Is this reasonable? (College related)

So I've started college, today was the third class. And my english teacher couldn't make it. Ok, I was a little frustrated. The school opened at noon because of the snow (there wasnt that much) but the english class wasnt until 2:30. So I was irritated because if I can make the efford to get there she should make the effort too. As it is she leaves class 20 minutes early because she's teaching across town and has to leave early to make it there. She promised she wouldnt "short change" us. So I emailed her my essay that was due today and there's another e-mail in my inbox saying she won't be able to make it next week (I don't know if she means both days, she didnt specify) either and to go ahead and write an outline for the next essay. So I'm fuming just a little bit now. I'm paying $600 for this class and I expect an instructor!! I've been out of school for a long time and so have plenty of other students in the class. I want to be able to ask questions on how to write the darn essay and outline, not just a here ya go and good luck!
Am I being totally unreasonable?
I guess most people would think awesome! But now I'm going to spend an hour driving in and an hour driving home just for my one other class, which is a little over an hour. Argh!! I guess I'm feeling a little gyped.

Since you JUST started, is it possible to drop this class free of charge since it's your first week? Traditional universities normally let you drop a class within the first week or two free of charge. I would suggest doing that then see if you can get into another English class if there is one open.

When I started college for the first time back in 2004, I had a HORRIBLE teacher for one of my classes. I wound up going onto the website ratemyprofessor.com and read even more reviews that I disliked. I wound up dropping that class the first week and switching to another class. I wound up with an amazing professor and an A in the class. Maybe you can switch classes/teachers if it's early enough in your semester. That, or you can stick it out and see if things improve and go ahead and line up a tutor if you feel you will need extra help. (Many colleges/universities offer free tutoring programs)

Make an appointment to see your instructor during office hours (always a great idea to do at the beginning of the term anyway). Chat with her a bit and see what's going on... you will get a good feel for how the semester is going to go. And if you need or want advice or instruction, you can get some then.

Sounds like my chemistry prof when I was in college.

No, you're not being unreasonable to expect your prof to show up for class. I'd recommend talking to the prof and if you don't think you're going to get much from the class, drop it if you can and try to pick up the class with a different prof. Failing that, take a different class and wait for another semester to take that particular class again, with a different prof.

You know, you're paying for your classes. And you're making the effort. It's only fair to expect your instructor to be there, too.

Good luck.

I'd make an appointment ASAP to talk to the Dean of the department and tell him/her what is going on. It's quite possible that they don't even know. If her working a second job is compromising her ability to do her job there, then she shouldn't be trying to teach at 2 different places because it's not fair to the one she is leaving in a lurch!

Talk to the Dean and see if there is another class you can get into. And if not, I would suggest asking for a refund and perhaps taking the class at a later time, maybe there will be a different instructor.

I rearranged my work schedule to fit around these classes so I don't have any other options, and if I don't take it now it's a prerequisite for all my other english type classes so it'd set me back a lot.
I did get a good first impression so I'm hoping things will smooth out, I'm so frustated with work right now that I've let this school thing go
It does sound like it might be medical related for the instructor though so that's understandable. Unfortunately she's given me feedback on my first e-mailed essay and said it looked good except for my commas. I wrote back asking her to clarify and all she said was something like We all have problems, I handed out a worksheet, and I'll be teaching more about it. But she didn't answer my question and tell me what I was doing wrong with them! Sheesh. But thanks a lot for the input guys, I'm glad I wasnt out of line thinking this is a pretty wierd situation