I need some advice re: correcting a professor

[kiahzero]

In my Comparitive Politics class today, we were talking when the weapons inspections in Iraq came up. My professor said that the inspectors were kicked out. Without thinking, my hand shot up - "Um... they weren't kicked out. We pulled them out." She got rather upset, and said that I was just "mincing words."

In retrospect, I shouldn't have corrected her in the middle of class - it tends to irritate professors to be confronted like that. It was mostly reflex. I pride myself on intellectual honesty, though, and want to "defend my honor", as it were.

I'm not sure whether or not I should invest the time in demonstrating their is a large, factual basis for my statement. The library has the issues of the Post on file that corraborate the way I told it (I know which editions thanks to FAIR). I'm also concerned that it might come across as a little rude.

Any suggestions on what would be the best course of action?

[SaveElmer]

1. I'd wait till after Midterms n/t

[Kamika]

2. If there is ONE thing school taught me.

ALWAYS AGREE WITH YOUR TEACHER.

Especially since she seemed to get upset.

Next time you see her, tell her how you think Bush is a really manly man, or something.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

3. How big is her ego? I might just tend to let it go. It could

affect your grade and some of these guys have egos the size of Alaska (Texas is not the largest state, by the way.) It depends on whether or not you can talk about it further and not alienate her.

[Kamika]

4. You're kidding

I always thought Tx was the biggest state :D

[Qanisqineq]

5. College is about the exchange of ideas

Don't be afraid to disagree with your professor in class. Just don't make it sound like an attack. This is what college is about!
At least that has been my experience after 4 years of undergraduate and 4 years of graduate study.

[Tripper11]

6. Wow, interesting replies....

my initial answer to this after reading the post, was to go and get as much evidence as you can to at least back up your side of the argument, and maybe even an example how a poor choice of shluffing off language as "mincing words" can prove to be very serious indeed...kind of like the war in Iraq. It wasn't about WMD, it was about freedom, it wasn't about the oil, it was about the nice sand in the dessert..that type of thing.
To be able to question a prof in this society should not only be accepted, but encouraged, but done with manners and decorum.

[emulatorloo]

7. Most professors don't mind discussing things

as long as you don't act like a know-it-all and like you are trying to score "gotcha's" on them in front of the class (doesn't sound like you had that attitude at all)

I don't know -- how about head over to office hours, say "Your comments got me to thinking, how about I do a paper on the inspectors and time line in lead up to Iraq war?"


edit left out important word