Horrifying moment from my first week of classes
In addition to my speech & adudiology courses, I picked up a poetry-writing class. It's not shaping up to be my favorite class, possibly because I was stunned by the following incident.
The instructor was calling roll and we were all telling her our preferred name, like, "It's not Jennifer, it's Kirsten, pronounced Keerston." And then the instructor called a name like, "Ashley Marie Smith," and the student said, "I go by Theodore."
To which the teacher says, "How the heck do you get Theodore from Ashley Marie."
The student replies, lightly, "Rich life experiences."
The teacher is utterly befuddled for a moment, until Theodore says, "I am transgender."
I have heard this student speak before, and he is extremely open and self-confident -- but why the fuck is he being forced to discuss this in front of a goddamn poetry class. I've been in class where a guy named John Thomas McAverage wanted to be called Paco, and the teacher just sighed and moved on.
And then the teacher went on to ask Theodore, "So, have you had surgery yet?" Please keep in mind that this is all in full earshot of our entire class.
I was agape. Seriously, wtf. I am debating talking to the department head, who is a very nice and smart guy. I was honestly shocked, but I don't want to go at it like I'm getting some stamps on my Liberal card (as a card-carrying one, you know.) Basically I think this lady needs a serious reality check or reality 2x4 if she thinks this was anywhere in the realm of appropriate.
Points to branwyn if she figures out which prof this is.
The instructor was calling roll and we were all telling her our preferred name, like, "It's not Jennifer, it's Kirsten, pronounced Keerston." And then the instructor called a name like, "Ashley Marie Smith," and the student said, "I go by Theodore."
To which the teacher says, "How the heck do you get Theodore from Ashley Marie."
The student replies, lightly, "Rich life experiences."
The teacher is utterly befuddled for a moment, until Theodore says, "I am transgender."
I have heard this student speak before, and he is extremely open and self-confident -- but why the fuck is he being forced to discuss this in front of a goddamn poetry class. I've been in class where a guy named John Thomas McAverage wanted to be called Paco, and the teacher just sighed and moved on.
And then the teacher went on to ask Theodore, "So, have you had surgery yet?" Please keep in mind that this is all in full earshot of our entire class.
I was agape. Seriously, wtf. I am debating talking to the department head, who is a very nice and smart guy. I was honestly shocked, but I don't want to go at it like I'm getting some stamps on my Liberal card (as a card-carrying one, you know.) Basically I think this lady needs a serious reality check or reality 2x4 if she thinks this was anywhere in the realm of appropriate.
Points to branwyn if she figures out which prof this is.