Saturday, December 1, 2012

Really Delightful Things My Grad Professors Say...#7: Special TA Edition!


Sometimes teaching assistants at brand name private universities can be fairly disconnected, insulated, or arrogant--and this living in a bubble leads to delightful* comments, like this one!



Me:
  So are you going to miss any of your undergrads from this semester?

Teaching Assistant #1:  No.

Teaching Assistant #2:  God, no.

Teaching Assistant #3:  No-no. I'm ready to see them leave me.

Me:  Really? Not even just a couple of students?

TA #2:  Yeah, I don't like a single student in my class this semester. They're just...I can't stand a single one.

TA #1:  Mmm, really, I know.

TA #2 Always after me with emails. Always asking about assignments. But none of them are bright. No one is really that smart. No one talks much in class.

TA #3:  Oh, I know, I know. No one talks in my class either.

TA #1:  No one talks in my class either!

TA #2 Yeah, they sit there stone silent, as if I'm supposed to give them the answer. They're just a bunch of--well, I shouldn't say it--guess I should say it nicely somehow--just that my undergrads are all a bunch of brats. I'll be happy to get rid of them. All of them.

TA #1:  Yeah, me too. I can't wait to see them out the door.

TA #3:  Mmmm, me too. I didn't like any of my students either.

Me:  [hesitating]  Huh. That's odd. Maybe it's weird of me to say, but I think I'm going to miss nearly all of my own students. They've been a good bunch.

TA #2:  You probably lucked out, because I don't think any grad student likes the undergrads they have.

Me:  Everyone says that, that I lucked out. But I've always liked my classes every time I teach. They all tried in my class. Most worked hard, even if it didn't pan out in a grade they wanted. I never had any issue getting anyone to talk. I always have a lively bunch of chatty students.

TA #2:  Nah. I hope I never see a single one of my students again. I want them to ignore me if they ever pass me in public. Just walk on by. Don't even look at me. Go away.

TA #1:  Oh, I know! Me, too!

TA #3:  Mmm, indeed.

TA #2:  Like, really, I never want to think of them again.

Me:  Because they felt uncomfortable talking in your class?

TA #2:  YES!



*Not really delightful.

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