ANST - Big fish/small ponds, classes, and disgusted newcomers

[AuroraeB at aol.com]

In a message dated 98-10-23 13:50:45 EDT, you write:

<<  I just
 don't see a need to offend people willing to give of their time and skills
 because you once took a badly taught class at an event. And exactly how much
 did that class cost you? This is just a hobby done for fun, folks. Let's not
 take ourselves so seriously. >>


This whole "accrediting" process is even more stringent than given to
professional teachers in organizations that offer "non-credit" classes such as
Leisure Learning in Houston and Fun ed. in Dallas.  I have taught for many
years on many subjects through Leisure Learning Unlimited in Houston.  All I
had to do was attend a basic orientation on that organization's procedures and
rules.  

It was up to the students to say whether or not we were good teachers.  If we
had a class that was a dud, they could fill out a negative feedback form and
get a refund.  But, these were people paying like $30 and up to take these
classes. And I was a professional instructor getting well-paid to teach them.
NOT a volunteer organization where for a few $$$ they could sign up for as
many classes as they could take in a day.  

I think this is overkill.  Why hold non-professional volunteers to higher
standards than professionals?  This is similar to what is done at my
university where a prospective new professor is invited to give a lecture and
be "evaluated" by the faculty in that department.  Is this level of expertiese
what we are seeking?  How many of our volunteer teachers are going to pass the
"test".

Also, what guarantees that the "panel" is going to make a fair and good
decision here?  What if personal politics come into play, or you get somebody
on a panel who is a know it all and is faced with conflicting information?  

Where and when are all these classes going to be "previewed"?  Who is going to
take the time and effort to "preview" a whole schedule's worth of classes.
What about a scenario where somebody new wants to teach a class, and cannot,
as they have not been "previewed"?   Or they decide it is too much hassle, so
only previously "previewed' instructors can teach classes?

I must say, I have taken many classes in the SCA-setting, and NEVER came out
of one without getting my money's worth!  I can see expecting this kind of
scrutiny when paying over $300 a credit hour for a university class, but
paying $3 to $5 for a whole day of classes?  Come On!   

I think this is a mountain out of a molehill.  If there were a serious problem
with people totally wasting students' time in these classes then it might be
an issue, but that is not what I have encountered taking the classes.  Let the
students do the feedback, if the teacher is a dud, then the issue of whether
or not they need to teach needs to be addressed.  But, again, consider what
you are paying them for their instructional abilities and expertiese on the
subject first!

Tracy
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