A320 CAPT COMMANDS INAPPROPRIATE AUTOFLT MODE ON DEP FROM MDW AND EXPERIENCES SPD DEV.

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THE CAPT WAS HAND FLYING THE HIGH-TASK DEP OUT OF MDW. WE LEVELED OFF AT 3000 FT AT 180 KTS (GREEN DOT SPD; WHICH IS REQUIRED THROUGH 3600 FT FOR MDW DEPS). WE WERE VERY LIGHT; ONLY 3 PAX. ATC ISSUED A CLB TO 4000 FT WHICH I DIALED INTO THE ALT WINDOW AND THEN I INQUIRED IF HE WANTED ME TO SELECT A VERT SPD. I THOUGHT VERT SPD A MUCH BETTER OPTION DUE TO THE LOW AIRSPD; LIGHT WT; AND SHORT CLB. HIS RESPONSE WAS 'NO; IT'S ONLY 1000 FT SO OPEN CLB.' WHICH IS CLB PWR. I THOUGHT THE PLANE WOULD STAND ON ITS TAIL THEN HAVE A HARSH LEVELOFF; EXCEPT HE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE FLT DIRECTOR PITCH COMMANDS AND FLEW A MUCH LOWER PITCH THAN COMMANDED. AND AT FULL CLB PWR WE ACCELERATED LIKE CRAZY. AT 265 KTS HE'S DIALING IN A SELECTED SPD OF 250 KTS WHICH WASN'T GOING TO WORK AND AT 280 KTS HE PULLED THE THRUST LEVERS BACK. I TRIED EXPLAINING WHY THINGS DID WHAT THEY DID LATER IN THE FLT; BUT HE DOES NOT HAVE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF AIRBUS FLT MODES AND COULDN'T GRASP WHAT I WAS SAYING. I WAS TRYING TO BE PRO-ACTIVE IN THE BEGINNING BY SUGGESTING VERT SPD MODE; MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PERSISTENT. I CAN'T; HOWEVER; COVER EVERY DEFICIENCY IN SOMEONE WHO IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE PETER PRINCIPLE.