Am I being unreasonable about this teacher?

[ATLmom]

I'm taking classes at a local technical college. All assignments and test are turned in on-line.On one test that got scored I couldn't figure out why two questions were counted wrong. So I did them over and over again. I re-read the parts in the book and finally showed them to my husband who is a software engineer. He agreed with me that I was right and the test score was wrong.

So I emailed the teacher and told that i thought those questions were scored wrong on the test and would she look into it. She wrote back that she would.

The next week in class I asked if she had looked at them yet. No, she said she hasn't had a chance. OK, I'll give her time I thought.

The next test there was another question that I thought was scored wrong. I emailed her again about it. No response.

The next class was the Wednesday before the long weekend. She came into class at 8:00 and went over our assignments and said she was done unless anyone had any questions. She gathered up her things and headed toward the door. I stopped her and said that I had a question about the last test. She said ok. I showed her the printout of the problem and how the test scored it. She went over it a few seconds and then said something like, well it looks like you may be right, but I would re-read the section in the book and see if you can figure out where we are going wrong. I said that I did re-read the book and still don't think I'm wrong. She said "well without getting into it in-depth right now I can't give you a definitive answer. Just read the text again." I asked her to work it out on the board for me. She said she would have to do that when there were no other students in the class because it was a test question. (OK, that test was still open so maybe other students hadn't taken it yet even though it was over-due.)

So I asked about the other questions I had emailed her about on the past test. She just said again that we couldn't do test questions in class. This whole time she was edging toward the door. I just sighed and turned away. She left.

This was at 8:20 when the class is supposed to last until 10:00.

So I immediately emailed her again with the new test question and the old ones (total of 3 now) and offered to stay after class or come in another day at her convenience to discuss this. No response. That was 8 days ago. I emailed her again just now to check if she got my last email and ask for a response.

So, am I being unreasonable to expect a timely reply from this woman? I know it's just a small local technical school but come on, I'm paying out of pocket for this class. What should I do if I don't get a response from her?

[Lucky1307]

I feel that you have given her plenty of time to set up a time to go over the questions. I would call the individual over her. You are paying for the class and deserve to receive the education you are paying for.

[zoeys_mom]

I agree, I would contact an administrator and inform them you have some questions that are not being resolved.
From the sounds of it, it appears this teacher might not be qualified to teach this course and is just using the teachers manual to tell her right and wrong

[shetlandponyluvr]

Contact the head of the department. DH had to do that once or twice when he was working on his BA.

[mxmom99]

yes, call the department head!! you are paying for this class and at least deserve an explanation to your question. if you are wrong, you need to know why, not just that youre wrong.

[lalanpnut]

I agree with above posters, you've given her enough time to figure this out and it doesn't sound like she knows what to do, time to go over her head.

[morihuel]

I don't undrestand why she wouldnt respond on timely manner. I feel that she is giving you the run around. I'd give her a last try and ask her "WHEN" she'd be available to meet. If these mistakes reflect on your last grade, THEN, I'd bring it up to her supervisor or dpt.chair. Keep record of all emails that you have sent, document yourself in case you need to dispute your grade at the end of the course. Good luck.

[whatsfree4me]

I agree she has had enough time. It sounds like she is tip-toing around because she doesn't really know the answers either. Telling you to reread the text to find out where the two of you may be going wrong.. is wrong on her part. She should be reading it if she feels there may be a mistake. When you think about it, all the students are being led wrong, if the answers are wrong.

[couponwitch]

I don't think you are being over sensitive. I would like to ask a couple questions... and make a suggestion or two....
Does she have a grad assistant?? They are generally the ones that grade the test. If she does, I would go to them and ask them to relook it.
Does she have office hours??? It may be the best way to have a chance to sit down with her. If she doesn't have office hours email or call and see if can you arrange to meet with her before or after class.
I would try these, if she can't or won't meet with you, then I would seek out her Department head. I would make a time to meet with them, take the test with me and explain my frustrations. Be sure to have them review the test questions with you, remember that is what you want to know if you made a mistake and what is the right way to do it. If your right about the test questions, it will make your concerns about not getting feed back from the prof more urgent.

[bigsweetie]

Sounds to me like she has no clue. If she knew the subject she was teaching she should've been able to take one look at the question and realize it was scored wrong.

I think she's avoiding you hoping you'll just drop it... because knowing you're probably right (since she doesn't seem to know her own material) she'd potentially have to re-grade everyone's test! If she didn't want to work the problem out on the blackboard, fine, but a piece of paper would've been too hard? Come on!

I'd go to her administrator. Technical school or university doesn't matter, you're paying good money for these courses.

I hate lazy professors!!!