wants to offer some helpful suggestions like the board was meant for. Most of those people who do pass judgement I've come to find are either passing it because they are not happy with their situation or themselves for that matter. So for those of you who don't want to actually read the entire problem as a whole just pick apart what you want to read...don't bother offering any suggestions. That goes for my question as well as others...because I've read the same ignorant answers to others problems on this forum.
So with that said...I know there's a problem at my college. There is a problem when a teacher doesn't know how to convey material in an effective manner and out and out lies about what is going to be on an exam. There is a problem when a student has to accept a grade when the teacher lied about what was going to be on the test by saying cardiac when in fact she put respiratory on it. Those of you who say we should already know how to study and should help the teacher...give me a break. I know how to study but all the studying in the world won't work if you are not studying the right freaking material. OK? Anyway...anyone that don't see an actual problem with a teacher that does this, I think the problem is you. Please don't waste your time by replying to what I've said because it will be just that...a waste of your time. Work on your own problem...then make your life better by listening to others first and then trying to offer helpful suggestions

Would you like some cheese with your whine?

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Good Luck, in resolving this.

 

[tsergent]

Ya know... when *I* was in college (granted, it was back in the Dark Ages), we also had professors who tested on material they hadn't taught. We had a novel approach to the problem... we learned the necessary material ourselves. Just as one does out in the real world. We didn't whine about it like OP.

Well when you get half a** treatment from future nurses (and since you are from the dark ages, that will probably be anytime soon) don't blame the nurse...she only knows how to give the kind of care she was taught to give.
Does the same go for med students too? I mean nurses don't just answer call buttons, we have to know about all the same diseases the doctors do. If the teacher doesn't teach effectively, nurses don't know what they are doing and patients can die.
On a side note...what is the purpose of a teacher if they are not teaching students??
Learn it in the real world huh? I think that's the problem...no one is learning anything and that's why they can't do their jobs appropriately.

 

[tsergent]

Good Luck, in resolving this.

Thanks Hopefully there will be resolution....otherwise, so much for standing up in what you believe in...fairness!!

 

[tsergent]

Would you like some cheese with your whine?

That's exactly what I mean....idiots that have nothing better to do with their time

 

[Zigner]

That's exactly what I mean....idiots that have nothing better to do with their time

You forgot "neener neener"