The Morning News: University Removes Teacher From Classroom
University of Arkansas administrators have removed a popular and controversial teacher from the classroom.
Don Bobbitt, dean of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, said Kabin Thomas, an adjunct assistant professor of music, was relieved of his music lecturing duties because of a “series of events … that wasn’t getting any better.”
Bobbitt declined to elaborate on the rare move, one he can’t recall happening in recent memory in the college.
Thomas said he was forced out of the classroom and placed on special assignment because of his eccentric classroom antics that included cursing and talking about controversial topics.”The bottom line is that the administration is sick of my (behavior). They said, ‘You’re just too unprofessional to guide the lives of these people and you need to go,'” he said.
Thomas said he tries to grab students’ attention and shake them up to get them to understand classical music and to prepare them for life.
Thomas joined the university music department in 1995 as a tuba instructor. He moved in January 2005 to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of having his children’s show about classical music, “Symphony Sam,” air on television.
He returned to teaching four sections of about 225 students in the fall, and Bobbitt notified Thomas of the expectations for the class and for his behavior. Thomas was often reprimanded for his controversial teaching style, one that endeared him to many students.
Jessie Rewers of Chicago, a freshman majoring in early childhood education, started a “Save Kabin” group on the popular student Web site, facebook.com. More than 440 students have joined the group.
“He was a very passionate teacher and was able to relate it to the students. He was somebody that got everybody’s attention. He made us all want to learn about classical music,” said Rewers, who is in the music lecture class this spring.
Matt Sikes, a senior mechanical engineering major from Bentonville, said Thomas’ class last spring peaked his interest every time he went.
“He was a vulgar man, I’m not going to sugar-coat that. There are some things that I sat back and said, ‘Wow, did he really just say that?’ Unfortunately, that’s what it took students to get interested. He made the class interesting and he made you want to go to class,” Sikes said.
Sikes said Thomas’ over-the-top performances didn’t take away from what he learned in the class and said Thomas’ antics even made him want to attend class more.
Thomas said he warned students that his lectures were intense and would contain foul language.
“It’s a very conservative place that really pats itself on the back for not being conservative but really is conservative,” Thomas said. “They got me for saying ‘shit’ but they might get someone else for saying ‘damn’ or ‘God.'”
Bobbitt informed Thomas of the decision Feb. 24, and his last class was that same day. Two music professors have split the teaching duty for the remainder of the semester.
“When a situation isn’t improving, you have to look out for a variety of interest. I know many of the students are upset and I appreciate that. I felt like we had to take the best interest for all students and for the University of Arkansas,” Bobbitt said.
Bobbitt said Thomas will spend the rest of the semester comparing the university’s music lecture class to peer universities to see what improvements can be made. “We have a ground-breaking course in many ways,” he said.
Thomas is on a yearly contract, and Bobbitt declined to say whether Thomas would be rehired for next year.
“In some ways, it’s a blessing. Sometimes, it’s hard to see it that way, but everything is a blessing,” Thomas said.
He said he hopes to combine his three loves — performing, playing and teaching — at his next job. He hopes to have some of his lectures aired on Community Access Television.
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