Two questions--one serious, one...not so serious.

[tzikeh]

Not-So-Serious first. I know G-Rod (Blagojevich, for the non-Illinoisans) quoted Kipling and Tennyson, but why do I keep seeing references to him quoting Bon Jovi's "Dead or Alive"?

Serious: My History of American Education professor is telling us about all of the persecutions and tortures the early Christians suffered at the hands of the Romans. (Yeah, I know, what does this have to do with... he's a proselytizer. I may be going to the Dean.) But here's the thing. Aside from telling us, in detail, about the crucifixions, and the burning as torches (both of which are documented in contemporary accounts), he also went into the "Christian thrown to the lions for entertainment" one.

Okay. Some of you are going to think me an idiot for trusting Stephen Fry over this guy, but on QI, Fry stated unequivocally that it was a myth perpetuated through the ages, and there was absolutely no proof of it anywhere, unlike the others mentioned above. QI is very meticulously put together, and after two classes with this prof I can tell that he really really really really really wants us all to be Christians as well as teachers.

Can anyone help me find information--or confirmation--about this? I mean, yeah, it's a tv show with comedians on it, but the minions do hardcore research.

Comments

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm really thinking about it. But there are problems, namely that complaints about professorial conduct have to go *to the professor first*, from the student (unless we're talking sexual harrassment), which is possibly the worst policy I've ever heard. In other words, if a student has a problem with how the professor is conducting his or her class, they have to talk to the professor about it before they go to anyone else, in hopes of resolving it without getting the Administration involved. Of course, that means that now the student is suspect in the prof's eyes, and OF COURSE the prof isn't going to change how he or she does things. Especially not this guy, who is retired and just does this one class a week "for fun".

Also I feel a bit guilty because, though my complaint above has that ARGH kind of tone, the guy is genuinely nice. He's a very pleasant, sweet old man who just thinks everyone should be Christian and likes to tell stories about whatever happens to come to his mind at that moment.

Sigh.

[klia.livejournal.com]

Maybe you *should* talk to him, then, and explain very nicely and non-confrontationally that you're there to partake of his wisdom about the topic he's teaching, and while you're glad he's obviously happy and healthy and thinks his family is wonderful, from a student's perspective, it's not helping you learn?

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I don't know. After saying "Look, there just isn't any proof of this", then going and saying "Also your teaching style sucks and I paid $650 to take this state-mandated class required for my certification", I think I'd just be harming myself in the long run.

This is *supposed* to be Educational Foundations 305: The History of American Public Education. What I've heard from students who have taken this class with other profs, this is *not* how the class is supposed to go. We've spent two weeks in Ancient Greece and up through the Middle Ages; everyone else who has taken it with several other profs is like "Um, whut?" The textbook starts with the Colonies. We don't open it for another three weeks, according to the syllabus.

[klia.livejournal.com]

Bleh. And there's probably no dropping/re-taking with another prof, either?