I more than agree with Beth. I think even worrying about this is indicative of
a shocking and tragic downswing in the entire teacher-student structure that
began with my own generation's (and my own personal) activism toward relevance
in the classroom and has ended in the tyranny of political correctness, the
terror of litigation, and the infantilization of adult students (especially
adult female students).
Paul Okami
----- Original Message -----
From: Beth Benoit
To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 5:46 PM
Subject: Re: [tips] About an apology
My gut feeling: The out-of-class apology was more than enough. I don't know
if I would have even gone that far. The previous in-class behavior is what
precipitated your response. I'd bet anything that other students in the class
are sick to death of the mocking and were probably tickled you responded as you
did. To make a public apology may embolden him and the class may be dismayed
as well.
Maybe in the weeks to come you can semi-joke about it, but I don't think you
should make a formal apology to the class.
Beth Benoit
On 10/2/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi all,
I had a gaffe in my (college level) human sexuality class. I was answering
questions out of a "hat" (anonymous questions) about sexual anatomy and
function. I also had a couple of students sitting together raising their hands
and asking questions non-anonymously, a couple of which seemed from time to
time of a mocking nature but generally mostly serious questions. One of the
students asked if periods were expelled pregnancies and I let my surprise about
that level of lack of knowledge show briefly. I immediately realized that it
was not appropriate for me to do so in a forum that was supposed to encourage
questions. I did apologize to the student after class but I wonder if I should
acknowledge my mistake to the rest of the class too in order to ensure that no
one will feel discouraged from asking questions.
In my defense I must say that both students tend to ask mocking questions
in most discussion activities. The one I reacted to has taken the class before
and not finished and it has been clear that he wasn't exactly taking it
seriously last time either. Lots of "shock value" statements etc.
Nancy Melucci
Long Beach City College
Long Beach CA
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