Western Kentucky University / K / Barry Kaufkins

You will learn a lot in this class. Kaufkins is a really good teacher. He gives quizzes every week. If you read the materials, the quizzes are easy! The test are are really hard. You have 2 papers to write. Unlimited extra credit is given. All are easy assignments.

This could be an extremely interesting class if Mr. Kaufkins would come to class in a good mood. He is very moody, often rude, but is a good teacher. If he could overcome all his vices he would be a fantastic teacher. Without jdging him, I feel his atheism keeps him from being happy. It appears at times during class discussions that he expects you to agree with his opinions! He likes to blame people for plagiarism. I had the class and really enjoyed it, and my daughter enjoyed it also, until he accused her for plagiarism on a paper. THis really upset her and when she asked him about it (on numerous occasions), he became rude and angry. He told her to fix it but never told her where the problem was (just that it was 1 sentence in the 7 page paper that was an IDEA that belonged to someone else! SHe tried to find what he was talking about and changed what she thought it may have been but still received a 0 on the paper. I have been an educator for 20 years and could not find the 1 sentence. I almost went to report him over this, and found out many had already done so for the same reason! Like I said, this could be a fantastic class if he could alter his rude disposition!

I received an A in this course but it wasn't worth it. Kaufkins is the worst teacher I have had during my time at WKU. The school should be ashamed to have someone like this teaching for them. This class isn't necessarily hard but putting up with that rude worthless human being is terrible. If you take this class, good luck.

Kaufkins is the rudest, errogant, jerk that I have ever seen in my life. He believes the ONLY correct opinion is HIS. You must 100% agree with him or he will belittle you loudly in front of everyone in class at every class meeting (all students are expected to laugh when he does that...if you don't laugh, then you're his next target). Your grade is based on his "opinion" of your completed essays (not on grammatical errors, cited sources, etc....it is strictly based on his "opinion" or his "feelings" about your paper). I am a Christian and needless to say, that doesn't sit well with an Atheist teacher. I refuse to deny my christianity for the sake of a course grade. He accused several "christian" students of cheating on test and threatened to kick them out of class (just another way to torture students that did not share his opinions). They all stayed in the class but received bad grades that they did not earn/deserve. This is my opinion, you ask around and then decide for yourself. Good Luck.

If you aren't a very opinionated person you will be fine in this class. However, he asks for a lot of class discussion and wants to hear peoples opinions then if he doesn't agree with you he starts an argument and uses unrelated material and issues and becomes a big baby about it! He gives a lot of reading assignments and you have to do them becuase he gives a quiz EVERY class that is fill in the blank they are worth 10 points. You should take notes when he discusses the stories each class period. He likes to put you in groups. There is two tests that are essay and when he says essay he means he wants you to write a book on it! He is very picky about grammar and DO NOT USE CONTRACTIONS in your papers! He hates them! And you will know it before he gets done with his red pen! There is also a useless 8 page paper you have to write at the end of the semester over your world view...have fun with that! Also the book he gives you to read is a pretty easy read but he gives a 20pt quiz on it and asks several questions about it on the final!

I am currently taking this class and it is excellent. If you are very conservative, you probably won't like it. We talk about homosexuality, racial equality, women's rights issues, roles within the family, and many other touchy topics. There is alot of reading but most of it is intriguing. There is a quiz over the readings at the beginning of each class. There is alot of discussion. We never get out of class ealy because everyone wants to share their views. Two papers are assigned. One is an 8-10 page paper and the other one is a 2 page paper. This class really changes your life. I encourage everyone to take it, especially the close-minded people that need an eye opener.

His classes are challenging, b/c they require you to think! He has a way of dragging a ton of stuff out of your inner self. I really loved his class and it drove me nuts! Overall he's a great instructor!

I really enjoyed this class. Professor Kaufkins is very passionate about the class, and he really makes you think. If you think you are not a feminist before this class, you will be questioning it before it is over. There is a lot of reading for the class, but it isnt that bad because most of the time it is pretty interesting. The tests are pretty hard I thought, b/c they are mostly essay, so you have to pretty much understand the readings really well. I didnt like how you had to memorize the authors of all of the readings. And make sure you actually read the passages, because his quizes over them arent very easy. Overall, im glad I took the course.

Kaufkins is a GREAT teacher. His classes are actually sortof fun and he teaches really well. There is so much extra credit! If you only just pay attention in class you'll do ok on the tests but you can do just a little extra credit and you'll get an A without even studing.

This was one of the best classes offered at Western. Barry displays sincere care and interest in his students and the subjects that he teaches. I would highly reccomend him.

I loved Kaufkins class, it's been my favorite, by far. There are some people that drove me crazy b/c they're so ignorant... but overall it was a great class. He's great! It has a lot of readings, but they're not too bad. It's really important to be as open minded as possible... that's what the entire class is based on. That and trying to understand others. I loved it! And really liked his style.

Kaufkins was one on the best teachers that I have had at Western. The point of the class is to try to get students to be more open-minded. If you don't like that idea then don't take the class. For all of the other less narrow-minded students, you will absolutely love the class! There are a lot of class discussioons and reading but it is incredibly easy. Kaufkins is a great teacher that is very willing to help out his students. Because of him I joined the folk studies minor. I believe that I have grown more as a person after taking this class.

I was very surprised when Mr. Kaufkins yodelled the national anthem while playing a kazu with his nostrils. Very skillful at selecting hair gel. I wanted to make a vest out of his beard hairs, but he was disinclined in this area. Otherwise a great guy!

It was a very interesting class, but being a conservative person, Kaufkins pissed me off a lot. He offers a lot of extra credit, to the point that if you don't get a good grade in the class, either you didn't try at all, or you're stupid. It's an easy class if you apply yourself. I didn't do any of the extra credit, or read before classes, and I almost didn't get an a over it. So I would suggest doing so if you don't want to worry about your grade. You do have to 3 papers during the course, but they're relatively easy, they just take a while to do.

There are times when you wonder if he respects your beliefs.There were times when I liked the class and times when I didn't. There is a lot of reading that you have to do and then he has quizzes over the readings. If you are thinking about taking his class be prepared to be offended. Be very Open minded if you take this class.

I just don't know where to begin. Mr. Kaufkins has ZERO respect for his students opinions. He askes for your opinion and then counts off when you tell him. How do you grade other peoples opinion. I don't get!! If you agree with everything then you will do fine.

The class is really boring, but Mr. Kaufkins does his best to make it interesting. Make sure to keep up with the reading as there are 7 quizzes over the reading. They are easy if you read! The midterm and final are the only two tests you will have. They are all short answer and essay questions. You'll have two small (2-5 page) papers and a term paper to do. It seems like a lot but it's not all that bad, just keep up with the reading!