Job Discussion Forums

[Hiawatha]

Such as.....1 teacher laughs for no reason
2 teacher brings coffee to class, etc.

Do the administrators try to bring a middle ground between students and teachers? Like trying to get students to speak directly to teachers?
Or do they encourage students to write letters about minor issues?
In your opinion is there enough support for instructors in your college?
Any information you share would be appreciated. Thank you.

[helenl]

In this part of the world it is standard operating procedure to bypass the teacher and go to the highest person in the food chain you have access to. Don't take it personally, that's just the way it works here. Is it changing, slowly - but this happens everywhere in the world to one degree or another - it is easier to bypass you and avoid confrontation and perhaps remain anonymous and avoid possible retribution.

[eha]

The target doesn't remain anonymous, though. You can actually be called to account for things that never happened, except in the warped imagination of someone who's too inexperienced to interpret things properly; and you have no right to see your accuser face to face.
Actually, it's not the triviality of the complaints that bothers me so much: it's the amazing naivete on the part of many administrators, who actually listen to this tripe, instead of setting up a culture of openness and respect in their institutions. Also, I can't understand the readiness of colleagues to leap onto any old gossip bandwagon---even if they were air-kissing with you in the corridor two minutes before! Are all 'educational' institutions like this?

[steppy-boy]

Try working at Sohar College - there are three deans here who actually encourage the students to come to them for any complaints against teachers no matter how absurd or trivial. I know two teachers at least who are on the verge of resigning and leaving the Gulf entirely because the dean actually made up his mind even before hearing their stories. At this College at least, you are presumed guilty until proven innocent.

[helenl]

Agreed Eha - it comes with the territory here. The administration types are looking to hang onto their jobs (and avoiding having the complainers go over their heads) that they will "investigate" idiotic trivialities that may only exist in the complainants heads. Is it fair? No. Does it happen? Yes.

[RAHMA.Alfoori]

Dear Hiawatha,

Teachers and students have the right to voice their concerns be them trivial or not. Yet, administration is expected to handle these concerns wisely.

Regarding drinking-tea-compliant at class, it is not a common norm in the Arab countries that a teacher or a student would drink or eat at class. That�s viewed as �improper�! However, things are changing gradually. You may see it as �minor� but, to some, it is an indicator that the teaching process is not respected as well as the teacher is not demonstrating a good example. I could disagree with that but I still admire that knowledge is highly respected though drinking a cup of tea does not, in fact, conflict with teaching!


This is not addressed to Hiawatha or any member here, in particular but an observation!

Teachers, sometimes, present some �trivial complaints�!
They nag 24*7 about everything: facilities, students, administration, etc�! If not at work then at such websites! It's relieving that one can express her/his emotions on line epecially when they have no one to talk to. Sometimes, there are members on this website who no longer work in Oman but regard themselves the experts in 'all' that is Omani!

Those who just complain without trying to sort out whatever problem seem to have plenty of time they are not sure how to make use of. Some people at this website have nothing to do in life, sorry to say but they made it �a life�! Loneliness and sense of �unbelonging� to a family or group result in depression, sense of loss and emptiness.

[eha]

Actually, my impression is that many people on this --- and other ---websites turn to such fora when they've tried unsuccessfully to have the problem solved through whatever means are available to them. It's amazing how limited such means are: many institutions have 'grievance procedures', but these often just turn into another layer of bureaucracy. Besides, many of the problems people need to discuss are of an informal variety; not the sort of thing you can bring a formal complaint about, but which -- how can I say this diplomatically?-- which don't exactly add to the development of openness, respect and harmony in the workplace. I had a long conversation today with a colleague who's exasperated beyond endurance by the kind of thing that passes for 'banter' in the environment in which he works. He finds such 'joking' offensive, juvenile, beneath the dignity of 'academics' and inappropriate in an academic setting --- and, yes, he has said so. But those concerned don't seem to hear; they just turn what they call 'humour' against him. This is definitely not something he could bring a formal complaint about; it's a matter of institutional cultural change. But in the meantime, very energy-wasting for anyone who has to put up with it.
Oh and by the way, while this happens to be an Omani thread, no-one is suggesting that such things are exclusive to the Omani setting. I could tell you stories that would curl your hair, not one of which features an Omani!

