Students only ask why they are failing after they are failing. They never care about the answer.

Professor STAFF — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:41:53 +0000

A borderline student, who is likely not going to pass my class, has requested a conference with me. These never go well. The student never wants to discuss their writing; they just want to inform me that they do not understand why they aren’t passing the class. I usually take about fifteen minutes to explain all the things their writing is lacking, all the mistakes they are repeatedly making, but they just fold their arms and tell me that they have no idea what my problem is.

I hate these things!

What annoys me most is that a student will ask questions that they should have asked weeks, even months ago. I’ve had students ask me to explain major assignments the day before they are due (MAJOR assignments, worth 20% of their grade, and for which they had months to work on). I find myself repeating my lectures during one-on-one conferences. The students don’t listen, and they don’t ask questions until they are failing. They are often surprised attendance alone is not enough for a B.

Brainstorm! Oh, I just had a brainstorm!

From now on, whenever a student comes up to me after class and asks a question they should have asked in class…I won’t answer it. I’ll say, “You should have asked that in class. Ask me that first thing when next we meet.”

No more private lessons.

The Adjunct » I hate student conferences.

Students only ask why they are failing after they are failing. They never care about the answer.