You can't Learn when the Teacher can't Teach

We all had those teachers that bring up the question "Why are you even teaching?" and still come up with no good answer. You know the types, the ones we can't stand or think of unfairly? Some are strict, mean/attitude, or just not good at teaching you. Well I had a variety of teachers like this and even though I like the personality of few teachers, their teaching skills need improvement.

This particular rant is about those teachers not good at teaching or they don't see that they left a couple of their students behind in the dust when teaching the other students. Since I been in college (In a Sophmore) I've had least two teachers like this. One was last year where she piled assignments on us and told us to do them, she breifly went through a tutorial of the new lesson for that day and handed out directions for us then let us loose on the work. That's fine but my complaint with her is she gave out too much assingments with short deadlines where some of the work couldn't be completed unless you had the program at home (it was a computer class) but I did not. So I earned a C in that class (a decent grade but low due to the assignments I had no time to complete). Though as bad as that sounds, what's worse is all her students expect for very few actually complted all the assingments, the rest, like me, hadn't the time. Was this poor teaching skills or she just over-estimated our abilities? But I passed the class so my complaints are low on this teacher since I am pleased I wasn't left behind the other students.

This semester (2012) I have another teacher who sadly left me behind and set the bar way too high for me where I feel my best isn't good enough. It's a Art History class (something on Reinassance) where the teacher didn't teach me where I could learn what I need to learn to pass the class. He's the type to make you read on your own and listen while he lectured in class about things you should already know, but for those who first time taking this specfic type of class has no clue what he's talking about. He is a nice teacher personality wise, but his teaching is strict and precise. He wants you do what exactly the directions say without any lee-way, such as "Discuss using the proper art vocabulary of how this painting works in this time period" or "compare and contrast using proper art vocabulary these specific artists" and he will count off if you do not exactly do that. He assumes you will know this by reading the book, but the book is a history-like book that doesn't explain the simple words you need such as telling you what the hell is "proper art vocabulary". This whole class went over my head and I was left behind failing this class. but what pisses me off the most and what I seem so unfair, is we had an assignment due where we had to write a four page essay on a theme comparing & contrasting three artists who uses this theme. I did this as best as I could with what I knew (though I did not know how to do his exact wants) and I turned this in on time. I got a fucking zero because my theme I picked wasn't the correct topic he wanted.

His exact words in his email to me were: "I return to you your art history paper but you will not recieve credit for this assignment, You handed in a report about Romanticist art but the question topic was to compare and contrast themes such as the crucifixation, entombment, susanna and the Elderes, or other choices. Your paper does not answer the question." Now the assignment sheet I recieved said nothing about the specific themes he had said, it just said "themes" so I picked a theme thinking it was what he wanted then I did my best comparing & contrasting the three artists' work that used Romanticists, including the three paintings and I had it least four pages. I turned this essay of mine in on time hopeing least for a C since I know I didnt' use "proper vocabulary for art" but I hoped for partial credit. So this morning when I recieved the email back after a few days of sending it in, my heart dropped finding out I will be getting a zero instead just because I incorrectly did the wrong "theme". How the hell is that fair? I did the work and turned it in on time! Don't I get something? Shit, I feel like I put all that effort in for nothing. What was the point in even doing it if I knew I was just going to get a zero? This pisses me off so much because I seriously tried and get tossed to the side as nothing. My teacher doesn't seemed to care that I did the work, but that it wasn't exactly what he wanted. I would accept a D on it, but not a zero. It's like a slap in the face for me cause I am a hard working studnet who does try her best.

This teacher of mine seemed to not notice or care that he left a student behind. He only assigned three assingments (with the essay) which I completed those too (those were easily done) but I hadn't learn the material to pass the tests so I flunked those. As I said before he never truly taught me the basics, he seemed to assume that the whole class knew what he was talking about (though most of the class did since they majored in that subject). I was just left behind and my best wasn't enough. He assinged no extra assignments to interact with the material to least pull the grade up, he just lectured in front of a screen about specific paintings and assumed we would read in our large book about the material which doesn't explain the basics.

