UnLearning

Have you ever had to sit through a class that made you feel that you actually lost knowledge, instead of gaining it? I remember hearing Muhammad Alshareef say on a lecture CD that even if we can't benefit from an instructor's knowledge, then we should learn from his character. And if his character is bad, then we can still learn what bad character is and, consequently avoid it ourselves. But such situations are hardly fun, and it's difficult to make them seem worthwhile.

The worst part is that it becomes difficult to be a good student, without any sort of respect for the teacher. Maybe it's a deep inclination I have to disrespect those who disrespect me, but that's an awfully lame excuse. But if the teacher treats me as though I am unimportant, what opinion should I have of him? And if he doesn't prepare for class, why should I?

And there's another problem--sometimes the material might be so poorly presented that instead of increasing knowledge on the subject, and strengthening faith (for material on Islam) it might be possible to actually feel my faith goes down with the information.

How can that be?

Perhaps if the instructor frequently answers questions without actual evidence, but with his opinion instead. Or if he doesn't understand the material he is presenting enough to answer questions at all, beyond the material prepared. Or if he mentions things on other subjects during the presentation with the students know to be incorrect. Or in his general presentation he uses circular logic and insufficient evidence to prove his point.

I think it's possible that some people can be so poorly equipped to lecture that the audience's understanding of the material might actually be detrimentally affected. Any thoughts?