Yesterday, I had quite the rant about my disappointing Spanish class. I've always been one that hates to inconvenience others and will just suck up negative events, but not this time. I wrote an e-mail, and well, most definitely got a response ...
(sent at 4:36 p.m.)
Heather,
Thank you very much for writing and sharing your concerns about the 201 class. I discussed the problem with the instructor, and she has decided not to teach for us. Incidently all of our part-time faculty members have to meet specific criteria because of our accreditation with the Southern Association. And, of course, Dr. xxx was qualified due to her educational and professional experiences.
You will be happy to learn that the instructor for the 5:00 class has been changed to Dr. xxx xxx, Associate Professor of Spanish. Dr. xxx is a full-time professor in the department.
If you have any additional concerns, please do not hesitate to share them with me or with the Dean, Dr. xxx xxx.
Again, thank you for contacting me.
xxx xxx
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 11:26 AM
Dr. xxx,
I am writing to express my outrage at the incredibly poor teaching quality I saw in my Spanish 201 class with xxx xxx. I am a graduate of Clemson University, class of 1999 valedictorian with a degree in English and French, and now a professional non-degree seeking student who hoped to later go on for a master's in Spanish. I was stunned by what I saw in this class, including improper conjugation of "llamar" and incorrect instructions on article agreement in superlatives. Several students in the class, all of whom, including myself, have only Spanish 102 knowledge, were correcting her. Her pedagogy was attrocious: She read exercises to us to write down, had us repeat them so she could write them on the board without the answers, then rewrote the complete sentences again with the answers. It was painfully slow, and frankly, I could teach myself from the book just as easily and more quickly. Students were practically laughing at her in disbelief.
I have spent a great deal of time arranging my work schedule and tuition reimbursement with my employer, The Herald, and was excited about taking this course and future studies at Winthrop. In my frustration, I have since dropped the class, the only section I could take. I heard several other students saying they planned to do the same. I would gladly add the course back if a different, qualified instructor were found by next week. At the moment I can only pity the undergraduates who need this course for credt -- which they will get while learning very little, possibly incorrect Spanish.
Sincerely,
Heather xxx
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Welcome to my odditorium, a collection of curiosities made up of snippets about my life and occasional machinations on deeper subjects.
6 comments:
"Step back and watch the sweet thing..."
Hot damn! Watch out! I'm in love! For you amateurs out there, pull up for a little lesson in "How to Make Friends and Influence Others." Notice the technique in her persuasion:
1) Targets the decision maker and visibly CCs to the decision maker's boss to exert top-down force along with bottom-up force. Ain't but one way out or the decision maker loses administrative credility.
2) Establishes the fact of the problem and defines it in powerful language that commands attention.
3) Immediately establishes her credibility to further substantiate the validity of the problem (this isn't a malcontent 19 year old just bitchin).
4) Describes the problem in lucid language that clearly illustrates the severity of incompetence ("llamar") on the teacher's part while demonstrating the writer's understanding of what should be (good "pedagogy").
5) Suggests an alternative action that would cost the university money and credibility.
6) Poors on the pathos, baby.
7) Name-drops employer -- which just happens to be a megaphone in the community -- to further establish credibility and hint at wide-spread negative publicity.
8) The psychological argument of numbers to cement the complaint's validity.
9) Action steps for resolution.
10) The final stab in the gut.
11) The signature, which ices credibility and hints at potential fallout from an obviously ticked-off person in a powerful position (assistant city editor).
Hooyaa! Desired action achieved in 5 hours. Let me guarantee you Dr. Whoever "agreed to step down" because she didn't have an alternative. Zero-Sum game, and she just lost. Hooyaa! Folks, nothing happens in 5 hours in the university. My wife unseated a Ph.D. from a class. Hooyaa!
I didn't intend to be that ruthless and mean!!! But hey, it worked ...
I am impressed with the speed of the resolution as well. You made them do their job and look at class drops for the "instructor." You weren't mean, you pointed out a serious flaw and opened the door for someone who will do a better job. Never fret about enforcing pay based on quality of work.
I just hope they e-mail all the students that dropped so they can rejoin the class.
Good Job and I hope the class works out.
Lucky Bob is right on target. In a famous essay, titled "Why Don't We Complain?", the Godfather of Conservatism, William F. Buckley, wondered why we don't say anything about poor quality or low value -- especially if we are paying for a product or service. Lucky's right... you were not mean and ruthless; and if you were, tough for them. You paid tuition to receive quality instruction, which is precisely what should get. And now, you will.
I just wish more people had the guts to do that in all facets of life.
So, did you add the class back? And how is it?
I came to this discussion quite late but thought I'd add my 2p. Yearsreading would like to see more people complain about poor quality/low value (in all facets of life), but my time in the retail world has led me to recommend that only those people who never complain about poor quality/low value should take this advice.
There is a particular subset of individuals who make a habit of complaints (under the general banner of "The Customer Is Always Right"), some entirely reasonable but too many aimed at manipulating a goal of customer satisfaction to the extreme. Those people should give some of their complaints to those who need them.
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