Comments for classroom as microcosm

Comment on now you’ve made me mad by Generation X

Generation X — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:40:12 +0000

Oh my….those 2 girls have just added fuel to the fire…ouch!? But not much you can do…at least you ’see them coming’. I’m a hard ass myself – young people (as well as ‘adults’) need to be accountable for their actions, be responsible for what they do. Unfortunately society is much more tolerant than I…but I’m too stubborn to change – come on, if we give in, they’ll never learn now will they?

Courage ma belle…

Comment on Carnival of Educators + Educarnival by Clix

Clix — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:42:28 +0000

Or dishes. >;)

Comment on now you’ve made me mad by Siobhan Curious

Siobhan Curious — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:53:55 +0000

Oh, Corinne, I know, I know.

Just this morning, I received two emails from girls (friends, as it happens) who missed an important exam yesterday. One, apparently, had a root canal (but apparently had no inkling of this before the day of the exam, so didn’t let me know in advance that she would be missing it.) The other, apparently, had her flu vaccine on Sunday, and had a bad reaction through Monday and Tuesday, and so was unable to come to class. She was too sick to contact me (as were the rest of her family, maybe?) but not sick enough to go to the doctor, so she doesn’t have a medical note. Clearly they just forgot about the exam and skipped class, then realized their mistake, and are now scrambling to cover their asses. And I get to play the wicked witch. It’s been a whole week of this stuff, and I’m EXHAUSTED.

Comment on now you’ve made me mad by corinnegregory

corinnegregory — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:43:06 +0000

But you don’t understand — they are ENTITLED to a good grade, regardless!

The lack of personal responsibility in the younger generation is truly appalling. They believe that by just “showing up” they’ve made their contribution. There’s always a way out, there’s always a “pass.”

And our young people are being taught this at early ages. As early as elementary school, there’s no such thing as a hard deadline — if you suddenly discovered your homework balled up at the bottom of your backpack 6 weeks’ after it was due…well, great. Turn it in now! It’ll count. Or, just stay in during recess to complete a report. I’m not trying to be mean; I just believe it is our duty as the ADULTS in the equation to properly prepare our kids for the real world. If you aren’t there when the big presentation to the prospective client occurs, well, there’s no do-over.

Teaching is such a two-way relationship. It is based on the premise that the other part who is to be taught, is also willing and available to LEARN.

Comment on now you’ve made me mad by Siobhan Curious

Siobhan Curious — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:33:40 +0000

OKP: that is in fact exactly my project: it seems that teaching is my practice, and so I have to take it with all the lessons it delivers. It’s good to have you remind me of that, because I’m losing perspective on it today.

Besides, I don’t think The Fiance could get behind the nun bit.

Comment on now you’ve made me mad by OKP

OKP — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:11:58 +0000

Wow. Just — wow. I’m sorry you’ve had such a frustrating day. Before you chuck it all to become a Buddhist nun, you might consider that THIS is your training. You don’t have to chuck it at all. This kid is your Zen lesson of the semester.

I really, really like the perspective, though. The way we show we care is being there, teaching, every day.

Comment on now you’ve made me mad by Siobhan Curious

Siobhan Curious — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:33:10 +0000

Thanks, Gen X – it’s been a really frustrating day. It’s as though I’m suddenly besieged on one side by student after student who has finally decided to pull his/her head out of his/her bum, and on the other side by student after student giving me what seem to be totally bogus excuses about why their major essay and/or oral presentation isn’t ready. This always happens, but it seems a bit extreme this semester – maybe I set things up in a way that led to this? It’s all making me crazy, and I’m having fantasies again about abandoning teaching and becoming a Buddhist nun.

Comment on now you’ve made me mad by Generation.X

Generation.X — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:57:23 +0000

I soooooo sympathize with you…and understand why you wrote this post. You’ve summed it up perfectly – I have absolutely nothing to add. This student deserves to fail and you should not feel ANY guilt about it. He/she needs to be responsible for his/her actions. Don’t help, just listen as I’m sure you’ve done. Then walk away…leave it. We hope students will learn from such situations, but we have no control over that. But accept what’s yours, not what belongs to your student.

Be nice, cordial and save your energy for students who will get something from it.

Don’t change one damn thing….and be proud of yourself!

Comment on Yannick’s debts by Siobhan Curious

Siobhan Curious — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:16:44 +0000

Wow, Damien – what a weird situation! I’m in no way opposed to homeschooling (or even “unschooling”) if it’s done right, but it sounds like this little girl needs something altogether different…

Comment on Yannick’s debts by Siobhan Curious

Siobhan Curious — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:15:32 +0000

Hey, thanks! It’s something I say to them over and over. “Why did you give me a C?” “I didn’t GIVE you a C, that’s what you earned.” “Why did you take off so many points?” “I didn’t take off ANY points; you earned a certain number of points, and those are the points I gave you.”