Problem Student

This might come as a shock to some of you, others it might fit in with your established view of me, but I am usually labeled as a "problem student." In most of my classes this is the case ranging from Elementary to University. In my memories in high school I was going strong as a problem student but teachers looked past it because of my 4.0. They don't like to mess with the smart kids. Well, in University it seems like your grade is dependent upon how much you can kiss up to the teacher. I have not been one to do this, there presents the problem. There is a class that I am in right now that should be 2 classes. There are way to many students for it to work in the way the teacher wants it to work. Large group discussions with 5 people raising their hands and the teacher specifically glancing over you because you are too opinionated just doesn't work. Small group discussions work.

Today I got reprimanded by my teacher. It is a class about becoming an ally for culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Right now that is a huge passion of mine and I have experiences that she will shut down because they are the "white" experience. Because my group likes to talk about things like this, even during the break and before class, we sometimes strike up a small conversation within the larger conversation as it fits our need. We get reprimanded for talking more in depth about the issues. She should know that her teaching methods don't work with the current population of students she is working with. Why are her experiences "better" than mine? I talk about it because I care about it. The conversations are a comment to a neighbor here and there not a low roar for the entire class.

I sent her an email. I tried to explain how paramount this issue is to me and my family. I see what happens with my in-laws and husband. It is no longer a bystander position for me. I want to learn in that class. I want to hear the experiences of the students not just one set of experiences from the vantage of one person. There is more to learn. I hope that she doesn't take offense to the email. I was tactful. I told her the importance these issues have to me. I don't want to fail the class because I have something to say along with all the other people who have something to say that don't get a chance to say because of the classroom structure. It is the classroom structure that labels me as a problem student. I don't work well in that environment and an education department should understand that.