tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post2754571544420120809..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: Sid from Santa Fe on "Individualized Instruction."Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-18815064166279235332012-08-03T05:20:18.222-04:002012-08-03T05:20:18.222-04:00When did you last read "Demian"? If it w...When did you last read "Demian"? If it was when you were a teenager, have a look at it today. I recently did this with "Steppenwolf," which was written by Hesse as he was approaching 50, about the problems of that age, and he complained that it was his most "violently misunderstood" works because it had "fallen into the hands of very young readers."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-45283506527024321122012-08-01T16:06:04.513-04:002012-08-01T16:06:04.513-04:00I had this problem too, until I realized that more...I had this problem too, until I realized that more ability begets more ambition. I might have had an easier time if I'd have been content with a boring life, but I wanted to be an astronomer, and all the things that I needed to know in order to do that (chemistry, electronics, mathematics, physics) took actual work. Plus, all the other kids wanting to be astronomers had been the best in theirAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-7592903857571316442012-08-01T16:03:33.319-04:002012-08-01T16:03:33.319-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-85974752506938400452012-08-01T14:09:07.624-04:002012-08-01T14:09:07.624-04:00I have to disagree with your analysis of Demian. I...I have to disagree with your analysis of Demian. It is one of my favorite books, not because it tells people to be disrespectful jerkoffs like this kid, but because it warns the reader of the perils of letting other people control the trajectory of your life. I found the book to be mysterious on many levels, and I'd encourage people to read it.Teacher Miseryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13159720318253056794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-70096514790521777062012-08-01T12:47:40.073-04:002012-08-01T12:47:40.073-04:00She got it, but did not like it!
I forgot to men...She got it, but did not like it! <br /><br />I forgot to mention that Slackella's "unique creativity" was also cited as a reason that the educational system failed her. Oh, and her "fearless individuality" also underwhelmed her audience, apparently. <br /><br />I did ***not*** reply that the nuns would have put some fear in her sense of speshulness....and admired myself Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18042271913445019874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-62626686574631500292012-08-01T11:56:33.147-04:002012-08-01T11:56:33.147-04:00They've missed part of the creativity equation...They've missed part of the creativity equation: understanding the rules makes creativity possible and meaningful.Lucy, Countess of Bedfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181713706519539554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-88078470984155043792012-08-01T05:21:16.548-04:002012-08-01T05:21:16.548-04:00I had a student much like this whom I really feel ...I had a student much like this whom I really feel sorry for, although he has caused half the instructors in the department a lot of trouble. <br /><br />He will write to instructors in advance to ask for special attention (I can't come on Tuesdays will you tutor me separately on what I missed? Will you be starting a study group? Will you attend the study group? Other profs tutor me Merely Academichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00452389428113097744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-20189225429751117182012-08-01T00:52:35.959-04:002012-08-01T00:52:35.959-04:00Does Rick have a twin brother? I swear I had a st...Does Rick have a twin brother? I swear I had a student just like him last semester.Dr.Celexahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794981421568539843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-63322386134978888282012-07-31T23:34:19.915-04:002012-07-31T23:34:19.915-04:00My SLAC did not allow W's. The best you could ...My SLAC did not allow W's. The best you could do was an incomplete, and the reason had better damn be good. I had no idea what a W was until I started doing my grad work at Big-ass Directional State, where nothing is every final, and students have multiple options for covering up those infelicitous moments. <br /><br />My favorite is the "retroactive withdrawal." This can be used toGone Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05551318129736463087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-56416752853240195632012-07-31T21:17:53.815-04:002012-07-31T21:17:53.815-04:00I miss the old country.I miss the old country.Southern Bubba, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12050992903794385204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-61756489218993932732012-07-31T20:25:31.041-04:002012-07-31T20:25:31.041-04:00When I was in college -- back in the old country -...When I was in college -- back in the old country -- there was no withdrawal policy: you would withdraw by not taking the final exam or, as some did, sneaking away from the room without turning it in. You would have to take it again (and again) until you passed the class. The limit was, I think, eight times.<br />Passing rate was, in many classes, under 30%, so it was an altogether different game.French Professeurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08062264385792788503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-85885770950454108722012-07-31T18:11:12.273-04:002012-07-31T18:11:12.273-04:00I'm amazed at how late the W is available in s...I'm amazed at how late the W is available in some places. <br /><br />Our campus allows a W, without professor approval, through the end of Week 4. Any attempt to withdraw without consequences after that deadline requires your instructor's approval, as well as documentation of a major, compelling reason for withdrawal.<br /><br />In our case, the biggest problem is sometimes the Defunct Adjuncthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12954331373226016090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-4641760914037730752012-07-31T15:36:09.425-04:002012-07-31T15:36:09.425-04:00It may have to do with how the school (or the stat...It may have to do with how the school (or the state?) calculates FTE?