A Dismal Department
For the second time in as many days, my Speech Communications classes have used The Daily Show's Jon Stewart as an example of good argumentation. Perhaps it's because of the department's decision to use TAs as lecturers. In the two years that I've been here, I've never had a Speech Communications professor teach a Speech Communications class. In fact, I've never even met a Speech Communications professor. When compared to Political Science, the major that I chose, this is dismal and ridiculous. Not once have I had a Political Science TA do anything but lead a discussion section or grade the papers. The professors have always taught the classes, have always had office hours, and have always been responsible for my education in the field.
As a person who is paying not once, but three times for this education (once as a US citizen, paying through taxes by way of various departments, most notably the department of education; once as a citizen of Illinois, paying through taxes by way of the University's largest vein of contributary funding; and once as a student paying tuition), I find this deplorable and irresponsible. The demagoguery of this university would much rather build unnecessary buildings and fund a wheelchair basketball team (a member of which has his out of state tuition paid for by the team. How out of state? Try Sweden.) than pour more funding into the libraries (none on campus are open 24 hours) or a more substantial professoriate.
Comments
Instead of complaining on your blog, maybe you should do something about it. First of all, it is totally acceptable for a TA to teach or assist with a 100 or 200 level class. Keep in mind that these students are in their Master's program and should be more than competent to not only teach your class, but they will probably be teaching as an instructor after they receive their degree. Now, if you have a problem with your TA and the quality of discussions, you can do a couple of things. Speaking as a former TA, it is always a pleasure to be heckled. Are you speaking up in class? Are you pointing out that you have watched the Daily Show and find Jon Stewart to be a poor example of good argumentation. Of course, you better have a better example that you would like to present. Do something. Change the course of the class now. Challenge your TA to be better prepared. Next, if this person is really not doing a good job, complain to their advisor. Don't wait until the semester is over, and the TA has tainted the minds of 30 students that can't think for themselves.
Next, I think it is quite bold of you to attack the disabled. I always figured that God would strike me down for complaining about such things. I am certain that the members of the disabled basketball team have had their share of hardships and challenges. I think that they deserve the opportunity to be able to play basketball, and I commend U of I for providing them the opportunity. A free ride to college is probably one of the few breaks that they have gotten in life.
I would also like to point out that you are most certainly intelligent enough, and if you had applied yourself, you too could have had a scholarship and your tuition paid by the tax payers.
Finally, I know few libraries that are open 24 hours. Maybe instead of getting drunk during Law & Order you could reallocate that time for studies, since the library is probably open at 9 p.m.
Posted by: Suzanne Halbrook | August 30, 2006 04:37 PM