Until twenty-one days ago, my seminal seminar tutor for [strike]Socialist Propoganda 101[/strike]* Global Environment was a fairly cool fellow by the name of Scott. He was a bit of a lefty, it's true, but that didn't really get in the way of teaching. He would listen to other views and accept them if they were valid (And mine, of course, always fell into both criteria.)

However, now we have some new woman. Whilst her accent is nice to listen to (She's from Mexico) and she has a great name (Valeria) she's much more left-wing and, rather more annoying for Huxley, she's a lot less ready to listen to argument and criticism. She actually scoffed at someone today! Debate used to be the order of the day - she is not interested in any, just wants to hear what boils down to the Party line. It's my belief that as an educator a balanced view should be provided, but this entire module is now pretty much a loss, whilst beforehand the seminars at least were enjoyable and open. It's quite sad to see, especially compared with a much more accomplished lecturer/tutor like my politics teacher, one Stephen Parsons. His actual political leanings remain a mystery to us, because he's extremely good at picking holes with pretty much anything you give to him, and is excellent at playing the Devil's advocate - he can always generate a debate and get some worthwhile feedback.

At any rate! You'll note my usual flourish is left, but I'm somewhat tired at the moment, so please forgive me. I shall impress you all with wit and flair another time. I'm going to go ahead and ask that you relay occasions where a teacher has been exchanged with another (For better or worse).

* I'm not kidding. I was once kidding about this but I am no longer kidding. Yesterday we were polled and, upon discovering that more people would side with the Tri-continental Congress (Che & Castro) than with the Non-Aligned Movement (Sukarto; They were STILL a bunch of numbskulls but at least had reasonable underlying principles) my lecturer noted, with some glee, that she had convinced people of the TCC's aims far better than they themselves ever managed to do. All we get is whining about how the first world is oppressing the third and how capitalism, through those famously capitalist measures of subsidies, trade barriers, and land siezure by governments (:rolleyes2 Capitalist like a monkey), is inherently evil.

Talk about biased teachers who wind you up, too! Or really great ones. Mainly about when they change though.