memories of grcc

after i finished my surgical tech degree i couldn't wait to go to school to learn about something i was genuinely interested in. i couldn't wait to take history or sociology or political science. now that i have been at spring arbor for almost a year it seems like forever ago when i first set foot into grand rapids community college and took western civilization and social problems. i really enjoyed my time there and learned so much. i had some great profs who really challenged me and filled my head with all sorts of crazy liberal ideas. recently i went onto ratemyprofessor.com and found some of my grcc profs. i thought all three of these guys were great, but it was interesting to read some of the negative comments from people who were rubbed completely the wrong way. here are some of my favorites.

these quotes are about my western civ prof, roger schlossor. i remember going into grcc's library with these huge reading lists-- thucydides, plutarc, aristotle, plato, herodotdus, tacitus, popes, milton, erasmus-- you name it. the person at the front would just say "you're taking schlossor, huh?" it was hilarious. he was this cranky, foul-mouthed vietnam vet who would go on these long tangential stories, and just when you think he had completely lost his mind, he would come back to his original point and tie the story into his lecture. insane. he took no shit either. if you were talking or had to leave to use the bathroom he would get right in your face and let you know how rude you were. anyways, here's what others thought of him-

"HIS LECTURES ARE VERY LONG. MAKE SURE YOU DRINK ALOT OF COFFEE BEFORE YOU GO B/C HIS LECTURE CAN BE BORING. HE DOES HAVE ALOT OF INTERESTING STORIES. IF YOU DONT LIKE SWEARING THEN DONT TAKE HIS CLASS"

"Hated him, always shoving his beliefs on the class, didn't care if history told another story only told what he wanted you to hear. If you asked a question he always made you look stupid and then the class laughed at you, swears alot"

"Clear, concise, funny, brilliant. He has his own opinions and he's not afraid to share them, but he will present ALL the sides of the issue and let you make up your own mind- someting most GRCC student are incapable of doing."

"Should have dropped when i had the chance. The tests did not correspond to lecture material or readings. Constantly was making negative comments on politics and america. Lots of swearing. To old to care if he is doing a good job. Very hard to get a good grade. 2hrs lecture with no break! Do not take"

"The best teacher I have ever had. No other teacher compares to Roger. He has a reaistic and cynical view of History. Yes, he does lecture for two hours straight, but with no notes. Really knows his stuff, every History Major should take his classes. HS 101, 102 and PS 101. Easy class if dedicated."

these are comments on my race and ethnic relations prof, geoffrey simmons. one of my classmate at spring arbor is actually taking him right now. i learned a ton in his class. he genuinely cares about people on the underside of society, and it was eye-opening to learn american history from the side of the oppressed. i also learned a lot about marxism as a historical lense which i found very helpful.

"changed the way i see the world-great teacher"

"Big time Pinko-Nazi! hes a supporter of marxism, but hes still cool. really interesting if you like to know more about hoe the goverment is screwing us. *MAKE SURE YOU READ THE BOOK TOO*"

"Mr. Simmon is definitely a liberal hippie type, but he's super cool and very smart. His class isn't that hard if you listen in class and read the book. Expect to hear lots of fun stories!!"

and last but not least, mr. clyde poag. it was after mr. poag's class one day where i met the woman who designed ferris state university's BSW program who told me about spring arbor. i remember being pretty intimidated by mr. poag because he was black and i was taking a class on social problems. it was a great experience, however, and i'll never forget when i finished my final presentation for that class when he looked at me and said "i am so proud." his class was the beginning of my social work career, and it's somewhat frustrating for me to read comments like the ones below because his class was such a meaningful experience.

"Absolutely the worst professor ever. He makes you feel like the worst person alive if you are not an African-American. I dreaded going to that class because he is right and you are wrong."

"Not such a bad teacher...if you put in any effort whatsoever you'll get an A...he is very pro african american...seems to talk a lot of trash about white people...he is a good guy though, just do your work on time and you'll be fine"

anyways, i think it'd be fun to go back again someday after i get my masters. although i'm not sure how that works. i don't know if you can just go back to community college and take undergrad classes for fun once you've been to grad school. all these guys are way liberal, to say the least, but i loved that. after having conservative dogma pounded in my head for 25 years of my life, it was refreshing to get the other side of the story from some very seasoned intellectuals. i miss not knowing what's going to come next, as where spring arbor is very familiar to me. but anyways, i still have grad school at grand valley, and who knows what i'll be blogging about then.