Diary of a Colloquium Instructor #9

I'm nice. Maybe too nice?

Once again, a Saturday field trip- this time to ECHO- brought a fun bus ride surrounded by the usual group of students who like to chat with me during the trip. This week's conversation was about slacker students and difficult professors. I had asked the group to remind me to make an announcement on the bus ride home. I was concerned I wouldn't get focused attention because at 8 am, college students resemble the walking dead. Of course my designated reminders wanted to know then what the announcement was, so I obliged. It was about make-up work, which brought up the ensuing conversation.

I'll skip the nitty gritty, as it would bore you. The interesting exchange was when they told me how understanding I was, and they really appreciated that I listen to them rather than dismiss them about why they miss class or deadlines. I told them I understand many of today's students are working jobs and raising families. Though I want them to make their studies top priority, sometimes life gets in the way and things are beyond our control. One of the guys (let's call him Joe) said, "I for one really appreciate your understanding. One of my other professors doesn't care at all."  Joe told me at the start of the semester while he was working some things out with this professor and talking about his job, his professor "recommended" to him that he didn't work this semester. Joe's internal dialogue, which he shared with me was, he recommended his professor pay his tuition.

We had a really good discussion, and I aired out with them that I think I am understanding to a fault, and maybe sometimes I am taken advantage of. This is probably true, but I always ask myself what I am trying to accomplish and when I have become an enabler. Reasonable excuses usually fly with me, but I emphasize reasonable. And I expect my students to communicate with me, not wait for me to chase after them. It's their responsibility to avoid zeros and F's by keeping me informed when something is going on. It's really about flexibility... and heart.

Sometimes I feel like I've been a fool, excusing students for missing class, allowing them to make up assignments. But the truth is, the important thing is that their evaluation matches their learning. Students who blow off the reading or class are not going to get as much out of the class. That means a) they won't optimize learning (waste of their money) and b) they won't perform as well on the major assignments/assessments, yielding them a lower grade. It is their choice.

Maybe it's because I've been a teacher my whole career, where as many college professors have not. Maybe it's because I live in a world where teachers care about their students. Caring teachers hold their students accountable, but also recognize that we are all human, and sometimes we need a little love and understanding. Joe's comment was one of the nicest things a student could say to me. Yes, I want them to learn. But I also want them to know I care. Looks like missions accomplished.