Robert Evins Pickard TSU history professor fired after video showed him screaming at a student’s face after failing his course. Social media responds.
A Tennessee State University professor has been fired after video of him screaming at a student after they failed his course, going viral.
History professor Robert Evins Pickard was caught on video shouting in a student’s face before throwing them out of the classroom.
In the video, Pickard loudly yells, ‘What is your name?’ and ‘Get out! You have failed this course, whatever your name is! Out! Out! Out! Out!’
The university said in a statement Tuesday that it took ‘swift action including personnel action’ to address the incident, including terminating Pickard from his position on staff.
‘TSU does not tolerate unprofessional behavior in its classrooms or otherwise directed at students,’ the statement read according to WSMV.
This professor is at Tennessee State University and apparently talks to students like this all the time. Something needs to be done. #Repost #tsu #racism #heneedstobefired pic.twitter.com/o7L27EMIdp
— KMD (@theylovekennedi) October 31, 2022
‘I deeply regret what happened in class’
‘The University is committed to providing a healthy and positive academic environment for all students. This incident runs afoul of the standard of behavior we expect from those charged with teaching and serving as role models for our students.’
In his own statement to WSMV, Pickard said he had retired following the incident.
‘I deeply regret what happened in class. I lost my temper and did something I should never have done,’ he said.
‘I have been under pressure lately, and I have been frustrated with students who pay attention to their cellphones and laptops, then wonder why they get low grades. But that does not excuse my behavior. I apologized to the students and offered my resignation. I am now retired, as I had planned anyway. Please respect my privacy, it is over now.’
Students who shared the viral video on Twitter said Pickard frequently yells at his students in a similar manner.
One Twitter user who reposted the clip wrote, ‘This professor is at Tennessee State University and apparently talks to students like this all the time. Something needs to be done.’
According to his page on the school website, Pickard previously ‘primarily researches prominent Tennessee political and entertainment figures.’
Social media responds
It also said ‘He has been a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines and a United Nations volunteer in Somalia.’
He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee University in 1976, and got his Master’s degree at Eastern Michigan University in 1978. Both degrees were in history.
And then there were these comments on social media that caught this author’s attention, see what you think?
‘Not to say he was right, but the frustration after years of disrespect, poor effort, admin incompetence and woke stupidity can really change someone. Hope he enjoys his retirement.’
‘The fact that kids are failing, there needs to be a better hands on from parents. Its not the teachers job to make the kid make good grades. If they are distracted with phones etc, then its on the kids. If the teachers are not Implementing the right teaching plan then its on the teacher. Who knows at this point. Lots of unanswered questions.’
‘Oh no he yelled at him. Boo boo. The little snowflake got sad. It’s frustrating trying to motivate a worthless generation of know it alls.’
