What is it with students today? They speak however they please, interrupt a class because they can, refuse to turn off cellphones because something (anything) may be more important than your class, will flat out tell you, to your face infront of the rest of the class, "I wasn't talking to you. I was telling the person next to me something". How about you shouldn't be talking while I am...got it? Or, my class & the education of the other 29 in the room IS more important than your phone. And, if you think otherwise, do not sign up for a class. Or, how about learn how to write an email appropriately and do not expect an answer back immediately. How's that float your boat?
I have an 8:25 am literature class on Mondays & Wednesdays. They were told to begin reading Night Fall back in January because we were going to spend only three dsya discussing a 360 page book. I had it broken down into three installments. But I did advise them to start early because it is a lot of reading. We finished discussing the book in class today. Out of 27 students, only 7 finished the book. The remaining 20, you ask? Are somewhere between still having to purchase/borrow the book to read & some are half way through the book. One genuis wanted to point out that he hasn't finished the book yet. He's on pg. 102. Ummm...you have a lot of catching up to do, buddy. He wanted to ask questions about things he has yet to encounter & wanted to interject with his opinion even though he has not read the book. I told him to keep quiet because he is unprepared. This is when he decides to take it that next step. "I work, Miss." "That's nice. So does everyone else." "No, Miss, I work a lot." "I told you to buy the book on January 19th and begin reading. It is now February 27. What is your point?" "Why do you have to make me look stupid infront of the class, Miss? This is why I don't participate. Because you make me feel dumb." I make you feel dumb? Me? Good! Tehn my work here is done. Is what I wanted to say. What did I say? "I am not making you feel anything. You are unprepared and that's it." Notice how it immediately becomes a personal issue.
Next up was the gentleman who came in 35 minutes late. My syllabus states that no student is to enter the room more than 15 minutes into the class. If they are late and it is past the initial 15 minutes, they are marked absent. That's it. So, I make eye contact with said gentleman and shake my head and nod towards the door. Very discreet. I did not say his name (maybe because I have given up learning their names) and I did not call attention to him in any way. That was it. After class I was moving from my shared office to my shared cubicle when I hear "Why'd you do that to me, Miss?" See why I don't learn their names? I have 11 classes of students. They have four, maybe five, professors. I am always "Miss". So, they are all "student". I raise my head and say "Excuse me?" He says "Why wouldn't you let me in? That was embarassing". I reminded him of the policy & he said "But I have car trouble this week & have to take public transportation." I have to now say "Thank you for informing me, but you still must be on time." Notice how I have to thank HIM. Why? Because these are the types of individuals who actually go to the chairperson and cry saying how their professor does not like them and proceeds to humiliate them in class.
Why is it that I make them feel dumb? Why is it me who embarasses them? Do they stop to think that it is their own actions that do this? No. It's easier to blame me. And why does this all happen in the first class?
In my next class I have a young woman who has been absent six times. Seven if you count the "hall pass" she tried to give me two weeks ago. I asked her what she was doing in my class today. I got the same old song of how she can't help it & she has to graduate & can't I just let her try once more? Oh yeah. All true. Fine! I will let her back in. But one more lateness or absence and she fails. Not my policy. That's the school. And it is the one thing I love there. How did she make it this far when she can't pass my Critical Thinking class? She failed it in the Fall with me & here she is again. Note the name of the course. Now, what is it that she has yet to do? Ah...maybe this is why she will not be graduating in May as planned. But, why is it me that this willf all on? Where are the other professors in all of this?
Sorry. I had to vent. I am on my way back into the abyss for another 7 hour run. Wish me luck!
