Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had posted about the presentation I will be doing for some children who are attending a spring camp over the next two weeks, if anyone remembers. Since initially, the day I would be doing the presentation I would also have class, and I can't afford the gas/transport to go home, get animals, go to camp afterwards, I asked the professor if she minded me having them quietly boxed up (snakes in pillowcases/bags, just in boxes for appearance's sake)in the back of class. Mind you, I asked this over a MONTH ago. She initially wasn't for it, but after explaining that no, nothing will be getting out, and while they are in the boxes it'll just look like boxes in the back of class, she said alright. She said, and I quote, "Okay, I'll trust you."

In the middle of class this past Tuesday, she suddenly interjects the lecture with this statement, "Oh, and if anyone ever brings snakes into this classroom, I will fail them. Yes, Jenny, that means you." Wait, what?! Excuse me?! Where did this come from?! She continues to drop 'hints' throughout class, and again the next class. I was completely baffled, and tried to speak to her about it, but she kept bringing it up in front of the entire class - a huge no no, since they all feel the need to chip in, even when they have nothing to contribute.
There had been some schedule rearranging anyway, so if she had just talked to me she would have known that the snakes were not going to be coming to class anyway. I was upset, but figured "okay, since I'm not bringing snakes to class anymore, not gonna matter." Makes sense, right?

I get an email today from the college about an incident report filed that I brought snakes into class. Whoa, what? I haven't brought any animals to class! My professor kindly decided to save time and just report me early.

By the way, this is a Speech class. The animals are FOR a speech. Hm.

So, on Monday I get to call the fellow in charge of incident reports and inform him that my professor is mistaken, and there have been no animals in class. I'm just all kinds of mad and frustrated. Why is she going so far out of her way just to harrass me about my snakes? It just doesn't make sense to me. It's like harrassing someone about having a pet chihuahua just because you think their bark is annoying.

Sorry, I just had to rant. I may just get failed because I was trying to be courteous.

UGH.

~jenny
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

works at the school you attend. Sounds like your speech professor does not have the "right stuff" to be in such a position IMHO.
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Alice Cobb

Thanks, I guess I'll find out come Monday.
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

clear it with the highest power only......

ignore the stiupid teacher/professor /idiot on a power trip completely...do not speak to her about it ,argue at all or say a word to her......

make sure you do very well in that class.....

ignore all student fools who say a word about it to be "cute"...

if you ignore people they are gone.....if you fight with them it makes their day.........

.........
............people are stupid.......teachers aren't really people usually.........they are even weirder.......

.......last day you ever attend school........we'll think of a plan .....better than a rubber snake in her desk drawer.......

.......no not a live one.......she'll call a cop.......
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Good thing I am not a teacher.....
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RicK & Caitlyn @ Ball Boutique, Inc.

Ball Boutique,Inc.
Proud sponsor of this forum

jyohe has the right take and is absolutely correct. She should get the proper authority from the school, hold her head up high and go about her business, ignoring the professor and the other knot-heads in class.

Many (not all -I did not say all) of these professors are socially inept and have never really had to deal with regular people.

They go from introverted childhoods, to being social recluses in high school, on to secluded "bubbles" in college. Once it's time to join the real world and get a job, they ensure their misanthropic lifestyle by insulating themselves inside the ultimate "tenured bubble" and they join the school faculty.

It is amazing that society considers it acceptable for someone to be totally out of touch with his fellow human being so long as they get straight A's or they can teach Quatum Theory in class? That many of these academic missfits are unable to enjoy or understand even some of the basic human interactions- like going to a pub for a beer and some wings or watching a football game.... is amazing and very sad.

You know you can not lump any group of people such as job, gender, race, as being this and that. I myself a school teacher of 30 years had seasons tickets for the Flyers and Eagles. Sometimes left the Eagles game in afternoon and went across the street to the Flyers game. Believe me been there done that. Also played in a band on weekends. How many folks think that all herpers are freaks?
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RicK & Caitlyn @ Ball Boutique, Inc.

Ball Boutique,Inc.
Proud sponsor of this forum

I said many not all. You sound like a down to earth guy. Many teacher/professor types are shut-ins. If thats grouping - so be it. I am not afraid of the thought police.