[jwbhomer]

This begs the question of what IS a "trivial complaint". On the question of drinking tea or coffee in the classroom, I side with Rahma, even though I am a westerner. Call me old-fashioned, but to me a classroom is a place for teaching and learning. If people want to eat and drink, they should go to the canteen. That goes for teachers too.

Rahma says that attitude, which is part of ME culture as I understand it, is changing. If so, I would say that's too bad -- just another example of the Americanization of culture.

[Kootvela]

Though I am not in Oman, but trivial complaints happen here as well.

1.Teacher gives us too much grammar (beginner class)
2. Teacher doesn't give us enough grammar (the same beginner class)
3. Teacher is too artistic (that's my favourite)

[eha]

"1.Teacher gives us too much grammar (beginner class)
2. Teacher doesn't give us enough grammar (the same beginenr class)"

Way to go, Kootvela!

3. Too much homework. (seems to translate as: Any homework at all)

[Kootvela]

[Hiawatha]

Rahma please do not misunderstand us:

We like the Omani people, yet since we are expats here, we sometimes use the forum to get feedback and support of what goes on in these institutions. And like eha suggested, these issues occur not only in Oman, but in much of the Gulf and yes the west as well.

Our point is that when it is a college that has an equitable complaint system, for both instructors and students alike, we can all get back to "teaching" and "learning" which is what we're here for in the first place.

That being said....

How about this one?
1. teacher gives too much homework.
(After the next exam when homework has been descreased...)
2. Teacher did not teach us enough about exam.

[lotsa]

3. Teacher did not tell us the questions before the exam
4. Teacher asked too many easy questions
5. Teacher asked too may hard questions (same group as 4. above)
6. Teacher did not tell us we couldn't cheat (same group as 4. above).

To be honest, I have found the students that come to me have been in a system entrenched for many years by poor exam administration. All of the above I resolved a few months ago... i don't get trivial questions anymore - what I do get is reliable and valid results and students that excel. Lots to be said for grassroot teaching.

[RAHMA.Alfoori]

I believe it�s our duty as teachers to alert students to the importance of learning through self-study. Our young students need advice and counselling to be aware of the significance of valuing learning for its sake not just for attaining that meaningless �score�!


You might say that family is also responsible for spreading the culture of valuing knowledge but if a country started teaching its citizens in 1970, how would you expect family to play that expected role when they never had had the chance to education in the first place?! Our parents, unfortunately, cannot teach sts to value learning because they are not 'learned' even when they, parents greatly value learning ! This is not to generalize but this is a fact all expat teachers need to be aware of. In our country, a teacher is a parent regardless to her/his age! I feel obliged to educate not just to teach...


When I was an undergraduate student at SQU, all students were assigned to study the book, for instance, �Essentials of Grammar in Use� without the help of any teacher in our foundation year. We had to sit for the grammar exam which wasn�t actually taught by any of the teachers. Students shouldered the responsibility of learning independently; felt responsible not just for learning, but they also got involved in the teaching process.

I remember very well one of my great teachers who once said, �I am a professor of literature! English is my first language. I was born American from the states BUT I make mistakes! I am allowed to make spelling mistakes and you will notice that I make so many, but I don�t allow you to make any!� I can never forget what he said because he taught us a great lesson which I am actually passing to my current students. This culture of awareness that the perfect-teacher is just a myth, is major to resolve the issue of complaints from both parties, students or teachers.

When students are mature enough to value learning for its sake then we will end up having more enlightened generations! We need to set good examples of teachers that do not have to pretend to be the know-it-all!