Incompetent college instructors?

Question

Im a biochemistry major and i love this field. I am currently attending a bio class in CC. the problem is I cannot stand my bio instructor. cant believe she thinks that biology has nothing to do with chemistry. All what she does is whine how she hates chemistry. How to deal with this kind of teachers who after years of studying think that a CO2 is a polar molecule?

i tried to ask her about this and she just shuted me down unrespectfully with incoherent explanations.. It is a really dissapointment.. I was so looking foward to this class..

How do you guys deal with it? cause I just cannot take it anymore.

Answer 1

This is very common, especially with student-teachers, or professors without their doctorate.  You need to go to the dean of that particular branch of the school and report this.  If it isn't too late, request a transfer to another professor.

I dropped my basic biology class after having to teach the professor about the relationship between populations of rabbits and bobcats, one of their main predators, and how when rabbit numbers are up, bobcats reproduce more, and the next year there are more bobcats, which helps reduce the rabbit population.  She wouldn't believe me, so I walked out.

Answer 2

i agree talk with your dean or perhaps drop the class if thats an option.  remember just because you're an instructor doesnt mean you know every lil thing OR are not entitled to your own opinions.  now i do agree that they need to be qualified to teach the class but maybe its her first year teaching this class and has forgotten the basics (poor excuse i know)

Answer 3

You asked her how you're supposed to deal with her?  You think she's incompetent because you (an undergrad) do not agree with her?  I doubt that "all she does" is "whine how she hates chemistry."  Seriously?  You go in to class and she just says, "I hate chemistry.  God, I hate chemistry. Oh, how I hate chemistry.  Have I mentioned my feelings regarding chemistry?" for the whole class period?

Your story is dubious.

It sounds like you don't like your teacher and you insulted her by asking her a snotty, mean spirited question.  Just remember, she has to tolerate you too.  

It's one class.  Put up with it and get over it.  You will have to study under a lot of people whom you don't particularly care for if you plan to finish your degree.

Answer 4

An excellent biology teacher once told me you can learn what we tell you or you can learn what you want.  Meaning you may have to pass her class, but you don't have to agree with her and you can learn and study about what you want to.  I'm sure that although she may not have the firmest grasp of the material, the authors of your textbook do.  Also, most schools have qualified tutors (the ones at my CC were former professors who worked a couple hours a week after retirement).  You know that biology is linked to chemistry even if the teacher doesn't, so run with it.  Study as much as you can.  Also, find older students in your major or a related major and talk about teachers.  Often they will know which teachers are hard, which teachers are easy, which teachers can teach well, and which ones appear to have no grasp of the subject or just suck at showing it to others.

Good luck and have fun learning the fascinating field of biochemistry.  I chose it as a major during my 3rd year and it was the best decision I ever made.

Answer 5

Sounds bad.  If you can transfer or drop and take the class from another instructor, go for it.  Unlike the other answerers, I wouldn't necessarily recommend talking to the bio dept. chair.  It isn't likely to help and can blow back on you.  If you do talk to the dept. chair, be professional in your comments.  It may be a better bet to talk to your adviser in the biochem/chem dept.  He/she will certainly do something about it if an instructor in the bio dept. is an idiot.

If you are stuck in this bio class, be sure to blast the professor big time on the end-of-course evaluation (anonymously).  The dept. chairs actually look at those, so you can perhaps save the next poor souls who might have to put up with this instructor.  There is ratemyprofessors.com, where you can drop another comment bomb on this instructor, and you can look up other instructors before you sign up.for new classes.  Discussions with other students before you sign up for a new class helps too.  If you are stuck with your current bio instructor, I hope you can find a way to avoid losers in the future.  Good luck.