Alan

I am not a PC guy either. There are people in all groups that vary.
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RicK & Caitlyn @ Ball Boutique, Inc.

Ball Boutique,Inc.
Proud sponsor of this forum

Absolutely.

But if I said people in Rock bands tend to womanize and party, would that be grouping? Yes it would - and correct also. I want to join a rock band just for that reason!! Too bad I am almost 40!

What kind of music di you guys play?

Alan

My dad's in his 40's and he plays in a band They're pretty popular, too, among the folks who know of em. They play surf/oldies/some soft rock. They're a fun band to hear, and I'm not just saying that cause my dad's the lead guitarist!
(no womanizing, though, but they do have a good time)

~jenny
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

So im old enough to be your dad, but that doenst mean im too old to play in a band?

Im not sure if you made me feel better or worse, Lol

Thanks Jen!

Haha, I could make it worse and tell you how old my friend's dad was when he became a grampa

~jenny
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

np-

.......I turned 47 last Tuesday,.....kids are 26 ....27......

........yet I didn't gorw up yet.......hmmmmmmmmmmm

.......oh....and I lump everyone........
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It's not the lumping that's the problem, it's the ability to admit that there are exceptions to the lump that becomes the issue. Everyone lumps, it's human nature.

Growing up is so overrated.

~jenny
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

yeah, this prof sounds like a moron but I go parties that are attended by professors and they all seem to have a good time. Psych and English professors especially seem to know how to party.
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"Can't you just feed it vegetables"? No, no I can't you stupid hippie.

you sound really smart..........you had to deal with college profs didn't you?.........

.........I never saw teachers take the time to actually give a squat and earn the money.......they act like slackers more than I did........

,.,.......(teachers from my school......and my kids teachers weren't too good at life either).....

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Thank you, I'm actually going to be asking around to see what I can do. There would nothing quite as satisfying as approval from The Powers That Be at the college that I can have my animals with me for that class period.

I've talked to the folks in charge of that before and they're pretty cool about it. One of the guys' wife has a pair of ball pythons and wears them every year as a part of her halloween costume.

Thanks again!

~jenny
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

That stinks! Good luck though, I hope it all works out for you!
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Thanks,
Amy
www.myboids.4t.com
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1.14 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball pythons
0.0.1 Sinaloan Milk Snake
0.0.1 Plains Garter
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
2.0 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Mid-Baja Rosy Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
1.2 BCI
That's Just The Snakes!

np
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

My first instinct would have been to B#*ch slap the teacher, but Jeff's right, go over her head and settle up there.

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

I actually made strangling motions at my monitor when I read the email. It's probably for the best I don't have her class for another two days!

~jenny
-----
1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

"she kept bringing it up in front of the entire class - a huge no no"
You're absolutely correct... it is a BIG no no! As a college instructor, I can tell you that every college and university has a grievance process for students to address this type of inappropriate behavior by the teacher. Check with your counselor, and file a grievance. The school will investigate and respond to you. The school will also caution the instructor about taking punitive actions against you.

Good luck
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Larry Walker

WebSite

Thank you, that's the plan. The folks I need to speak to about this aren't in today, unfortunately, since it's Sunday, but tomorrow morning I will be calling the college.
Ugh! I thought I put drama behind me in highschool!

~jenny
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

I urge you to go speak to either the department head or your class dean (both would be better). If this woman is going to give you a grade I think it’s important that her superiors are aware of this fiasco. This is a personal vendetta against you and the snakes. Academic administration other than an incident report agency needs to be involved. Out of curiosity what subject was this presentation for? Also is she a tenured professor or a new one?

The presentation is part of a Spring Camp being put on at a private shelter that I work at. The woman running it knew about my mini menagerie and asked if I could bring my critters for an interaction/presentation.
The presentation is immediately after class, which is why I'd need to have them with me, as the commute home and then to the camp would eat up 2 hours of gas and time.

~jenny
-----
1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

I think you should send us your teachers email address and we'll bombard it with lots of "NICE" things. I'm just kidding you probably shouldn't as I won't be able to resist sending something. Good Luck and don't back down to the College. You pay them for a service and you're entitled to everything. Keep us posted.
Carl

Thanks so much, and I'll be sure to let everyone know how it's going.

