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8 comments

Comment from: hinermad [Visitor]
hinermad

Diana,

Bummer on the 1/6th mile track. How does a PTL not know the length of his own track? Maybe you should go argue the results. (grin)

I’ve never asked a teacher to reconsider a grade on a paper. Like you, I was taught to respect the teacher’s authority. Many times I’ve questioned mis-marked tests or assignments where an answer was clearly correct, but that’s not usually practical for writing assignments. I did go to bat for a classmate once. He used the word “colour” in a freshman comp paper and the teacher dinged him for spelling. (He was from Nigeria, where the English has been tainted by people from England.) The teacher wouldn’t accept that it was a correct alternate spelling until I pulled a dictionary and showed it to her. Ya gotta love community colleges.

My personal opinion is that you should stick with your own idea about handling grade challenges. Announcing Lt. Col. Hanley’s method as your policy seems like it would invite (or at least not discourage) challenges, and at an hour each it would eat up even more of your free time. Time you could be doing fun things like running, motorcycling, or blogging. (Grin)

Enjoy the snow!

Dave

04/13/07 @ 09:05
Comment from: diana [Visitor]
diana

Hi, Dave. :)

I, like you, have argued piddly stuff like that upon occasion (rarely, though). And I sometimes lost, even though I had proof I was right, but I seem to have survived the experiences. What I’m talking about is a student who clearly expects to wear me down or guilt me into changing a grade.

You’re right, of course. Lt Col Hanley’s approach invites more abuse. Also–this just occurred to me–I’m sure it works better if one isn’t using a grading rubric. The rubric gives the students a certain sense of safety, and makes them feel as though they can argue for two points here and five points there. (Some of my colleagues avoid use of rubrics under the misguided notion that students will not argue grades.) If I had Don Anderson’s prestige, I’d use his approach (when a student shows up to complain that he’s never made a C on a paper before, Don looks at him with a slightly bored expression and says, “Imagine that,” and it all but crushes the opposition).

Learning how to deal with the wheedlers and beggars is all part of the OJT, I guess. I’m thinking redirecting the session from defending my grade to explaining how the student might avoid making the same mistakes the next time is the best approach. Only in the worst case scenario will I announce that my decision is final and he may be excused; I’ve been through only two discussions with students since I began in which such an extreme action was called for, and I didn’t take it. I work hard to establish rapport with my students and I’m too aware that one “We’re finished. You may leave” may wreck all I’ve worked for, so I’m loathe to resort to outright excusal from my office even when it’s clear the student is simply wasting my time.

Perhaps the main reason I’ve never appeared in the office of a teacher to beg for reconsideration of a paper for a higher grade is because I did exactly what the teacher asked me to do the first time. Coincidentally, I consistently made good grades. Seems so…simple and straightforward, doesn’t it?

There’s something about the psychology of the next generation which eludes me.

d

04/13/07 @ 18:38
Comment from: Hinermad [Visitor]
Hinermad

Diana,

Welcome to parenthood. Seriously. You’re walking the tightrope we walk every day - trying to educate, establish and enforce rules, and maintain trust all at the same time. I have to admit I’m glad my brood doesn’t number in the dozens like yours does, though.

That’s a very good point about doing the assignment as instructed the first time. I’m not sure where the attitude that one can negotiate performance - especially after the fact - comes from. Maybe we (the birth parents) are slacking.

Dave

P.S. Do you remember the advice you gave me a few months ago about meeting people? Did you know it works online too? (Grin) D.

04/13/07 @ 19:28
Comment from: diana [Visitor]
diana

And people ask me why I don’t have or want children…. I have more than enough, and they’re far more full-time than I thought possible.

I don’t think it’s the parents’ fault, really. For years, I’ve felt a shift in our culture that I can’t quite put my finger on. Every year, I think personal responsibility and the drive for excellence drops a smidgen, but I’m not sure what’s replacing it. Further, I’m not sure if it’s really happening, or if I’m just getting older and more responsible, and thus I’m experiencing some sort of Responsibility Doppler Affect from the younger generation.

