What you are about to read is NOT a parody or exaggeration. It is the true account of an hour of my life yesterday afternoon.
My “New Religious Movements” class meets Tuesday afternoons. Now, I really, really enjoy the subject matter. I find so-called cults to be extremely fascinating. But the class itself isn’t anything great. I have found here that most classes are set up so that the lecturer speaks slowly enough that you can write down his exact words. Because that is what is expected of you as a student – to memorize the exact words of the professor and then spew them out on the final. Students also hate answering questions because if you do volunteer something in class and another student thinks what you said is stupid or ridiculous, they will just laugh at you. Seriously. So no one wants to answer any questions because they will just get made fun of by the rest of the class. I would probably attribute this behavior to the way that children are taught in preschools and primary schools. Corporeal punishment is kind of the norm in Ghana. Kym is volunteering at a preschool on campus and one of their class rules is "No talking in class." These kids are 2 and 3. There's no free play. There's no room for creativity or curiosity. This is not an environment conducive to inspiration or love of learning.
Well, so yesterday I go to class and at 3:30 a student stands up in front of the class and says these exact words: "Everyone, we have a serious problem with the professor." I'm thinking the professor has gotten sick or something really bad has happened to him. He follows that statement with, "Professor only got 5 of the 6 sheets back at the end of class last week. And he's furious. He's refusing to come to class. So if you have this paper in your notebook, please return it to me so we can fix this situation."
Now at this point I thought there had been some sort of cultural misunderstanding. There has to be more going on here than meets the eye, right?Nope. I'm understanding this situation quite clearly. Although it makes no rational sense to me whatsoever, my professor is refusing to come to class because he believes a student "stole" one of the six papers he passed to the class last week. (Note- these papers were made in Word. So he MUST have a copy on his computer. Nevermind the other FIVE copies he has in his possession.) I found this situation completely and utterly ridiculous. But none of the Ghanaian students did. They all took this situation to be completely normal, albeit quite grave.
The first suggestion was made by a student that we send an envoy to our professor's office to go apologize. I think this is a stupid idea because 1) I think he's being more than childish by reacting to what was almost certainly the accidental taking of a replaceable paper. 2) I would have no idea what we would be apologizing for. 3) Groveling to the professor only reinforces that his behavior is acceptable and can only lead to further tyranny in the classroom. Yes, I said tyranny.
But everyone in the class thought this was a perfectly rational idea. So they decide to send two boys and two girls to his office to apologize and ask him to come and lecture to the class. They leave. I seethe for half an hour until they come back.
They come back at 4:15 to tell us that he is not in his office, but his office is unlocked. Another girl in the class stands up and says, "Everyone, this is really serious. I bet he is out there right now talking with the vice-chancellor about all of this. We need to show how serious we are about this situation." Ummmm, honey. You're on crack if you think he's over at the Great Hall talking to the vice-chancellor about a missing paper.
She continues with, "I think we should march over to the department and wait in his office to show how serious we are about this situation." I think this is the stupidest idea I've ever heard. Everyone else in the class thinks it's a great idea. So they all get up and start walking to the department! At this point I had had enough. It was an hour after class had started. I was more than done with the circus that was going on in that classroom. I took this moment to exit the situation and go home. So, for all I know, they could still be sitting in our professor's office... waiting for him to show up.
But what I don't understand is how the University allows things like this to happen. I've NEVER heard of a professor not showing up to punish the students. Showing up is his JOB. We are paying him to educate us. No education was had yesterday. And he's still getting paid. Is he trying to discipline the class? Because that's not his job. He's not our father. At Tufts I would go to the head of the department or some member of the administration to complain. But there seems to be no structure for that here. I could talk to Dr. B but he couldn't actually do anything more than just agree that it's a sucky situation.
It's a strange line drawn between students and teachers. Professors/Lecturers respect themselves quite a bit. One must always learn and use the proper title when talking with a Mrs. or Mr. or Dr. or Professor or Lecturer. If you use the wrong one, you are liable to get your head bitten off. So they demand quite a bit of respect and kowtowing. But this is bordering on insane. I don't know if he's drunk on power or what. And the fact that students take this kind of situation as normal is not okay. You should not be used to and accommodating to this type of behavior from your professor.
Granted, it's possible that the initial student was combining the fact that we were missing a paper from last class and that the professor was not going to come to class, creating a huge mess. But all signs thus far point to their direct correlation.
Okay, now that that rant is done. I'm going to move onto happier subjects. Last night the Tufts girls took our roommates out to an Indian restaurant in Osu. And it was tons of fun. Indian food is such a nice change of pace from the constant stream of Jollof, Fufu, and Wakkye. During the ride there and through most of dinner, Rosie kept trying to convince me to get my hair braided. It's something like $6 to get your whole head done, so it's not all that expensive. But I have seen some ridiculous braids on some Oboronis around campus. Not so pretty. I don't want to look silly, but Rosie assures me that I won't. I'm not so convinced. Comment with your vote: yay or nay on the braids. And/or suggestions for certain braid styles.
Also, this weekend we are going on a tropical vacation to the Green Turtle Lodge (www.greenturtlelodge.com). I can't wait to relax, tropical drink in hand as I laze about the beach for three days. Ahhhh, that will be the life.
2 comments:
Heyyy,
1) I didn't get your text until it was too late to respond. Anyways, what I needed (still need) is someone to go to a hotel that used to exist a little west of the arts center (called the Riviera) and find out the name and phone number of the new, swanky, place with private huts next to it. If you could do that some time, it would be awesome.
2) If you get your hair braided, make sure you ask for them to be smaller and for them to use as little fake hair as possible. If you don't, you'll end up looking like braidzilla. But, these will take longer to do and take longer to take out. Be careful with getting a color that's too dark too.
2b) Cornrows are cool and you won't sweat as much with them in, and they almost halve the taking them out time. But they don't last as long because your hair growing out affects cornrows more than normal braids.
3) How did the student know the prof was mad? Did he talk to him directly or just guess? Or hear from someone else?
Say NO to braids !! Your hair is beautiful just the way it is and I promise to French braid it when you come home !!
What a wacky school you're going to - glad you're only there for a semester or I'd ask for my money back !!
As for the Green Turtle lodge you are planning to go to....sounds nice. Make sure you have some French Toast served with banana and local honey for me.
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