I never truly had that happent to me, I've had teachers who talked down to me, assigned too much work, or not enough work, but never one who gave me a zero due to teh wrong work done. Once in 5th grade I did get lectured for doing the wrong homework in a math class because I copied down the wrong work on the board, and did the wrong pages. But that was elemetiry school, this is college so shouldn't I get partial credit for that essay? I just see it as very unfair since he never exclaimed what themes he wanted, and just marked it as a zero because it wasn't the correct theme. I got tossed aside as I was nothing, not even a 10% that it got turned in on time finished.

I know others have had teachers like that, but why do they teach when they set the bar too high where they leave students behind? Teachers' job is to teach us, right? Well can't they do a better job where students can least pass the class? Some students do try their best but they can't survive on being thrown into the wild without proper directions, they will get eaten alive and fail. But I am a good, successful studnet for this class is only the 2nd class I ever failed in my life (first was Chemistry in 12th grade). That has to say something about me and the teachers who teach me.

This is the end of my rant and I will continue to try my best even if it's not good enough for some teachers.

It's Never Enough

Here is a song that describes my relationship with my parents a bit. No it's not exactly the same, but in a way it is. I had a fight with my dad today over something stupid and no matter what I do, it won't please him where I won't piss him off with something. You see we dont' always agree, and sometimes when he disagrees I get the feeling he thinks my opinion is "wrong" (which he admitted once before that he did think some of my opinions are wrong) and that makes me defensive which makes him think I "block" him out or "i don't care for his opinions". I do care but I can't have him bashing my opinions just because there different than his. He gets mad with me when my opinions differ but I can't keep my mouth shut because he gets even madder cause I'm "blocking him out". So what do I fucking do? I can't keep speaking what I think cause it makes him mad but once I go silent he gets mad at that too. The only way to please him all the time is being a perky, always-agreeing, faking a smile person that spends 24/7 with family time. Cause I tried other ways, it doesn't end peacefully... I can't be damn happy all the time and I can't open up to them with every problem I have, sometimes I'm just quiet! I do have different opinions, but I can't voice them cause others disagree and make it out like I'm "wrong" and then get damn pissed off once I defend them! How the hell am I the bad guy?? I don't know what hte hell to do! I truly don't... It's never enough...never... no matter what I'm pissing him off in some way when we argue... and it hurts when he says shit like "I'm beginning to not give a fuck anymore" about my opinions... please someone tell me what to do cause I hit a wall. Well this song is dedicated to that arguemnet today...

 

Never Enough - Five Finger Death Punch (FFDP)

 

I'm so fed up with everyone around me
No one seems to care
I'm just so far gone and nothing's gonna change
I'll never be the same
It's always do this, do that, everything they want to
I don't wanna live that way
Every chance they get they're always pushing me away

It's never enough, no it's never enough
No matter what I say
It's never enough, no it's never enough
I'll never be what you want me to be

It's all so messed up and no one ever listens
Everyone's deranged
I'm just so fucked up and I'm never gonna change
I wanna lay it all to waste
They're always say this, say that, nothing that you want to
I don't wanna live that way
Every chance they get they're always shoving me aside

It's never enough, no it's never enough
No matter what I say
It's never enough, no it's never enough
I'll never be what you want me to be
I'M DONE!

In the end we're all just chalk lines on the concrete
Drawn only to be washed away
For the time that I've been given
I am what I am

I'd rather hate you for everything you are
Than ever love you for something you are not
I'd rather you hate me for everything I am
Than have you love me for something that I can't

It's never enough, it's never enough
No matter what I say
It's never enough, no it's never enough
No matter who I try to be
It's never enough, no it's never enough
No matter how I try to taste
It's never enough, never never enough
I'll never be what you want me to be

"Stupid is making the same mistake over and over while expecting different results"

I am an honest and genuine person so when I call someone "stupid" or "idiot" then you know I mean it, and it has to be bad when I insult someone since those that know me will know I rarely insult people. When I call someone Stupid/idiot is because they commit actions over and over without thinking about the coincenqunces of their actions and then whine about it. We all know people like this, they screw up and come crying for help. Sadly, I know couple of them and few of them always comes to me for advice hoping I can "fix" the situation. Well after telling so much advice and the person doesn't listen to it, there's not much I can do.

