It’s been yet another long week in a series of long weeks to be followed by even MORE long weeks in which all I do is eat, breathe, sleep, and pee school.
Ok, the peeing of school was a little too much. Sorry.
I”m also more exhausted than last semester… especially inregards to the on-line take home quizzes I’ve assigned.
It’s like these people have never used computers and I’ve pulled the technology out of my ass and one day said, “POOF! Be technologically advanced and multiply!”
Let’s just say that *I* am more technologically saavy and capable than most of my 18-20 year old students collectively. OR, so they want me to believe.
I receive 32 emails since 3pm… whining about this or that… telling me that I have incorrect answers… or that my TAKE HOME quizzes are too hard.
Boo-freaking-hoo.
(I did realize how many SPELLING typos I’ve made. It’s shameful. That’s all I feel badly for…
Then, I get an email from a student telling me (rather boldly) that my questions were “too hard” and he feels that they need to be “easier.”
My mouth dropped. Then, I started to laugh.
My response was, “Welcome to college.”
(Yes, I actually said it.)
Then, I get an email from a DAD … more or less telling me that I better excuse his son for attending his mother’s “devastating” gall bladder surgery (which I’ve had… and its far from devastating… especially since she had a laproscopic surgery… with three little incissions)… threatening to call the administration.
Uh, fuck that shit.
I forwarded it to the Dean. And, after meeting with him (the Dean) today, it has become apparent that he also agreed that the parent was out of line. This email has been forwarded up the higher levels of the school administration. GOOD. I know what my r0le is, and know full well that *I* cannot discuss any college-related stuff with anyone’s parent… especially if they are over 18.
My view was this: I made my policy for makeups and absenses when I wrote my syllabus. I went over this policy after giving my syllabus to my students. I reiterate the policy when needbe. What I will not be is threatened, cajolled or manipulated into changing my policy because some DAD said I had to. I don’t even listen to MY OWN father now… so, some stranger’s dad doesn’t scare me… especially not as much as my OWN father used to. NO father scares me. So take your idle threats and cram them up your large expectations ass… and think on it for a few.
Before I even received that insulting email, I offered to let him come into another class to take his test (as they were taking their’s, too). This wasn’t a new concept… I’ve done this before. However to say, “I expect that you WILL allow him to make up all missed assignments, tests, etc, or I will notify the administration” is the button that does not need to be pushed by an over-bearing father or his son. Ever.
Needless to say, the administration is deciding how to approach this… you know, to avoid any future lawsuits. So, this essentially means that the teachers involved will be screwed… and it’ll be just…like…teaching…high school.
Maybe.
We’ll see.
At least *I* am the one who took the step to talk to the administration first. It was probably just an idle threat… however, I’m not taking ANYYYY chances. Nope. Not me.
Although, this is a school that has hired as a full-time, tenured professor… who kicks off his shoes, screams at the top of his lungs, and propels such words as “FUCKERS’,” SON OF A WHORE BITCH” and “COCKSUCKER” during his lessons…
The first time I heard him, I nearly died. The students in his class saw my face through the glass in the window… and the shock on my face was probably more than enough for them… and they started laughing. And, I had to physically pull my mouth shut so I didn’t look any more ridiculous tha…oh hell, when don’t I look ridiculous.
I think I’ve said hell (in the proper context) and damn (once, only once).. but never ever say f-bombs, or any other x-rated words in class. That’s for outside of school, out of the earshot of impressionable young people.
Nor do I “hang with the homies”… though, one of my students (who is friends with my son) has become my lunch buddy. I eat in the wide open of the caf… I don’t invite them to my house, exchange cells or any of that creepy pervy stuff.
The weird thing is this… at least 1/3 of my students are friends with my older son and of that 1/3 at least 1/2 of those have been in my house, slept over, eaten at my table, etc. It’s weird, I have to say, to have so many people I’ve known since they were in kindegarden in my classes.
Weird.
Ok, so here is a question…
Recently, a woman was arrested because she posted pictures of her children in the bathtub on Facebook.
What is your perspective about putting personal pics on such social networking sites such as Facebook?
Posted by cocoabean on October 1, 2009 at 9:49 pm
I try not to mix facebook and my blog… as far as pictures go, my child has posted several of me on HER page, so I’m out there. I would never post a picture on my FB page of someone else without their permission, and I wouldn’t ever post a minor’s picture on FB. Why? I’m paranoid.
Posted by G on October 1, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Ok, what if its YOUR child… and I see people do this all of the time. Innocently posting cute pics of their kids only for BIG BROTHER to want to lock them up and throw away the key. Shameful…
Posted by purple chai on October 2, 2009 at 6:18 am
I didn’t take pictures of my kids in the tub or on the toilet, and I wouldn’t post them. Even if they’re innocent, kids have a right to privacy, too.
On your students and their expectations. I’m wondering — this is a community college, yes? — if a number of them were classified students in high school and now expect to have IEP’s that modify the tests, aides to work with them, and so on. They weren’t prepared in high school to take hard tests, and certainly not expected to. And you’re right, this is college now. Your questions are too hard? Gee .. uh … study harder?
Posted by G on October 2, 2009 at 8:18 am
The only accommodations I’m usually required to give is extended test time (they take the test in the testing room) and copies of notes (I post them for everyone online). Even mainstreamed/non-special needs students seem to struggle. I have more students this semester who do significantly well without pampering. The complainer got an A last semester (one of 2 in the class). He’s just nominally annoying.
Its this “gimme,you OWE me mentality” that stresses me out.
For instance, the amount of emails begging for me to restart their online quizzes… After I told them I wouldn’t… Was astounding… So much so that I turned off my blkberry so I’d stop receiving emails… 32 yesterday alone. I’m hestitant to look at it today… Ugh.
Posted by sassybug on October 2, 2009 at 8:29 am
I teach part time at our local college, I had several students with complaints of this is too hard and several missing tests. I asked a full time professor what to do, she gave me her student contract which clearly states that they have read the class policies and spells out in detail that make up exams will not be given, no matter what. The students have to sign this contract and then I keep it, when they come to me with the various reasons as to why they missed the test (baby sitting grandkids was my favorite) I pull out their contract and say. “nope you signed here!”
About the swearing in class, oh my word. I laughed when you aid that he kicks of his shoes, I wander my classroom barefoot all the time!
Posted by G on October 2, 2009 at 8:48 am
I’m using the student contract next semester. I was talking to a co-worker who uses it.
As far as my bosses are concerned, the act of handing them the syllabus and making it available to the online accounts then makes all of my class procedures legal and abiding.
I used the contracts in high school and they covered my ass plenty of times against parents or students who do that, “you didn’t tell ME that” nonsense. I could kick myself for not doing that… Bah.
Posted by l'empress on October 2, 2009 at 9:04 am
Get it in writing! It’s a sad commentary on our society that CYA is a necessary mode of operation. It’s twenty years since I started doing it, keeping time-stamped backup documents on my computer (no internet yet). I also had to copy the entire staff on every phone call. On paper. But it was all in a folder called “cyafiles.”
I don’t know when education became anything more than a PRIVILEGE that one was supposed to be grateful for, rather than an entitlement.
Posted by G on October 2, 2009 at 10:11 am
Since the educational system changed and told the students that they have the right to bitch and moan when a teacher gives them work to do.
What I want to know is why teachers are so disrespected… I worked freaking HARD to become a teacher (just entering my 5th teaching year… officially… YEY!)… VERY hard.
I resent being treated like a member of the household “staff.” I’m not the freaking nanny, people. Nor am I the maid.