On Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:57:45 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:59:39 -0400, John H
wrote:

On Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:18:36 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:21:38 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:


Reasonable approach, but it doesn't solve the problem. They believe
in something other than what is being taught. These are active and
engaged students and directly challenge your presentation with what
they believe to be true.

What do you do?

There is no problem.
Ran into bible thumpers in some college classes.
The profs handled them easily by telling them they were off the
curriculum reservation and disturbing the flow of what was being
taught.
One told a persistent guy flat out, "Hey, I don't come into your
church lecturing about literature. Have the decency to show me the
same respect."
What makes you think crackpots are hard to handle?
Part of growing up as a crackpot is accepting rejection.
And part of growing up as a non-crackpot is recognizing crackpots and
rejecting them.
And I'm sure that in my childhood Baptist church Pastor Anderson would
have easily handled some crackpot disputing his sermon with talk of
evolution and how wrong his sermon was.
Kenny Rogers said it best. "You got to know when to hold them,
and....."
A lectern and a pulpit are different platforms.

--Vic

And the students immediately realize you've COPPED OUT 'cause you
can't answer the question. Your credibility has just been shot.

The teach would answer in the same manner Pastor Anderson would - with
faith in what he's teaching.
If you can't handle - or deflect - a student's questioning with
authority, you shouldn't be teaching.

--Vic
A copout with authority.

Good.