People that make the same mistakes over and over are truly idiots because they don't learn from their mistakes even when it's pointed out to them and people warned them beforehand. Why are people like this? I'm still trying to figure out the answer to that question, but I have noticed the most common mistakes are in the romance section of life. I know most everyone wants to find their true love and spend their lives in happiness, but some people desire that so much that they rush into relationships without thinking and most times it ends horribly. I see it all the time and it baffles me with certain people who knows what they're doing wrong but continue to do it; such as rushing things.

Like this one person has "fell in love" with eight different people in his/her life and was engaged to least five of them because he/she believed he/she has found the "one" with each person when the relationship just started. This person kept rushing things like that and all the relationships ended sour, because he/she didn't think. When you first meet someone you will feel infatuation which is similar to love but it's not, it's a giddy feeling that leaves you like on cloud nine, but some people mistake this feeling for love and jump head first into the relationship planning on getting married. They don't take it slow and let hte relationship build up so they will know their feelings are true. I seen this with many people I know and they still make that same mistake over and over, then whining about it.

But what annoys me the most about all this is how i give advice to these people hoping to help but they don't listen to me and when it turns out I was correct they are already whining about it and making up excuses for their failures. Excuses such as "well I wasn't really in love, I was just lying to myself" or "They were just using me". It's never their fault in their minds and then they find someone else doing the exact same thing over expecting this time it will be different. Then when that goes badly they come back whining again. It's a never ending cycle that makes me mad cause when I try to help they don't listen very well. They can't own up to their mistakes and make it right in the future.

Well all I can say about these people without ranting more is stop giving advice to them and let them figure it out on their own. It's their own fault for getting into the mess they're in cause they have been warned and they ignored that warning, so they need to stop crying and own up to it then don't make the same mistakes again. That's the only thing you can do with these people cause if they don't listen, then why give more advice? They are idiots and as a saying goes "you can't fix stupid" which is true when they don't change their ways.

This caged bird dreams of flying

A bird is caged to protect him/her, but all that cage is doing is keeping the bird trapped and he/she will never learn how to fly. I'm sure everyone feels this way, but I know for a fact those with over-protective parents such as I, has felt this way all the time. Everyone least knows of one or has one of those parents that protect their children so much that you lose the freedom that others have.

Over-protective parents love their kids so much that they want to protect them from everything and often set strict limits. Limits that effect your social life.

• Most kids from these parents, don't get to have sleep-overs with friends until a late age due to the parents feeling uncomfortable letting their child sleep at a stranger's house. If the parents don't know your friends' parents or who else will be in the house then it's very unlikly you will sleep over.  The same goes with going to places with friends (such as the mall, thier house, etc.).
• They often have you contact them constantly telling them where you are or if you are alright, through the day when you are away from them.
• They do everything for you so you don't have to worry yourself over anything. They push you to be "good" by getting good grades and be a modiled indiviual.
•  No dating until they think you are old enough (which is mostly after you graduate high school). If you do date then you are limited to what you can do with your gf/bf and like any parent no person is "good enough" for you.

Well, my parents aren't as strict as others, but still according to everyone I know my parents are over-protective of me and even I agree they need to let me go. I missed a lot of things growing up that my peers already experianced and I felt left out. Not to mention their over-protective ways effected me mentally in ways concerning my personality.