~jenny
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

See if your school has an Ombudsman - someone in a position specifically to address student complaints.

Make sure you use specific words, like "harassment" when you notify the school authorities IN WRITING. Your letter should site specific laws or rules of the university against harassment, etc. with quotes and references. State that you need a response on or before a specific date while you investigate your legal options. SEND THE LETTER CERTIFIED MAIL so you have proof that they recieved it and they know you are creating a paper trail.

Don't just walk up and start telling stories about how so-and-so said this blah blah. They won't take you seriously.

This stuff makes me so mad. Unfortunately I had a problem with a professor and I notified the Dean. The Dean said "well, I'm personal friends with that professor, and I don't think he'd do anything like that. Have a good day".

I hope you have better luck!

I like that!

These pinheads keep a Good old Boys Club going, no doubt.

They should do away with tenure and make them work a full year.

Also, it really tweaks me when I hear they have to take papers home to grade. Cry me a freakin river - I take work home ALL the time.

I agree...I don't even have a "real" job (career, whatever) and I still take work home!

I don't think she's tenured, but I believe she is a full time professor. Adjuncts at my college always, always, ALWAYS complain about being adjuncts and how the full timers never give them any respect, yatta yatta yatta... It's kind of funny in a sad kind of way.

I'd be excited to leave school and get out into the "real world", where theoretically this kind of stuff doesn't happen...but oh wait! It does!

Thank goodness I work with dogs, not people, or else I'd lose my mind!

~jenny
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

Thank you very much! I've just looked over the grievance/complaint policies, and I'm going to be speaking to the head of Student Affairs on Monday. I believe I'm going to file an informal complaint, as that is the first step required, and if she continues to harrass me I will take further action. Thankfully, there's only a little more than a month left of this class.

~jenny
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

So I'm curious....Do you take a science course at the moment? If so, who's to say you didn't need to bring those snakes to class for a science presentation? To demonstrate the way their bodies work, how they move, how they smell the mice, etc etc etc, doesnt matter what the demonstration is, you would have totally been allowed to bring in a specimen. I know this because when I did my science courses in college she gave us the oppertunity to study whatever animal we chose and then present it to us either in live form or dissected form and explain how each part worked and if we so chose to, to show by example. I didn't get to stay in the class til the end due to my father passing away two weeks before term ended, but it would have been a wonderful time none the less. At any rate, she shouldn't be allowed to dangle grades over your head as if it were the carrot to the donkey just because she doesn't much care for your hobby.

First chance you get, you need to file that complaint and keep on it even after the class is over. Make sure she is made aware that you don't tolerate abuse of any form, especially from a person in a position of trust as herself. If one person caves to the ideals of this woman, then that sends the message that she can do whatever she wants and get away with it. That's just not how it is.

Also, is she tenured? I dont think I read an answer to that one....Is she an adjunct prof or a tenured prof? This makes a huge difference in how you appeal it. The adjunct professors are much more regulated and much harsher penalized than the tenured professors are. The adjuncts are only part time, no benefits, crappy pay, etc. The tenure are tough as hell to govern once they get into that position.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Izora

So I read all the posts so far waiting for the "April Fool" punch line. I think it sucks when educators push their own agenda. It is their responsability to educate not force opinions. I have several family members and friends that are educators. I also bring up that the presentation that I was able to do was in a school. Not all teachers and professors are bad. It is when they get the power hungry, vindictive, Nazi superiority that they push the bounds of educators into dictators. It screws the system for all.

Good luck with the process. My advice is "Only give them good things to say about you". Don't cuss and rant. State your case and in the end they will only be able to give you what you want or say "We screwed an innocent person".
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Lead us not into temptation. We can find it on our own.

I don't know if anyone told you already, but you can file a grievance with the university. She was way out of line, and what she has done would qualify as harassment.

Don't be easy on her, she wasn't easy on you.

Not a university, community college, but yes I will be filing a greivance this morning before class (hafta go in person). Actually, as per the rules I must follow when doing this stuff, it's an "informal complaint", but it's there nonetheless. Her superior will be speaking to her about it.

Thanks for the support everyone!

~jenny
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, Dot, and Coco)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org