TR Pic The Podium
Disgruntled is not the word I'd use

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May 05, 2006

2006, #7, Daily Discussion.

Just so everyone knows, this is a pretty typical discussion. It might not be exact, but I have a feeling every teacher out there can relate in some way.

The following reflects the discussion I just had, moments ago, with a student:

Student: Can you tell me what my grade is right now?
TR: No, I haven't updated the gradebook since last week.

Student: Well, can you tell me what I'm missing?
TR: No, I haven't updated the gradebook since last week.

Student: Did we do anything on the days I was absent last week?
TR: I don't know when you were absent last week, so I don't know what you're missing.

Student: Well, can you look and see when I was absent, so I can see what I need to do?
TR: I haven't updated the gradebook, so I don't remember exactly what day we did specific things, you have to wait till I update the gradebook.

Student: What am I missing?
TR: I don't know.

Student: Why are you getting mad about this? I just want to know what I'm missing so I can make it up.
TR: I've told you four times that I haven't updated the gradebook. You've asked the same question in four different ways, the answer is the same for each one. If the gradebook isn't updated, I can't help you until it is. Any other questions past that can't be answered.

Student: So, what grade do I have?
TR: You have an "F."

Student: Why is my grade so low?
TR: Because you're missing all this stuff in the gradebook.

Student: I turned everything in. When was I absent?
TR: You don't remember?

Student: No.
TR: Me either. Sorry, can't help you until I update the gradebook.

Student: What am I missing?
TR: Go away, you're bothering me.

Student: That's not fair.
TR: That's right. Get used to it. Go away, I'm done talking to you.


4 Comments | Permalink

wrote

I think you were quite rude to the student. (And I'm a 52 year old female, not a student.) Maybe you need to consider a different line of work.

douglas nerad wrote
Oh yeah, that's the ticket...
TR was rude to the poor student and therefore needs to find a new line of work. You know what I'd say to the student after the fourth time telling him that he'll have to wait until the grade book is updated?

Wah!

I don't have much sympathy for the student. It's not a hard thing to understand yet they obviously failed in basic comprehension. Still, I see what you mean about TR possibly needing a new job. He should go out on road shows and teach basic comprehension skills to everyone including, perhaps, people over 50.



Spike wrote

I am a student and i dont think he was rude since the student should know when he was absent at first,also I think he should have wrote his grades down so he would know what his grades are, Tho the last sentence was quite harsh... But yeah I would get sick of answering the same question over and over again, maybe you should have said something like: "Im only human.. I dont know every grade from every student, there for i need to update my gradebook wich I havnt done yet, come back later when I updated my gradebook." I think that would have been better, but then again I wont judge you for your way of "getting rid" of a student :)

jon e. wrote

Just cause a kid says something is unfair doesn't make it so. The question was asked four times and answered four times. That shows a level of tolerance and patients that I wish most teacher displayed. And it illustrates just how self centered the kids can be until they are faced with life that is unmoveable just because they want it to move out of their precious way. LOL Hell if he can't remember the day he was away from school which is like a holiday usually for kids then why expect someone elses system to remember correctly or otherwise for you. Ah youth...LOL

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