The Growing Hate Storm

It's the post-Spring Break month of April. I feel that the third month of a term is when we really understand our students. We are no longer in the shiny stage of learning each other's names and giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. We have collected enough papers and exams and had enough meetings to know who is going to shoot for a realistic A and who probably won't show up until the last week of class and score a D (or thereabouts).

But I am disturbed in particular by this year's batch of kids. Disturbed because I am beginning to feel the pangs of hatred in my interaction with them.

The Very Easy Basic class, half of whom complain every time I give them even the slightest homework assignment, only to be argued down by the rest of the class who finds said homework helpful. Every time. They argue in factions. It's annoying as hell.

My small snowflake class. This is the one that's killing me. Every class we have is going to contain a few idiots. People who skip the syllabus, who wander in and out and then are surprised to learn there is an attendance policy, or that there have been 12 reading responses due. Every class has a few D students. It just works that way. But what happens when you are teaching a small group of 9 and ALL of them are flaking? Missing class left and right, getting 50 or 60% on their responses (if they get a grade at all!) And not caring at all that they are failing?? I've never before had a class lack even one eager beaver. None of them will carry their slacker student fellows. They show up without doing the reading. They lose points and don't care.

It isn't a hard class. I've taught it many times before. But this group of students: my god. The excuses! Oh, Dr Monkey, I'm a linear learner so I can't understand the instructions, even when you draw me pictures of what is expected. The 12 emails in one day from one woman. The constant explanation that Child wanted to see Thing and therefore they skipped class. STOP TELLING ME ABOUT YOUR STUPID KIDS.

And this one class is making me lose patience with the other classes. The mundane answers used to be expected, no problem. You know: the students who write one page less than the required length. Normally I knock off a few points, no big deal, keep moving. But now, the Hate Storm gathers and I dock them 10 points, 20 points. I hold them accountable for everything and secretly hope I can nail someone for plagiarism, just for the satisfaction.

It isn't fair, sure, but how can I resist this feeling? Just walk away from my teaching and grading? Crack open another beer? Why is it so much worse this year?

The Hate Storm must dissipate in order to enjoy the green of Summer.