frustrated, stressed

[sravan_pinky143]

Help! I've been in school almost 5 months. We've covered a lot of A & P and pathology and are now getting heavily into kinesiology (which I love) and, of course, hands-on massage.

But during the past month my attitude has taken a nosedive, and I'm afraid it's partly because of my teacher. I have never met such a negative person. Her style is to criticize, forbid, interrupt, and warn. Her lectures are full of "don'ts" and very light on "dos". During practicals I've never heard her start off a criticism with a positive comment ("you're doing X well, but let me show you how you could do Y better"); she focuses only on what we're doing wrong. While correcting us, she practically knocks us out of the way so she can show the right way to work on the client. During lectures she does exaggerated "impressions" of the clumsy, oafish students she thinks (and tells us) we are. Although we all work very hard (both in class and out) to correct our faults, she doesn't seem to see our progress, only our faults. It's very discouraging.

I know this sounds like a big vent about the teacher, and I don't mean it that way. As a student I know I do a lot of things wrong and need to practice over and over again. The teacher may not realize how negative she sounds, and I can't change her anyway. I'm looking for a way to get excited about school again, or at least get through the next 4 months so I can get out, get licensed, and start practicing the profession I want to do for the rest of my life.

 

[hantsgirl53]

joplus,
I'm sorry you seem to be having a diffucult time with her. She is obviously some one whom you can't really talk to when it comes to school. While she may be having some stressful times in her personal life, there really is no excuse for reacting the way she does with the students. I suggest you talk to some one in administration about her, and if any of the other students concur with you, take them along. Don't turn the meeting into a bashing session, but do voice your concerns about what is going on. At the school I attended they periodically had instructor audit/reviews where some one sat in on the class from the school and observed the instructor. This may be something they do at your school. In any case, use this time to hone your own skills when it comes to handling people, and over time you will be handling a lot of people! Keep you chin up, do your best! We all know you can do it! Keep us informed as to what happens, if anything we are here to be a vent for you!

 

[rockerchick82]

Oh man you are what we called at that point in school, "down in the well". I remember it sooooo well. I also had a teacher at that point in my education who has loads of talent and experience. However this teacher also taught from the negitve prospective and not the positive. Its rough having someone always tell you to do it better, different, not like that. It does a number on your self esteem and makes you question your decisions. I am glad you see it has her issue and know you most likely can't change this person. Pull out all the knowldege you can from her and dismiss all the crap. I found seeing my teacher as just a normal human being and who knows what going on in their personal life helped. Taking that person OFF a pedstal while still accepting and respecting they had a lot to offer. But seeing they have faults and are not superior helped. Also you only have a few months to go. You can do anything for a few more months right? You are going to love it in the end when you have real clients who tell you how much they enjoy coming to you. Until then if the teacher doesn't give you props, give em to yourself. You deserve it. Stay positive and be in charge of you. Don't give that power over to some teacher who seems so mighty all knowing who you will probaly never see again after you are done. And lastly do come back here and vent when you need to. YOU CAN DO IT!!

 

[subhasish g]

Just hang in there--Speak with school administration or the program director about her actions,ask for a class audit so someone can see how she is acting with her students-but I bet she will be a "good girl" knowing she is being watched!. She is there to teach,motivate and inspire,not to belittle you. She was once a student and should know that she did not know everything when she entered school either! It is a learning process! Keep your head up and fucused! You will be just fine!!!!

Blessings and Light--
Johnny

 

[BilligCialis]

I know this thread is a little old, but I'm new here and just found myself in a similar position. Our teacher was yelling at us, insinuating we were all idiots and that we were sleeping on the job. Because he was asking questions of the class, and he claims we were not answering him. But we would answer, he would look directly at us and ignore us. So we quit answering, figuring what's the point. One time I answered, and he actually admitted to hearing me only to say I was wrong, and then explain to the class how I was actually on the right track! Basically he did everything he could without coming out and saying it that we are all stupid. :evil:
then two days later we had him for a different class, and he acted like nothing ever happened.
Our final is on Monday, and we're all worried because we feel like he hates our whole class.
So I was wondering, how did your situation work out? How did you handle it?

 

[2pac]

Aren't you glad you don't have a drill seargeant!?!

So, I think as was mentioned earlier, if there is a teaching problem, it can be taken to the administration, or you can choose to look at class in a different manner - accentuating the positives (if there are any).

I'd like to throw something in as general info here.

I have a teacher who is a client. A regular teacher (high school), not a massage teacher. I am a former massage school instructor, but that's not where I am coming from for this thought.

My high-school teacher client made a pretty interesting statement on the table the other evening. She mentioned that she has a powerful voice(and she does), and that she has students who have only recieved "time-outs" or not been reprimanded for most of their lives and are getting stressed because it sounds to them like she is yelling at them. She is most likely no more yelling at these kids than a man on the moon (though if you were talking from the moon to the earth, you'd probably try to yell *chuckle*). Well, anyway - my thought is that there are a lot of people being raised in a more pampered way than in the past, and I believe we're going to have more situations where younger students are going to be stressed, saddened and frustrated at their college and career situations as we move on into 2010.

I don't know where either of these posters are in their lives on the age scale, and there are some definite teaching problems mentioned here, but on that chance that the student is putting a spin on things because they expect a teaching experience that is strictly nurturing, I'd like to add these above thoughts.

Hope that makes sense, and gives this thread a few more topics to expand on which will give us a very interesting thread.

And, to everyone who has hit a down point, for whatever reason -- good luck in school!!!!! Keep plugging away (with or without the good teachers)! Massage is fun! You'll come back to that again, soon enough ---- but until then, keep your chin up, we're cheering you on! :dancingparty:

 

[Pompal 09.]

I don't know where either of these posters are in their lives on the age scale, and there are some definite teaching problems mentioned here, but on that chance that the student is putting a spin on things because they expect a teaching experience that is strictly nurturing, I'd like to add these above thoughts.

I don't have much time to write just now, but I did want to take a moment to respond to your comment above...That's a very interesting point, but it doesn't apply in my case (wish it did - life would be much simpler ). I'm in my early 40s, have been through college and postgrad programs (in a technical discipline), and am definitely not looking for teacher-as-mommy at massage school. I don't expect nurturing, but I also don't expect to be knocked out of the way as I'm trying to massage my client.

Anyway, I appreciate all the responses to this post. Things have gotten a little better in school, and I'll elaborate on that as soon as I can.

 

[stoolbert]

I'm not young either, nearing 40. Was definitely not pampered growing up, have been yelled at and disciplined plenty in my life, and will admit I'm harder on myself than anyone else ever could be. You are correct, there are now a lot of spoiled children, but I am not one of them. I do not expect to be catered to or "mommied" either, and if I did something wrong I will admit it. After all, we are there to learn I do not expect to be perfect or know everything. On the other hand, I also do not expect to be told I'm an idiot. I have a GPA of 4.0 at school, and we are close to getting done.
I mostly wanted to find out how the first poster was doing, how they handled their situation for some pointers. But, I'm over it now. I'll just sit tight till we're done and hope he's in a good mood the day he grades our finals.

I'm done whining now. Thanks for the support.

 

[SlsB]

not so much positive

Wow hang in there, I know what you are saying, however i have found that at the end of it all that is what your going to remember. I know what you mean by it affecting your self esteem, and I'm not saying what she is doing is right, I just know that when a compliment does come your way, your going to know that she is being honest and not just sending out words does that make sence? : I couldn't say it then but I can say it now, I learned the most from the people who were the hardest on me.