The Pissed Off Professor

I may have figured out what I am doing wrong in teacher-land: I try to act like an adult, and I presume the people with whom I am interacting are adults.

stupid-stupid-stupid

Last night, after dismissing my final class, I experienced one of those moments when professionalism and simply being human clashed.

One of my students returned to the room (prior to my managing to escape) and said,

Define late.

This was not an attempt to learn something new, nor was it an honest plea for clarification: it was defiant.

Ironically, as clear as the term late is, I have defined it in my course syllabus because I have had prior experience with students acting in this asinine manner. Here is a portion of what my students are told:

LATE WORK:

Due dates of all essays and reading analyses, as well as dates of your midterms and final are listed on this syllabus. In addition, they are listed on the course Web site on the Major Due Dates page. PLAN YOUR SEMESTER NOW! Unless you have made prior arrangements with me, late work will be penalized. (See note regarding make-up work, below.)

1. LATE as defined by Shawn: after I begin class or take role on the due date.
2. PRIOR CONSENT as defined by Shawn: you have talked to me personally, before the due date, and we have made other arrangements. (Leaving me a note or sending an e-mail is not sufficient!)

Here’s what I replied to my student:

So, the term late confuses you. Wow—I suggest you open the dictionary that is required for this class and take a look at the definition. Then, for even more clarification, you can refer to the course syllabus, where I define the term.

I got the very adult response, “whatever” before the student left the room.

Not a minute later, back in the student walks.

“I want you to know, I think you’re mean.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“None of my other teachers gave out homework over the break.”

“Okay—let me make sure I understand you: the assignment I gave you three weeks ago—the one I collected today—you put it off until the break, and that makes me mean, right?”

“What—ever.”

Apparently, I am mean.

Fine.

But that student is a bugger-snot.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 10th, 2007 at 10:26 am and is filed under Argument, College, Education, English, Narration, Students, Teaching, Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.