• Growing up I was a very shy child and had trouble making friends because I was so sheltered I didn't react much with other kids. When I did obtain friends, I couldnt' spend the night unless my parents met and learned all the information they needed about my friends' parents, and most times they didnt' feel comfortable letting me spend a whole night away from home (I barely spent it away with family). I felt awful making up excuses why I couldn't come over because I didn't want my friends looking down on me or having to go through all that mess of questions my parents would ask. It wasn't until I got into high school that I spent a night with a friend, but had to convince my parents to even let me go to her birthday party.
• Then my parents being paranoid as they are, I couldn't browse the internet without supervision when I was a teenager due to someone could "hack into our computer' to find me. The only reason I got a email address (at age 13) was because a family member set me up with one, then i told my parents who was very skeptical of it and asked for my password. I wasn't allowed to play any online games nor go on forums. In High school i was finaly allowed to go on forums but no online games. (though like any teen I did it anyway behind their backs). They also discouraged me to talk to anyone older than me on those forums.
• I couldnt' date until I was 18 because they wanted me to focus on only school which left me sad and very lonely when I saw my peers dating as I could not until a certain age. I first have to complete least 2 years of college before thinking about marriage (though last year I did get engaged, only telling them 3 days later). Despite I'm 22, I cannot "make out" with my fiance nor do anything perverted with him because they want me to wait for marriage before sex and any "inappropiate" behavior (such as touching thighs, breasts, butt, etc.). If we are in the same room we must keep the door open. And not to mention my parents intervene in my relationship if they see me upset or something. For instance just a month ago I was having a lack of communication problem with my fiance and it depressed me, so they pushed their opinions on me and almost called him or his parents to "fix things". They say "they have that right" since I'm their daughter. It is putting stress on me and my fiance.
• When i'm not at home, I must send a text message to them if I go anywhere else (such as the mall, someone's house, restuaruant, etc.) and when I get back. When I was younger I had to call them to ask for permission if I could go somewhere. Again half the time i made up excuses because I feared the answer they'd give me was a "no" since in the past most times they never let me. I felt ashamed how my friends rolled thier eyes at how my parents were acting.
• My dad wouldn't allow me to wear makeup until I was in high school. Though I am thankful my mom let me get my ears peirced when i was in 6th grade. My dad is obsessed with my hair cause he gets annoyed when I go get it trimmed saying a girl should have long hair, it's beautiful. Though I love my long hair it is a hassle to have it so long and I hate trying to convince my dad to stop getting annoyed.
• When I was a teenager and left home alone I was not allowed to step out of the house nor to answer the door for strangers because my parents feared someone would abduct me.
• If I do make plans, I must tell them days in advance (least 2 days) before the event. Unlike others I can't just decide to go to a friend's house a day prior, which annoys me cause I miss out on things.

That is most of the things I was not allowed to do, which isn't everything. Also living as a low middle class family I never got to go to many places either such as amusement parks, the beach, etc. and though I was allowed to watch horror movies and play violent video games, I didn't have the social life I desired. To this day I still don't have a social life as others. I live under their roof because with the economy as the way it is money is low, I have no job and it's hard to find one these days. I am working on my learners but without gas money I won't be able to go places. My fiance is also struggling so until he can get a job with a stable income, we cannot start our life together.

I hate how over-protective my parents are cause I feel my life is passing me by without me taking control of it. They are always telling me their opinions and pushing their beliefs onto me even though inside I disagree (I never voice it). I am so nervous and dependent on others that I can't fucntion as those that had a none-sheltered life. I'm paranoid of the world where I dont' take risks. I try to talk to them but with me being under their roof, I don't have much say in the things I want (such as seeing my fiance more). I rely on them to bring and take me to my fiance's cause even if I had my liscencs they don't like me driving to a big city alone, but he can come get me (if he had his car). They pick the times when they pick me up because it's "their time" and will call me "selfish" if I protest. Where i was sheltered I never expressed my emotions when I was younger so now I don't have control over them, making me very sensitive near tears when I get upset over something. Being sensitive has made it hard for me to talk to them, and compromise because they see me upset and think I'm arguing, which makes them mad.

My parents want me to open up more, but once i do they don't agree with the things I say and sometimes it turns into an argument, so that's why I hardly ever voice my opinions. What's the point? I damn feel helpless and trapped, I have no control over my life. I hate how they interfere with my love life when they see me upset over something. i know they wish to help and it hurts them to see me hurting, but it's my life and they need to let me make my own choices. I can't learn if they do things for me, I can't be independent if they make me depend on them, I can't have a voice if they disagree with my opinions, I can't be outgoing if they don't allow me freedom, I can't live my life if they keep controling my life! I love them but I wish they will let me go already, I wish to fly away like the grown bird I am. I don't care if it is "selfish" of me to want these things because I been living underneath them all my life having them influence my life and my choices i make, I want to make myself happy now. Is it wrong of me wanting to live my life in the way it'll make me happy?

Until I can get out of this house I'm stuck this way... under their roof is their rules no matter how much I disagree and dislike it. I don't understand how parents can be over-protective when all it does is cause more harm to the child than good. If you don't let anything happen to them then nothing will happen to them.