Say ciao to Cinderella for me
I am a very nice instructor, JUST ASK ME.
Har.
I am, really. I am quite sensitive to the fact that for so so many students, school is a major undertaking surrounding lives that involve partners, families, homes, work, kids, etc. I’m still green enough to allow a makeup exam or put the syllabus up on the web in case theirs gets lost.
It’s just that I was a student a wee bit ago. A student who struggled with school and a family and work and gah, it was sometimes hard.
I realize that not everyone has the support I’ve had.
HOWEVER.
When your mama is taking you to Disney World and the day before you leave you send me this email:
I wanted to know if I could take the final exam tomorrow anytime before 3:00pm. I know I just got out of your class, but I am going on a family vacation to Disney.
please don’t expect a buttload of sympathy.
A) I will, in fact, work around vacations even though that’s a ton of extra work for me. Because I envy your vacationy ass and I am praying the universe sees fit to send me on one someday and that said universe is NOTICING MY GOOD DEEDS. But lo, if you give me less than 24 hour notice…sister, you is crazy.
B) I am guessing that since I have given you a full semester of notice for the exam date (as written on the syllabus you received on day one), and the exam date has been on the website since day one, and I handed out a final exam review (which your lucky ass still gets, I debate this every semester) that had the date on it, AND I have been talking about the exam for two full weeks (that you know, maybe you missed out on by sleeping in a few too many days), I am thinking that you knew before this very moment that there was a final exam on said date.
C) I am also guessing that you knew you were heading out to the Great Land of Disney and Sunshine before today. Things like vacations generally take a touch o’ planning. My guess is you’ve been buying up beachwear and hott sunglasses for at least three weeks now.
D) I highly doubt you will be able to tell me the difference between Monet and Manet. And you totally missed out on the excellent model/rape victim vs. artist/stud with a phallic paintbrush Kirchner discussion. It was cool.
E) There is no reason for you to take the final. There is no hope of passing at this point, what with forgetting another exam and not turning in a term paper. Oh, and not coming to class.
So.
No.
She did not get the the special exam. Even if I had wanted to, there was NO way to do it with my schedule. It still makes me feel like crap, though. Not necessarily the exam, but the fact that she all out failed this course. I need to get over that feeling…I know it’s her fault, I realize that the blame is all there but I hate when a student fails.
I HATES IT.
Posted by Melissa on May 3rd, 2007 under Histoire d'Art, Observations
May 3rd, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I have a lot of nightmares that I am behaving in this fashion (usually regarding a math or science class) and when I awaken, I am always relieved to recall that I am done with a bachelors and a masters, having never asked for a special favor on the day before the final. I wonder if I am channeling her?
You cannot, simply cannot take on her waking nightmare. She obviously has priorities that exclude success, not to mention good manners.
May 3rd, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Is this the same person from your March 27th post???? Or, do you have a class of these people?
I tended not to attend class when I was in college, except for English and language classes; in fact, generally, exam days were the only time I ever even appeared in class. However, I never asked for special treatment, and took responsibility for whatever detriment my choices had on my grade.
I don’t know how old this woman is, but her attitude is very indicative of the newer generation’s “Me First” entitlement attitude.
May 3rd, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Christy,
Totally different person. This is a younger person this time.
I did some of that too, I sometimes skipped out, didnt’ care, etc…but I knew that was something I did to myself just like you did!
It’s not all my students by far, most are wonderful and amazing, but it’s enough to make me pissy.
May 4th, 2007 at 12:46 am
I just wish I hadn’t been that girl for one or two (or ten) of my classes in high school. Maaaaan. She will regret this attitude later on.
May 4th, 2007 at 7:56 am
I hear ya. Dealing with the same “last-minute emergencies” of a couple of my students. My chronically late student? He really goes all out. Week before last he came in COVERED in paint, late because he was working in a studio with a professor and the prof made him help clean up. Last week? Fifteen minutes late. MISSING TWO FRONT TEETH. I did not ask. But hey, at least he’s trying to be creative, right?
May 4th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Oy Vey!
What’s that saying… Youth is wasted on the young.
Yes. Yes it is.
May 4th, 2007 at 10:02 am
I can’t believe the nerve. Plus you know she is gonna blame you and say that it was all your fault, but probably with more colorful language.
May 6th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Ugh. Damn me and my policy of not writing about my students while I’m still technically teaching them. Hehehe. Suffice to say- I have a similar problem. Luckily this class doesn’t have a final exam, but her paper is late- and not handed in using the correct format. She be failing. I’ve seen her twice- and the SECOND TIME, ya know, in March? She asked me if I did the readings for class.
Bad sign, no? So in other words- I feel ya, sista!
June 7th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
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