Conflicting Signals
On days like this, I wish desperately that I could choose a different professor for my Theatre 11 class. Almost.
Peyrouse was in top form today, and to a lesser extent yesterday. Which was none too reassuring as that was the due date for my oral presentation on the Oleanna rehearsals I attended. I did the best job that I could, and I even came up with an idea that he said was neat and original for his creative projects. But I felt bad afterwards that he kept cutting me off at various points in my speech whenever I'd talk about the play. The best reasoning he could offer was that he didn't want me to spoil any of the details about the plot. I guess that's understandable, but it's not like I'm telling them anything that hasn't already been stated in the press release and the signs and banners all around Furman. Not to mention the fact that Oleanna is one of the plays in our textbook; they can go read it anytime they like, and I know for a fact that some of them have already. But no, he said, just talk more about the production and the process by which they put it together. So I tried to stick to that, but I'd inevitably keep going off into the play again, at which point he'd cut me off. That left me feeling a little less hopeful about how my final grade will turn out. It could be that he was just playing Devil's Advocate with me, but I don't take chances with my grades. It's just getting harder and harder to know exactly what I need to do to make good in his course.
And that was yesterday. Today's lesson was devoted to discussion about Moliere's The Misanthrope, a very intriguing comedy. I tried to suggest that in Moliere's time, obviously it would be a comedy, but in our period, we could be more specific and call it a farce (in retrospect, perhaps a better term would have been satire. That suits the play's themes better). If it had been any professor but Peyrouse, he would have thought about my comment, offered his input, and we would've tried to work it out together. Paid no attention to what I said, but instead went on to another line of thought. And then, he goes on about how, again, we can feel free to disagree even on the tests, as long as we put the answer Peyrouse wants, then the answer we prefer, and why we prefer it. All well and good, you say? I think so, also. So why, I ask him, did he mark off my answer to a controversial question on the first test, even though my opinion differed from his, I offered up two or three lines of reason to back it up. His response? "Well, you were just whacked on that one" (or something like that). Okay ..... WHY? Tell me why! Tell me what you were looking for! Please, let me know the reason for my error, and I'll be more than happy to correct it! Nope, he can't even give me that. "Go find out from your friends." Even though many of them missed the same questions. Aren't you the teacher? Why can't we talk about it? Why won't you help me understand?
*SIGH* ..... Now I know how Carol feels in Oleanna .....
Dear Lord, please guide and direct me in this situation. You know how it will ultimately turn out. All I ask is that You give me strength and peace of mind, and help me to make the best decisions according to Your will. Help me not to become frustrated and discouraged, for I know that's exactly what Satan wants. Let me continue to depend on Your majesty and grace to take the lead and see me through as You always have. Help me not to gripe and complain, but to be flexible and work with people even if it is hard sometimes. In Your name, Amen.
Song of the Day: Point of Grace - "Better Days" (I'll say it again. You girls are the greatest. You always have just the right song for my moods. May your melodic voices continue to honor and glorify the Lord our God.)
Verse of the Day: "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." - Phillippians 2:14-16
Peyrouse was in top form today, and to a lesser extent yesterday. Which was none too reassuring as that was the due date for my oral presentation on the Oleanna rehearsals I attended. I did the best job that I could, and I even came up with an idea that he said was neat and original for his creative projects. But I felt bad afterwards that he kept cutting me off at various points in my speech whenever I'd talk about the play. The best reasoning he could offer was that he didn't want me to spoil any of the details about the plot. I guess that's understandable, but it's not like I'm telling them anything that hasn't already been stated in the press release and the signs and banners all around Furman. Not to mention the fact that Oleanna is one of the plays in our textbook; they can go read it anytime they like, and I know for a fact that some of them have already. But no, he said, just talk more about the production and the process by which they put it together. So I tried to stick to that, but I'd inevitably keep going off into the play again, at which point he'd cut me off. That left me feeling a little less hopeful about how my final grade will turn out. It could be that he was just playing Devil's Advocate with me, but I don't take chances with my grades. It's just getting harder and harder to know exactly what I need to do to make good in his course.
And that was yesterday. Today's lesson was devoted to discussion about Moliere's The Misanthrope, a very intriguing comedy. I tried to suggest that in Moliere's time, obviously it would be a comedy, but in our period, we could be more specific and call it a farce (in retrospect, perhaps a better term would have been satire. That suits the play's themes better). If it had been any professor but Peyrouse, he would have thought about my comment, offered his input, and we would've tried to work it out together. Paid no attention to what I said, but instead went on to another line of thought. And then, he goes on about how, again, we can feel free to disagree even on the tests, as long as we put the answer Peyrouse wants, then the answer we prefer, and why we prefer it. All well and good, you say? I think so, also. So why, I ask him, did he mark off my answer to a controversial question on the first test, even though my opinion differed from his, I offered up two or three lines of reason to back it up. His response? "Well, you were just whacked on that one" (or something like that). Okay ..... WHY? Tell me why! Tell me what you were looking for! Please, let me know the reason for my error, and I'll be more than happy to correct it! Nope, he can't even give me that. "Go find out from your friends." Even though many of them missed the same questions. Aren't you the teacher? Why can't we talk about it? Why won't you help me understand?
*SIGH* ..... Now I know how Carol feels in Oleanna .....
Dear Lord, please guide and direct me in this situation. You know how it will ultimately turn out. All I ask is that You give me strength and peace of mind, and help me to make the best decisions according to Your will. Help me not to become frustrated and discouraged, for I know that's exactly what Satan wants. Let me continue to depend on Your majesty and grace to take the lead and see me through as You always have. Help me not to gripe and complain, but to be flexible and work with people even if it is hard sometimes. In Your name, Amen.
Song of the Day: Point of Grace - "Better Days" (I'll say it again. You girls are the greatest. You always have just the right song for my moods. May your melodic voices continue to honor and glorify the Lord our God.)
Verse of the Day: "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." - Phillippians 2:14-16
posted by david @ 1:55 PM
2 Comments:
At 8:36 PM,
Amanda | Glittericity said…
I'm sorry you're having to deal with him. It's true that you aren't always going to be told exactly what to do. It can be tough, and he doesn't seem very understanding. At least this semester is short.
At 8:38 PM,
Amanda | Glittericity said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
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