The discussion centers on the perceived unhappiness of physics professors compared to their counterparts in other sciences. Participants share personal experiences, noting that while some professors exhibit dissatisfaction, many are enthusiastic and engaging. Factors contributing to the negative perception include student behavior, lack of respect, and the pressures of academia. The conversation highlights the importance of student engagement and respect in the classroom environment.
PREREQUISITESEducators, academic administrators, and anyone interested in improving student engagement and understanding the dynamics of professor-student relationships in higher education.
Mk said:I think it does matter:
And if you're talking about just knowing them in class, rather than out of class or during research it's going to depend entirely on whether or not it is an intro to physics class at 8 am with a ratio of students who don't care to students who do care of 99:1.
- How recently you actually went to undergraduate school in physics
- What the financial and political environment is like at your school
The reason I bring up history is because physics teachers during the time of the space age and atomic age were probably pretty enthusiastic because the field was growing, and students were interested. Today, physics is a lot more dead and produces less graduates.
(Systems theory, a child of ecology and cybernetics, however, appears to be on the upswing.)