That was the one I did a double-take on, as well. Sometimes I wonder if we're witnessing the rise of a uniquely sociopathic generation or if I'm romanticizing the "good old days." Neither option is particularly attractive.
On a side note, I really want to take a 7-iron to some of these frivolous, finals-cancelling professors.
What the @#$%! Weather postponements I get (things have been messy on the east coast the last few days), and I maybe get the proffie-in-hospital situation (though wouldn't the final already exist? And couldn't his/her colleagues administer and grade it? I've joined a group grading session for a colleague in a similar situation), but aren't some students hoping to improve their grades on the final (whether or not that hope is a false one). And who averages in 100% for an assignment that was never completed? (Okay, I know the answer that one: somebody who wants to make very sure the students won't complain.) Whatever happened to the whole syllabus-as-contract thing?
And how many of these professors had every intention of doing this from day one, I wonder? As the kids (and some of my contemporaries) say, smh.
I once wound up stranded, by a freak snowstorm, 70 miles away at a mall, on the day before a final exam. It was my first semester as a prof. In my defense, we had called the highway patrol number and were told that there was no snow in the forecast, so we went. Lesson learned.
By the time we got to the mall, we found out that it was closing and that there was a travel ban in place. Just then, a roving camera crew from the local news station came up to interview us. We told them our story, and then I looked right into the camera and said "But, I WILL be there for your Hamster Fur Weaving final tomorrow!"
So, we found a hotel room, and some food, and waited for morning. I called our department secretary to ask her to start the final, but she had already seen the newscast and was planning to do that. After digging our car out from under 3 feet of snow, we headed back home. I walked into the final exam, 15 minutes late, unshowered and in yesterday's clothes. Everyone applauded.
The students do realize that their grade weight will change with the final removed? The final might have saved some with a "C." Now, the slackers may not pass at all. Only the non-snowflakes with A's and B's may have cause to celebrate.
As soon as I read the title, I knew I'd have to say what it seems everyone who reads this shit misses:
Could it be that these courses (in general) had NO FINAL scheduled and the dumbass students are JUST NOW realizing it? (Casandra hints at it above.) After all, please see Academic Charlotte Anne's Speedy Rant below. regarding undergrads incapable of reading a final examinations schedule, or listening to announcements in class, etc. As a reminder, not all schools, departments, majors, or courses require a sit-in-a-room final exam.
Oh, and I second Iskander's sentiment above about the potentiality of a generation of sociopaths. *shudder*
I hadn't thought about that possibility (I was assuming snowflake proffies who were skirting the rules by putting a required final on the syllabus, then canceling it), but, yes, it's definitely a possibility.
There were a number of weather cancelled finals on Twitter, too, and of course it's possible that some of these cancellations above might include some of those.
I'm more interested in the way the students react, like the one with the hospital-bed proffie. What good news, I mean, for me at least.
I'm actually curious about something. I had a proffie half cancel a final when I was an undergrad in days of yor. She walked in, read a list of names and told them that if they'd been named they didn't have to take the final as they already had an A. Anyone whose average was not already an A had to take the exam.
As a student (who did not have an A, I had an A- or a B+), I actually resented it because it had effectively announced to the room that those of us remaining had lower grades.
That organic chemistry exam had better be cancelled due to weather.
ReplyDeleteWomen's language?
My organic prof would have crawled out of his grave to give us our final. He took great pleasure in tearing us each a new one.
DeleteTerry, are you making this shit up? I know you're not. I just want to hang on to something today.
ReplyDelete"my professor is the hospital there for my final is cancelled...Thank you God"
ReplyDeletesooo many things wrong with that stoopid tweet.
That was the one I did a double-take on, as well. Sometimes I wonder if we're witnessing the rise of a uniquely sociopathic generation or if I'm romanticizing the "good old days." Neither option is particularly attractive.
DeleteOn a side note, I really want to take a 7-iron to some of these frivolous, finals-cancelling professors.
What the @#$%! Weather postponements I get (things have been messy on the east coast the last few days), and I maybe get the proffie-in-hospital situation (though wouldn't the final already exist? And couldn't his/her colleagues administer and grade it? I've joined a group grading session for a colleague in a similar situation), but aren't some students hoping to improve their grades on the final (whether or not that hope is a false one). And who averages in 100% for an assignment that was never completed? (Okay, I know the answer that one: somebody who wants to make very sure the students won't complain.) Whatever happened to the whole syllabus-as-contract thing?
ReplyDeleteAnd how many of these professors had every intention of doing this from day one, I wonder? As the kids (and some of my contemporaries) say, smh.
I once wound up stranded, by a freak snowstorm, 70 miles away at a mall, on the day before a final exam. It was my first semester as a prof. In my defense, we had called the highway patrol number and were told that there was no snow in the forecast, so we went. Lesson learned.
ReplyDeleteBy the time we got to the mall, we found out that it was closing and that there was a travel ban in place. Just then, a roving camera crew from the local news station came up to interview us. We told them our story, and then I looked right into the camera and said "But, I WILL be there for your Hamster Fur Weaving final tomorrow!"
So, we found a hotel room, and some food, and waited for morning. I called our department secretary to ask her to start the final, but she had already seen the newscast and was planning to do that. After digging our car out from under 3 feet of snow, we headed back home. I walked into the final exam, 15 minutes late, unshowered and in yesterday's clothes. Everyone applauded.
Love that story!
DeleteBrava! Now that's a real proffie!
DeleteI'd give you a hug now, if I could!
DeleteThe students do realize that their grade weight will change with the final removed? The final might have saved some with a "C." Now, the slackers may not pass at all. Only the non-snowflakes with A's and B's may have cause to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I read the title, I knew I'd have to say what it seems everyone who reads this shit misses:
ReplyDeleteCould it be that these courses (in general) had NO FINAL scheduled and the dumbass students are JUST NOW realizing it? (Casandra hints at it above.) After all, please see Academic Charlotte Anne's Speedy Rant below. regarding undergrads incapable of reading a final examinations schedule, or listening to announcements in class, etc. As a reminder, not all schools, departments, majors, or courses require a sit-in-a-room final exam.
Oh, and I second Iskander's sentiment above about the potentiality of a generation of sociopaths. *shudder*
I hadn't thought about that possibility (I was assuming snowflake proffies who were skirting the rules by putting a required final on the syllabus, then canceling it), but, yes, it's definitely a possibility.
DeleteThere were a number of weather cancelled finals on Twitter, too, and of course it's possible that some of these cancellations above might include some of those.
ReplyDeleteI'm more interested in the way the students react, like the one with the hospital-bed proffie. What good news, I mean, for me at least.
That sort of thing.
A colleague of mine cancelled his final at the last minute. He said he was going to "round off" the other grades.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually curious about something. I had a proffie half cancel a final when I was an undergrad in days of yor. She walked in, read a list of names and told them that if they'd been named they didn't have to take the final as they already had an A. Anyone whose average was not already an A had to take the exam.
ReplyDeleteAs a student (who did not have an A, I had an A- or a B+), I actually resented it because it had effectively announced to the room that those of us remaining had lower grades.
Was I being snow flakey?
I think with FERPA that wouldn't fly now. I can't even pass stacks of graded homework of quizzes around the room.
Delete