“Humanities major!” they scoffed and they sneered,
“that major’s a joke if you’ve a brain ‘tween your ears.”
But Jill, a right-brainer determined to try,
Had faith in her classmates and held her head high.
Jill entered the classroom one blustery eve
Took a front seat and sat down prepared to receive
A bombardment of knowledge of the internet
But mostly what she got she would rather forget
For, you see, Jill’s classmates had a different thought
That humanities are for saying whatever you want
“To hell with the readings! I’m too cute for that!”
They said as they gave their own shoulders a pat.
As the girl raised her hand with a well-thought out phrase
The classmates in the corner, their hands did not raise
They just hollered and yelled and overpowered poor Jill
And Jill, with good manners, why, her hand is up still.
The moral of the story, kids, it’s sad but it’s true
If you major in humanities, they’ll overpower you too.
They are inconsiderate and cocky and just flat out rude
They put the studious ones in a terribly foul mood
Unless someone stands up for the ones who “can’t hang”,
Discussions will be dominated by the voices that clang.
A response’s quality will be subject to its volume
And trivial anecdotes will fill our classrooms.
The rude ones don’t do homework so they won’t read this at all,
But a person’s a person no matter how small.
6 comments:
We had time in class to discuss that topic, you apparently felt that wasn't enough and that the best thing to do would be to whine about it on the internet.
I'm sorry Cairna for making your time in class so miserable, I didn't realize that because you study and are so scholarly that you deserve to talk more then anyone else. Maybe if you assert yourself a little more and quit the pity party things will work out a little better. On the other hand complaining on the internet is very novel and right-brained, well done.
Yes there is a negativity to this post, I'm upset that instead of confronting the talkers about their problem in class she choose to do it in a manner that limits how people can respond to her. Cairna's comments, no matter how sing-songy, are mean spirited and not fair.
I feel like I need to respond as someone who was in the corner last class, but has done ALL the reading so far this semester, give or take a couple of the articles from a couple weeks ago.
Poor little Jill
Who said nothing but nil
Used her right brain to insult her peers
Her loud classmates did riot
While the studiers stayed quiet
So Jill, was it worth it to sneer?
Okay, so that was a little ridiculous, but I personally think that your poem was above and beyond any sort of productive discussion about what goes on in our classroom. By posting this "tribute", you have essentially created even more of a division within our class. Congrats on always doing your homework in a timely fashion, but not all of us always do the same. I don't think it's your place to pass judgment on people just because they aren't the perfect student that you apparently are.
I don't think you can expect people to stay silent in class just because they may not have done all of the reading; some people are not as comfortable as you are sitting in silence in class. Also, there are times when those people still have something relevant to add to the conversation. They shouldn't feel judged by the people in class who assume and expect that they did not read. I mean, that is what you're asking, isn't it?
I see where you're coming from, but when it comes to taking part in class discussion, there is always time for those who raise their hands to be heard (although it might not always seem that way). I just don't think it's fair for you to pass judgment on the value of other people's comments in class if you don't have anything to say in class.
Poetically condescending.
Judgemental.
And dividing.
Throughout this rhyme, you lost your point somewhere: Somewhere in between the assumption that your classmates are making a conscious effort to 'overpower' you, and the very negative picture you have painted around them. It's disappointing to read, and quite inaccurate. I am very sorry you feel the way you do, and I am sure there are ways for you to express that in a way that is not so hostile. A raised hand always, always goes a long way in a class where the professor has the power to dictate who is speaking. I hope you can take this to heart.
I am very displeased to realize instead of using your creativity in class you decide to ostracize yourself from the rest of the group. I have been aware that you do not have the courage to speak in class, and further hide behind the facade of poetry.
I agree with Ben, we had an entire class period to speak about this openly in front of everyone. You didn't take advantage of that, and now I think you are disrupting class.
As a person who reads, listens, and even comments on either I have to say that I'm disappointed. See, it's more than a little frustrating when a voice from one side of the isle makes a point to widen the divide of said isle. You have every opportunity to call on the people and whatever it is they do or say in the very place that it occurs.
Do I think the structure of discussion could be better? Certainly. Do I think the class is devolving into camps? Looks like it. The key here is that the responsibility also falls on you to participate. Like the man who does not vote, if you don't speak up then there's nothing anyone else can do for you.
I am impressed by the poem though; I don't see poetic response much anymore. Just bring your involvement to class some time. If you argue in verse there, I'll give you a gold star.
I'm a UMBC humanities scholar, which I guess embodies the archetypal humanities girl that your poem espouses, and yet I cannot help but feel disdain for the means by which you communicated your disgust with dominant class "talkers." But your major has nothing to do with your learning style.
Your point about reading and doing the assignments is a valid one; I do believe that when people don't read, discussion can be degraded in some ways. On this level, I can understand some of your frustration.
However, the issue that you take with people not reading (which is an assumption you make about people who talk which may or may not be true) is more personal, which is wholly inappropriate. You label their style of communication as rude, as extensions of their rude personalities. Also, they are not responsible for your assertiveness (or lack thereof) in a conversation. If you want to be heard, then I'm sure you can be heard in a moderated classroom setting (as opposed to the real world, which is another topic altogether).
Honestly, I don't see why anyone should care about whether or not SOMEONE ELSE reads in the end. It's not really public business.
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