![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on February 1, 2006, at 21:13:19
OK, so I decided I needed to do something, so I went to the local community college and tried to sign up for classes. I went into the counseling office, and waited my turn. When I got to the counter, told the woman behind the desk that I wanted to go back to school, had chosen the classes I wanted, and needed to know what I had to do to get into them?
She looked at the classes I wanted, and told me, "You don't want to take math, take some English classes."
Hello?
Of course, couldn't sign up for classes anyway, because of that math class. There's a prerequisite for it, and I need my transcripts before I can even challenge the prerequisite. And it's a class I've already taken and passed. I explained that classes had already started, that transcripts would not be available until too late to add the class, and could I get a temporary waiver? Just so that I could get the class this semester? No one would offer any way for me to take the class. Although two of them did helpfully suggest that I not take Math at all. But, you know, take some English, or History classes instead.
ARGH!
{sigh}
I guess math is too hard for women. And there's no need for any way to help people in my situation, because they just shouldn't want to take the class anyway.
(By the way, I could take the prerequisite, except that I want to take this class as a refresher. I took it before. If I could find my transcripts, I could take the class for which this is a prerequisite.)
So, I'm frustrated tonight. How are all of you?
Posted by phil on February 1, 2006, at 21:26:46
In reply to FRUSTRATION -- or 'Would you say that to a man?', posted by Racer on February 1, 2006, at 21:13:19
I've had better years, Racer.
Posted by alexandra_k on February 1, 2006, at 21:49:42
In reply to FRUSTRATION -- or 'Would you say that to a man?', posted by Racer on February 1, 2006, at 21:13:19
lol.
people really are too funny sometimes.
i have problems with enrollments every year.
and they always suggest crazy classes...
and they seem to think everyone has interests similar to theirs.
but that being said i think i'd try and warn everybody off math, yup ;-)
seriously though when people get like that I just reiterate what it is that i want just that little bit more firmly... three repeats typically does it.
Posted by Phillipa on February 1, 2006, at 22:34:23
In reply to Re: FRUSTRATION -- or 'Would you say that to a man?' » Racer, posted by phil on February 1, 2006, at 21:26:46
Not to change the subject but seriously lynn just called me on the telephone said there was going to be a computer virus tomorrow copy you files on a disc. Do you think this is true. She also said the telephone lines were already being affected. Could it be true? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by deirdrehbrt on February 2, 2006, at 0:22:09
In reply to FRUSTRATION -- or 'Would you say that to a man?', posted by Racer on February 1, 2006, at 21:13:19
I don't know where people are coming from. Women who pursue mathematics are every bit as good at it as men. I think that the woman who said that was too attached to her Barbies. At least now, Barbie is becoming a bit more adventurous.
It's really a boot to the head when you come across someone who's trying to force you back into traditional stereotypes; especially at a college. "You're a woman, you should only take classes that fortify your role as a wife and a mother". Sheesh.Tell that to Hillary Clinton!
That reminds me of my days in High School back in the '70's. My history teacher was constantly putting down the women in the class. He was so proud of his attitude that he wore a tie with MCP written all over it.I'm glad that, for the most part, times have changed and that my daughters won't have to put up with people like that. Except, I guess, from community college counselors.
--Dee
Posted by caraher on February 2, 2006, at 7:06:40
In reply to Re: FRUSTRATION -- or 'Would you say that to a man?', posted by deirdrehbrt on February 2, 2006, at 0:22:09
It's hard to know for sure whether the person is reacting to one's gender or simply thinks math is boring or too difficult. I do know that when I taught at a college with an all-male student population that in physics we had a serious problem because the advisors for freshmen tended to be professors in the humanities, who tended to steer students toward their own (the faculty members') interests. Many of my students complained either that they had a huge argument with an advisor to get into physics or else took physics as a junior and wished they'd taken it their first year. So... at least *some* folks *would* say that to a man!
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on February 2, 2006, at 8:54:47
In reply to FRUSTRATION -- or 'Would you say that to a man?', posted by Racer on February 1, 2006, at 21:13:19
This isn't very comforting and I don't want to make you feel worse...so stop reading if you want... My thought was that she was reacting to your age rather than your gender. I think that there is a lot of snobbery around students who are not in the 18-21yr range. (True for you, correct?) Have other Babblers seen this? Although I have not experienced this discrimination myself, I have seen it run rampant at the 4 yr univ where I am now.
Either way, the lady was ignorant, and I have no doubt that you could do anything that you put your mind to!
Hang in there!
Best,
EE
Posted by AuntieMel on February 2, 2006, at 13:29:41
In reply to FRUSTRATION -- or 'Would you say that to a man?', posted by Racer on February 1, 2006, at 21:13:19
It was probably someone with math phobia. I (finally) graduated when I was 36, so it probably isn't an age thing.
My minor was math. But where I went they didn't try to talk anyone out of anything. If there was room you got in, pretty much, and it was sink or swim.
I'm betting on the phobia. And the high schools don't seem to be prepping kids right for higher math at all. I tutored for a while and was amazed at how many people (these are college kids) who couldn't even work fractions.
Posted by Racer on February 2, 2006, at 20:29:51
In reply to Re: FRUSTRATION -- or 'Would you say that to a man, posted by AuntieMel on February 2, 2006, at 13:29:41
>>And the high schools don't seem to be prepping kids right for higher math at all. I tutored for a while and was amazed at how many people (these are college kids) who couldn't even work fractions.
That, I'm very sorry to say, does not surprise me in the least.
I went to school in the 70s (man, I'm OLD!), and even back then, the math instruction was terrible. I entered college entirely unprepared -- although I'd worked out how fractions worked while cooking. ;-) Not only that, when I tried to get help with the math, the suggestion was made that I had brain damage from a head injury which prevented me from learning it! Uh, could be the teacher just, you know, ain't competent? Nope, because others in the class learned it, so it must be me. (They actually started out by labelling me a trouble maker for trying to get help. Disruptive.) Took until I was in college -- and had a great teacher -- that I learned math. He was a great teacher, too. I was very fortunate.
Poor teaching, and it seems like there's another problem, too, because I have noticed that kids I've been around don't seem to have the same sense of having to work at all these days. That attitude might have something to do with it, too.
Posted by TexasChic on February 5, 2006, at 10:57:00
In reply to FRUSTRATION -- or 'Would you say that to a man?', posted by Racer on February 1, 2006, at 21:13:19
I don't get it. You have to take math in order to get a degree. If you could take English instead, believe me, I'd so be doing it.
-T
Posted by AuntieMel on February 6, 2006, at 9:03:02
In reply to Re: FRUSTRATION -- or 'Would you say that to a man, posted by Racer on February 2, 2006, at 20:29:51
I went to school in the 70s, too. But I was lucky enough to have a wonderful teacher just at the right time.
I was put in the first 8th grade algebra class, and the guy that taught it really challenged us. Besides algebra he brought in lots of puzzles - logic problems and those division things with letters instead of numbers - where you have to figure out what the numbers really are.
Mainly. I guess, he taught us to think and reason. And made it fun at the same time.
He moved to the high school 2 years later and I had him for trig, analytic geometry and elementary analysis.
So - if you're out there, Mr. Grey - we still love you!
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.