<br /><br />Our drop/W day is usually during week 10 of a 15 week semester. This gives the little darlings 2 weeks after midterm grades have been released to meet with an advisor who will then tell the little darlings to go beg their proffies for help. I HATE the 2 weeks after midterms, mostly because the little darlings can seeBurntChromehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06055976331443607569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-80718459939041799972012-07-31T05:09:12.438-04:002012-07-31T05:09:12.438-04:00"Who the hell are you to tell me how to write..."Who the hell are you to tell me how to write?"<br /><br />Replies I use for this are:<br /><br />"Someone who is TRYING to prepare you for a job, after graduation!"<br /><br />"Someone who has published and worked with editors extensively!"<br /><br />and my fave:<br /><br />"Someone who is fully authorized and encouraged by the Provost of the University, who Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-90573694961699948452012-07-31T05:03:29.198-04:002012-07-31T05:03:29.198-04:00@EnglishDoc: Whatever you do, DON'T hand them ...@EnglishDoc: Whatever you do, DON'T hand them a copy of Steppenwolf!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-87629545440739662642012-07-31T04:53:41.378-04:002012-07-31T04:53:41.378-04:00Ah, at least Sis-in-law got the joke!Ah, at least Sis-in-law got the joke!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-55923159545187912962012-07-31T03:08:27.466-04:002012-07-31T03:08:27.466-04:00We used to have the W available till the week befo...We used to have the W available till the week before finals. We also used to allow grade changes indefinitely, which made for some very awkward conversations when Reformed Rodney, who wanted to apply to some selective school, would come back 10 years later to have all his Fs changed to Ws only to discover his former proffie was either dead, retired, or an adjunct who had long since flown the coopEnglishDochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12046114978214062491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-59364130794482678572012-07-31T03:00:40.257-04:002012-07-31T03:00:40.257-04:00Your Hesse comment just reminded me of the semeste...Your Hesse comment just reminded me of the semester when I had a half-dozen Hesse protagonists in a technical communication class. Oh, what a tyrant I was! I didn't allow them to express their creativity! I kept them from fulfilling their true potential because I insisted on formatting and word length parameters and professional vocabulary. I made them choose from topics related to business EnglishDochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12046114978214062491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-37610304579839028942012-07-31T02:47:03.654-04:002012-07-31T02:47:03.654-04:00Having the W option is important, I think, but I w...Having the W option is important, I think, but I wholeheartedly agree that there have to be limits on its availability. My school keeps the W available until the very. last. day. of class -- which is a complete joke. It would be more honest to time it for right around midterm, so those who bomb the midterm exam, thereby realizing their own unpreparedness/laziness/hubris/etc, have some way to bow Edna Expathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11438002061912782295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-66479763102881421942012-07-30T23:19:23.366-04:002012-07-30T23:19:23.366-04:00And what are these kids going to have nightmares a...And what are these kids going to have nightmares about in their 30s and 40s (and probably beyond; I haven't tested that yet) if the answer to having forgotten one was registered for a class until two days before the exam is simply to drop the class? An important part of our collective consciousness will be lost.Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-33262947150667979922012-07-30T22:37:39.073-04:002012-07-30T22:37:39.073-04:00Question that this has prompted me to ponder. Why ...Question that this has prompted me to ponder. Why do universities allow students to withdraw from classes so late? What could possibly be gained from it. Hell, why allow them to withdraw at all? Let them stop coming and take their F that they so richly deserve. An F for failing or flouncing should not be seen as a bad thing, and letting students withdraw penalty-free should be discouraged.<br /><The Mad Dreamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10104841422695591759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-7236793548764324922012-07-30T22:07:13.409-04:002012-07-30T22:07:13.409-04:00P.S. I never read "The Glass Bead Game,"...P.S. I never read "The Glass Bead Game," which is why I only ever got a B in that literature class. But then, even as a 17-year-old freshperson, I didn't whine to the prof about it, since I knew it was my own fault.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-52114792551726762472012-07-30T22:04:58.087-04:002012-07-30T22:04:58.087-04:00Ever read the novels of Hermann Hesse? I enjoyed t...Ever read the novels of Hermann Hesse? I enjoyed them when I was a teenager, because he idolized students like this. <br /><br />In "Beneath the Wheel," the protagonist is brought to ruin by one, who of course gets another chance at another school because his papa is rich. The protagonist's isn't, so after flunking out he takes work as a mechanic, for which his academy Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-16243169578259333352012-07-30T21:39:58.380-04:002012-07-30T21:39:58.380-04:00I got individualized instruction, also known as pe...I got individualized instruction, also known as personalized attention, in the Latin class I took at 12. There were two other students in the class. Whenever individualized instruction is mentioned today, I wave to my class of 100 and say, "I do my best."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-52863766158517945392012-07-30T21:28:27.728-04:002012-07-30T21:28:27.728-04:00It's bad whenever I put substantial time and e...It's bad whenever I put substantial time and effort into a student like this, and it's all for nothing. What's worse is when they show up in next semester's class, raring to go as always.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com