Interesting that you should mention online relationships…. I’ve been interested in this phenomenon for years now, and have come to believe that it often works better than meeting people in real life. I’ve known many people over the years to “meet” on my favorite bulletin board–which is not a dating service–and establish apparently happy long-term relationships (of course, I’ve only been there since 2000, so perhaps I should “intermediate-term” relationships at this point).

I’m guessing I should catch up on your blog soon. ;)

d

04/14/07 @ 10:02
Comment from: Hinermad [Visitor]
Hinermad

Diana,

“Responsibility Doppler Effect.” I like that. But I don’t think it’s just you - I know a lot of people who have made similar observations.

I’m not sure what’s replacing personal responsibility, unless it’s plain old self-indulgence. There are a LOT more distractions than we had as young adults - and cheap cell phones are leading the charge. 30 years ago we got by just fine without them. Now grade school kids are carrying them.

I’ve known several couples that met online and have had successful long-term relationships. (I started a little earlier than you - about 1987 on FidoNet.) The rate of breakup or divorce among couples who met online seems to be par with traditional couples, but that means the same proportion stayed together too. My “poster couple” for online love is a pair of friends in Columbus who ran a bulletin board there. They’re coming up on their 20th wedding anniversary. I think that counts as long-term. (I told her once that Roberta and I were “oldlyweds” compared to her “newlyweds” and she corrected me immediately - we were “firmlyweds.")

From my own experience online, meeting people is a lot easier. The pressure of personal appearance is absent, its easier to find people with common interests thanks to topical forums, you can talk privately at any convenient time through email, and it’s easier to open up to somebody about personal matters if you know they’re not going to report it back to your family or 3D friends. The downside of course is you may run into a deceiver, so you still have to take time and sound them out before giving them personal information. But it’s manageable. Well, there is one other problem - if you meet your soulmate, they may be on another continent. (Grin) So far I’ve been lucky; the close friends I’ve made online recently are within a day’s drive of home.

When you suggested that I just do the things I want to do and I’d come in contact with like-minded people, I was thinking of school or community service. But the reality is that I like trying to help people who are hurting from having lost a spouse, and it was on a widows & widowers support bulletin board that I met my new friend. I’d like to say more - it’s a funny story - but she’s not comfortable about being in the spotlight.

I will say that because of circumstances we’re just being friends for now. We don’t want to damage a really good friendship by pushing it too hard too soon. But I’ve always believed that’s how the best relationships start out anyway.

Dave

04/14/07 @ 11:11
Comment from: Daddy [Visitor]
Daddy

PD, I like your plan for controlling the ‘beggars for a grade’ best, tho I think perhaps it might work better if you left about half of it out. Dumb students, or beggars, can’t be expected to stay with you on such a long statement.

Dave, I continue to think i would really like to meet you sometime. You seem to have rather a level head, and I like that. Besides that, my daughter enjoys your comments, though she sometimes wishes I wouldn’t make one. Just kidding. I am just not as good at putting things as are you.

04/15/07 @ 20:13
Comment from: Hinermad [Visitor]
Hinermad

Mr. B:

Thank you. I’m honored you’d think so highly of me. I don’t know about the “level headed” part. Flat headed maybe.

I certainly enjoy reading about Diana’s thoughts and experiences. She makes me think. I know she’s an excellent teacher too, because my Dad was one also and her attitude reminds me much of his. I’ve got a pretty good idea where she got that, too. (Grin)

Dave

04/15/07 @ 21:51
Comment from: [Member]

Ah, but Daddy, I will put it in my syllabus. The beauty of this is the record that they were informed; if they don’t have the necessary attention span to understand it, they have bigger problems than passing my class.

And while I don’t always agree with you (surprise!), I’m always tickled when you take a moment to comment on my blog.

d

04/16/07 @ 20:37


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