From "That Student"
While in class and after I returned the research papers, "That Student" said that I should have warned them (the class) that Computers would be required for the research paper.
After trying to blame everyone on campus for her inability to complete a simple, five-page research paper, she tried to foist the responsibility on me for not alerting her to the need to be able to use computers. Now, we're not talking about using some advanced Statistics Program, just your average MS Word / Excel stuff.
Argh!
Oh well, only a few more classes to go and she'll no longer be my problem. :)
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I couldn't make this stuff up
Once more, an email from "That Student".
Can I take this test next week to give me more time to find out stuff or just take it tomorrow night?
I was left confused because she emailed me the notes and never put what chapters they are for.
What the HELL?
(more later)
Can I take this test next week to give me more time to find out stuff or just take it tomorrow night?
I was left confused because she emailed me the notes and never put what chapters they are for.
What the HELL?
(more later)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
GAH! Follow-up
This was the last line in an email I just received from "That Student".
"Please pass me in both of your classes because I depend on college for my education and the money to make ends meet in life!"
My official response:
Ms. XXX,
Let me make this perfectly clear: I will not pass you or fail you. You will succeed or fail based on your performance in class and for no other reason.
-Tom.
STAB IT. BURN IT. BURY IT. KILL IT.
"Please pass me in both of your classes because I depend on college for my education and the money to make ends meet in life!"
My official response:
Ms. XXX,
Let me make this perfectly clear: I will not pass you or fail you. You will succeed or fail based on your performance in class and for no other reason.
-Tom.
STAB IT. BURN IT. BURY IT. KILL IT.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
GAH!
Although I am a firm believer that people should always attempt to educate themselves, I have must state that I am TIRED of ignorant people wasting my time.
It is one thing for someone to simply not be aware of a topic, and need some assistance to grasp the concept; that's what teachers are for.
Some people have difficulty grasping concepts and need additional help to make the connections that others seem to make more easily; that is what tutors are for.
It is another thing entirely for someone to:
One of my students, a non-traditional student who is apparently a grandmother, believes that college should be just like the school where her grand babies go. If she doesn't pass an exam, she wants to re-take it, over and over again, until she does. Apparently this is a common technique in the public school system (though I don't know what grade) where her grandchild attends. She, the non-trad student (AKA "THAT student"), assumes that all education systems are like this and that if she just continually walks around clueless that she'll get passed because people are tired of looking at her.
Here's the kicker, she's on something called "Financial Aid Probation". Essentially, she has failed so many times previously, that the University (or the State / Fed) is going to suspend her Financial Aid unless she can pull her grades up. I agree with the idea that people who aren't getting the grades shouldn't be able to pull down thousands and thousands of dollars (and most likely not paying them back) - potentially removing funding from those people who -are- making the grade. So this student is faced with a challenge, pass your classes or loose your money.
She is in both my Intro to Sociology and my Intro to Criminology course. It turns out that she was in my Intro to Psychology course last spring (and failed - but only by 5 points). This term she is failing again - not scoring higher than 50% on any of her exams and once she scored 34% OUT OF 100%.
Normally, I would have written her off as an Ashley and let her fail without a second thought. Since she is a non-trad (a category of students who usually out-perform my other students), I tried to give her a bit more attention hoping that she would be like my other non-trad students and really contribute to the class.
NOPE.
She realizes that she's failing and she's continually panicking about it. I usually receive between three to four emails from her at a time; usually within the scope of 10 minutes. They all say about the same thing, usually with more and more panic in her tone each time. She has probably accessed every help desk, tutor and resource at the university to help her improve her grades, but the reality is that she just doesn't have the academic tools to be in college at this time.
It's no great failure to say that a person is not ready...yet. Usually it's a matter of intellectual focus rather than sheer brain power, but a University should not be used as an alternative form of Unemployment / Welfare. A university is a place of learning, a sanctuary for academic achievement (cue monastic chants in the background with a subtle mix of "Georgetown" from St. Elmo's Fire), and most importantly a means to change your life.
Not everyone is ready to change how they think about the world or their place in it. Until they are ready, they should not be at College.
It is one thing for someone to simply not be aware of a topic, and need some assistance to grasp the concept; that's what teachers are for.
Some people have difficulty grasping concepts and need additional help to make the connections that others seem to make more easily; that is what tutors are for.
It is another thing entirely for someone to:
- A) Not know something,
- B) Refuse to put forth the effort to learn it.
- C) Fail to apply it.
- D) Fabricate reasons why they don't / can't learn.
- E) Expect you to pass them because "they're just not getting it".
One of my students, a non-traditional student who is apparently a grandmother, believes that college should be just like the school where her grand babies go. If she doesn't pass an exam, she wants to re-take it, over and over again, until she does. Apparently this is a common technique in the public school system (though I don't know what grade) where her grandchild attends. She, the non-trad student (AKA "THAT student"), assumes that all education systems are like this and that if she just continually walks around clueless that she'll get passed because people are tired of looking at her.
Here's the kicker, she's on something called "Financial Aid Probation". Essentially, she has failed so many times previously, that the University (or the State / Fed) is going to suspend her Financial Aid unless she can pull her grades up. I agree with the idea that people who aren't getting the grades shouldn't be able to pull down thousands and thousands of dollars (and most likely not paying them back) - potentially removing funding from those people who -are- making the grade. So this student is faced with a challenge, pass your classes or loose your money.
She is in both my Intro to Sociology and my Intro to Criminology course. It turns out that she was in my Intro to Psychology course last spring (and failed - but only by 5 points). This term she is failing again - not scoring higher than 50% on any of her exams and once she scored 34% OUT OF 100%.
Normally, I would have written her off as an Ashley and let her fail without a second thought. Since she is a non-trad (a category of students who usually out-perform my other students), I tried to give her a bit more attention hoping that she would be like my other non-trad students and really contribute to the class.
NOPE.
She realizes that she's failing and she's continually panicking about it. I usually receive between three to four emails from her at a time; usually within the scope of 10 minutes. They all say about the same thing, usually with more and more panic in her tone each time. She has probably accessed every help desk, tutor and resource at the university to help her improve her grades, but the reality is that she just doesn't have the academic tools to be in college at this time.
It's no great failure to say that a person is not ready...yet. Usually it's a matter of intellectual focus rather than sheer brain power, but a University should not be used as an alternative form of Unemployment / Welfare. A university is a place of learning, a sanctuary for academic achievement (cue monastic chants in the background with a subtle mix of "Georgetown" from St. Elmo's Fire), and most importantly a means to change your life.
Not everyone is ready to change how they think about the world or their place in it. Until they are ready, they should not be at College.
Monday, November 2, 2009
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