Eager to Evaluate

Professor evaluations have been wrapping up all over campus this week. In the English department, this means that colleagues of my professors come in (some of whom I’ve had before) to cross their arms, lean their hips against the desk, and stare me down until I hand over the bubble sheet unable to look them in the eye. The multiple choice, generic evaluation sheet consisting of about twenty-five questions on whether a professor performs a certain duty “most of the time, more than half the time, only half the time, etc.” is of little consequence either way.

They are scanned by computers, worked up into what I’m sure are boring reports, and then recycled (I hope). The reports go into the cavernous dark of file drawers, not likely to see the light of day unless tenure applications are being reviewed or a complaint has been filed. The real money is in the half sheets of copy paper handed out to air grievances, and less often commendations, which are not covered sufficiently by a “almost never” response on the bubble sheet.

“Does the professor build a sense of respect in the class room?” This is one of the questions I feel isn’t done justice with an A, B, or C answer. It’s a college classroom, so of course, I would hope that every student there has respect for the professor. That is not the issue. Does the professor respect his or her students is the underlying question to me. In the English department, I sadly must answer on the negative side more often than not.

It seems to me that many of our professors are either consciously or subconsciously under the impression that their students are not on the same intellectual level as themselves. I do concede that most, if not all, of these people have their doctorates and have studied literature for much longer than I myself have, but it is possible that, in my fresh and less academic view of poetry, drama, and fiction, I might be able to see a different, yet valid, interpretation of a piece. When my interpretation is shot down with a simple blank stare or a scoffing no and without an explanation supported by the text, I consider this a grave sign of disrespect. Until the logic behind them is disproved, my ideas are just as valid as those of the professor and his anthology.

How many of the poets and fiction writers and dramatists that we study had doctorate degrees? It doesn't always take a doctorate to understand the concepts found in literature; it seems like it does, however, take a doctorate to make some professors forget that they were once students, too.

Thanks to guest contributor Allen Ginsberg for this post.