What I love about all of them is the narrow strand of space between enjoying the students and mocking them.
I always watch them and marvel at their naivete, laugh at their precocious gravitas, and at the same time envy them so much their youth, innocence and joie de college!
My most recent student evaluations contained, for the first time ever, a few comments along the lines of "We pay for our education so we shouldn't have to participate if we don't want to."
They are, of course, exactly right. And I don't have to give them a passing grade if they don't fulfill the course requirements. Pretty simple, really.
If they are attending a state school or are receiving federal or state financial aid, the taxpayers may cover a good chunk of the bill. Sucks for them.
I'd agree with the students but for my own observation that these are the same students who turn around and complain when they didn't get the mark they "deserved."
Oh, yes, the students who think they are excellent writers, and then turn out to be giant trainwrecks. I still remember this guy who said he won prizes for his writing. I made a video of him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VKMo-wYEMM
The ones who say, "I'm an excellent writer; I won the State essay competition" and the ones who say, "Professor, I'm not real good at writing" are saying the same thing: "Don't criticize me. Be an easy grader."
When I was a journalist, corrections officers had a saying, "They're all innocent." They said that as a sarcasm, of course: All prisoners claimed they didn't do it, they got framed, they were in the wrong place or the wrong time, or they had bad lawyers. I'm reminded of that whenever some student tells me she won the essay contest or he "always got A's in English" or has "a 4.0."
It's been TOO long since a Cal-Shizzle.
ReplyDeleteWhat I love about all of them is the narrow strand of space between enjoying the students and mocking them.
I always watch them and marvel at their naivete, laugh at their precocious gravitas, and at the same time envy them so much their youth, innocence and joie de college!
Cali Carla, welcome. I'm glad you came out of the shadows to comment regularly. Hope you enjoy the interaction.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cal's videos. Sometimes it's good to remember how clueless they are about attendance or drinking or whatever.
But I always smile, too, because I wish I was right back where they are now, just learning it all.
(But not putting it on YouTube!!!!)
I crack up at the one kid, "You bought it! You bought it!"
ReplyDeleteHiram's colleague is at 1:30.
ReplyDeleteNice job, Cal.
ReplyDeleteMy most recent student evaluations contained, for the first time ever, a few comments along the lines of "We pay for our education so we shouldn't have to participate if we don't want to."
They are, of course, exactly right. And I don't have to give them a passing grade if they don't fulfill the course requirements. Pretty simple, really.
If they are attending a state school or are receiving federal or state financial aid, the taxpayers may cover a good chunk of the bill. Sucks for them.
DeleteTwo thumbs up! Way up!
ReplyDeleteI'd agree with the students but for my own observation that these are the same students who turn around and complain when they didn't get the mark they "deserved."
ReplyDelete"I'm an excellent driver..."
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, the students who think they are excellent writers, and then turn out to be giant trainwrecks. I still remember this guy who said he won prizes for his writing.
ReplyDeleteI made a video of him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VKMo-wYEMM
The ones who say, "I'm an excellent writer; I won the State essay competition" and the ones who say, "Professor, I'm not real good at writing" are saying the same thing: "Don't criticize me. Be an easy grader."
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a journalist, corrections officers had a saying, "They're all innocent." They said that as a sarcasm, of course: All prisoners claimed they didn't do it, they got framed, they were in the wrong place or the wrong time, or they had bad lawyers. I'm reminded of that whenever some student tells me she won the essay contest or he "always got A's in English" or has "a 4.0."