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Tuesday, May 6, 2008

NO!!

Man About College was shocked today, when a story was related regarding a student who was barked at unnecessarily.

The innocent and unsuspecting student approached the class only because they had an important message for another student who was in the unfortunate situation of being this class after instruction hours. The student, being properly schooled and trained, was as mannerly as possible about interrupting the class. The student knocked on the door and politely proceeded with an “excuse me please miss” in a quiet and calm voice. She was taken aback when the response was NO. The student blinked and opened her mouth in shock, unaccustomed to being so rudely and sharply addressed, except when she had done something wrong. In response there was a louder no as the class joined in chorus with this response, indicating that they were familiar with the response, and Man About College is almost certain that it wasn’t because the teacher had brought a misbehaving dog to class. The student simply closed the door and left, unable to be insolent in response to this NO as it is not in her programming.

Man About College is asking, was this really necessary? What had the student done to deserve such a response? Is it racism? Is it that the teacher has a paradigm that all students “solemnly swear to be up to no good?” (A negative paradigm of a person, is often incentive to the person to be fulfilled). Because of the teacher’s unexplained behavior, speculation can go on without end. Are students really expected to develop respect for others if this is what is being displayed by elders? How can a student know what he/she has done wrong if there is no reason given for chastising? Suppose the student had an important message from a higher authority? Suppose the school was burning down? Would this have been the response if a member of authority had asked for an excuse? NO?

Whether it be racism or an aversion to good manners, Man About College is left to wonder.


-Man About College

2 comments:

Will said...

Just found your blog tonight.

I'm very impressed; your writing style is very entertaining. In fact, I've just read every entry. I wish more students would be proactive like this. It is a bit disappointing that this blog will more than likely cease to exist when you graduate.

Quick question: why would your first response to this incident beg the question of whether or not racism is involved? I ask because it seems to have come out of nowhere (when taken in the context of the rest of the entry).

TOLBN said...

Racism was not seriously considered. It was mentioned to illustrate one of the serious conclusions that a student may have jumped to after the experience, as a reason for the harsh response was not given.