My students nearly drove me insane this past week. (Most of my students are great, but there are those few...) The way PY 102 is set up here, in a 50 minute test period we give a 25 minute review, and the test usually takes less than the other 25 minutes. Today my students wanted to not take the review (not to mention a few of them being late). When I said we were doing the review, they wanted to vote (leading to the quote of the week). We did the review, and then, when I told them there was a correction to make to the test, they told me they didn't want the correction. It would take too much time. I, apparently, should just give them the answer or do nothing at all.
Most of the students who didn't complain finished fairly quickly and left. My most vocal complainer, however, was the one who took the longest with the test. After not needing the review or wanting the correction, my student complained to me about not understanding why he wasn't doing well in the class. He turned in his answer sheet, looked at the key (which we provide after the test), and asked if he could have his test back to change answers (he was serious). Needless to say, after the headache he had caused me I was not in a sympathetic mood.
I can't believe students actually do this. Also, it seems mine arent' the worst. Other TAs report being offered blatant bribes in the form of cash, credit card numbers, and "whatever it takes to get an A."
The acts of my students today along with their stretching of the rules over the last few weeks have led me to believe that I am being taken advantage of. We're going to have to have a little talk next time we meet about proper boundaries.
I gain respect for teachers and instructors every week. And, against my will, I keep losing respect for these kids. Someone has to draw a line... Hand me the chalk...
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