Bad students come from bad teachers

By Katie Burnside

I was sitting in my first class of the quarter, drifting in and
out of sleep as the professor droned on about class policies and
academic integrity, when it hit me.

While explaining the finer points of presentations, the
professor told the class that we had to be interesting or he would
give us a bad grade. Period.

I could have easily brushed it off, but I was upset that the
entire time he had been talking, the teacher had been very monotone
and one of the most boring lecturers ” ever.

Why is it that students are asked of so much in the classroom
and to conduct themselves in a certain way, but we aren’t even
given the same courtesy from our educators?

Teachers are considered opinion leaders, figures that have the
power to influence their students and help to create a better, or
worse, future. But rather than setting an example, they dictate
what should be done and think that they do not apply to the
situation.

I’m sick and tired of the teaching staff thinking they don’t
have to work for their salary and only put in the minimum amount of
work required to get a decent grade on GradeCalPoly.com or end of
the quarter evaluations.

How educators act in class is reflected back tenfold by their
students. Students learn quickly that if their own teachers only
put in minimal effort, then they can too.

The root of the problem can most always lead back to the
teachers. I can see many professors reading this and shaking their
heads in disagreement thinking it’s the other way around.

The way the cycle usually goes is educators have a half-ass
mindset that is projected through their actions and words, which in
turn is perceived by students as negative and unencouraging and
causes them to think that if professors don’t care then why should
they.

They’ve been in the student position before and the same thing
happened to them. But instead of fixing the problem with the
influence they have, the process is just repeated in an endless
cycle that further frustrates both parties.

Students will change their attitudes as soon as we see changes
in our opinion leaders.

Reach Katherine Burnside at
Copy Editor@thepolypost.com

Bad students come from bad teachers