Busy-body

I tend to dread classes where the professor announces on the first day that the class is a "discussion class." Which automatically either means, (A) Random Fire questions are used to spur on discussion or(B) the teacher waits for people to raise their hands...which leaves it up to certain group of "constant hand-raisers" to dominate where the discussions lead. Either way, maybe its because I am really bad at impromptu speaking or the fact I am just not that eager to spread my opinions around...I hate both ways of conducting discussions.

Anyway yesterday while we were discussing a film on female workers in Mexico, I took a few notes on the members of this group of "constant hand-raisers." All of them are very distinct, each with there own unique characteristics and tactics in making their points.

(1)The Loud-Pregnant Chick who sits in the front-
I have two classes with her, and yet in my Women's Studies class she is exceedingly boisterous. She always speaks just a few decibels higher than anyone else in the class. She blurts out anything and everything she thinks, until someone cuts her off or our Professor turns the conversation away from what she is yelling about.

(2) The 40 year old feminist who is taking the class for fun-
There is a lady who sits in the far right of the classroom and talks to the Prof all the time. She is a wealth of information on the economy, and unions. She boldly blurts out that women should be able to work construction and any other "male oriented" job they so please, in fact SHE HAS. She worked construction for years; her and her boots, or sandals with socks loved it. She is pretty legit, although secretly I'm pretty sure she is just dying to teach the class. Just one time.

(3) The captain obvious students-
These kids rarely talk during discussion time. But when they do...the class is left thinking "what, are you serious?" For instance in class we are discussing the injustices imposed upon workers, by the factories who are operating in the free trade zones in Mexico.Women are the primary workers, therefore they are the primary victims. However, even though this fact has been discussed repeatedly over and over again, there is always that one person that raises their hand to passionately blurt out "Well women are the ones suffering!" like this is some novel idea. The whole class is stifling a "duh!"

(4) The know-it-all in the back of the class-
There is this one Indian guy who sits in the back of the class, he sits with his girlfriend(who always looks embarrassed when he takes the floor). He always starts out dove-tailing on what someone else just said, he starts with "That may be true, but..." or "Here's the thing about that...". When he does this, he sounds like he is going to make some sense. Then he just goes on and on about the same thing, usually using circular reasoning that only confuses the class and leaves a "Where the heck are you going with this" look on the Proffessor's face. The bad thing is, he is completely oblivious to visual signs. Blank stares, other people raising their hands trying to be heard...he ignores them all. Further hammering out his pointless point. Completely cocky about it the entire time.

(5) The one worth hearing out-
There is this one girl in my class who is so brilliant, I'm convinced, and yet you would never know it. She is calm, and actually raises her hand versus blurting out her points. She links things together in ways that totally make sense, and yet offer a completely new outlook on the topic. She is one really worth listening to. I like her, I wish I could eloquently make my points without being boring or like any of the people above.

Anyway...

Cheers to the "Constant Hand-raisers" of the American Classroom.