oh Jesse, I call for quick application of a nap and alcohol at your earliest convenience.

My mouth still hurts.

And I had a parent-teacher conferences last night which sapped my will. As a parent, I hate going and as a teacher, I feel vaguely defensive and annoyed. Last night's most upsetting conversation was a parent who wanted his 11th grader to be able to turn in late and missing work (policy says no late work) so that he could pass the class. He is re-taking this particular class because he didn't pass the first time (with a teacher who did accept late work). Dad kept trying to point out that it was mathematically impossible for the student to pass unless he be allowed to "fill in the holes" in his grade. I pointed out that if he spends his time and energy "making up" work, he can't do the work that is actually due at the time. The father didn't think it was useful for the kid to do any work at all, then, for the next ten weeks. I pointed out that it would guarantee a second fail in the course.

In better news, I'm leaving work at 1:45 PM and not returning for at least 11 days! WOOT.

Ugh, sorry for the suck, Jesse.

And ooph Kat! That's hard. I can't believe a parent would discourage a child from just getting the rest of the work in on time. Well okay, I can totally believe it, it's just... ugh. I had to meet with a student this week about a similar problem: He needs to turn in all his papers to pass the course but paper 2 is now 4 weeks late and I've already returned it. Eye roll. So I told him that he's looking at a bare minimum Fail for that paper. Argh.

Yikes, Kat. I can see the logic that if the student is guaranteed to fail they should stop going, but that doesn't seem like an argument for a parent to make.

Oh man, a nap would be great! Maybe on the train tomorrow.

The fact that there are a non-zero number of parents like that out there means that it makes a lot more sense that I constantly have a few students who will ask me for extra credit to raise their grade to passing AFTER THE CLASS IS OVER. In what world is there that much extra credit? Last term I actually snapped and told one of my students, "that's a bit like saying 'we lost the patient, but if we mop the floors it's all good'." (I teach mostly health science prereqs)

I am sorry for the sucky day, Jesse

Also, hi all! I skipped a massive amount.

I shouldn't be as pleased as I am to learn that I am not the only one who has students ask for extra credit after the term ends - although I may hold the honor of being the only one who was contacted 6 months later because the student needed a better GPA in order to transfer.

Ah, Jesse, sorry about the sucktastic day.

msbelle -- Go yoga! Not only has it helped with my depression and anxiety, I've gotten to know people in classes, and they're pretty cool.

Try Groupons or drop-in classes in your area.

Yay, Nanita's friend, Jasmine! That's a publication I've got on my "Write something for" list."

Lisah -- Cover letter? *perks up ears* You know you have a pro -- as Trudy about the cover I just write for her.

I've been adulting all day, will continue to do so, and run arrand, but have a b-day party to make an appearance at for a while tonight, because early-ass 5K tomorrow.

Last term I actually snapped and told one of my students, "that's a bit like saying 'we lost the patient, but if we mop the floors it's all good'." (I teach mostly health science prereqs)

Una, I am totally using that. I also have something I lovingly call fatal errors which are automatic zeros (like not capitalizing I). When a kid gets one they often say, "Can I rewrite?" and I say "fatal is fatal. If you cut someone's carotid and they bleed out, they can't be revived." But I don't teach tech/science folks, yet they get it.

The thing is, there are enough points between now and the end of the semester that he COULD pass if he did the work. In fact, April 9, there is a paper due worth as many points as about half of what was already given. But he won't and is empowered by dad NOT to. So there is that.

Jesse, so sorry for the ucky-bad day. May it improve.

Lee! Are you home? What'd you bring us?

I hesitate to post a thing about self-entitledment, because I think humans are innately self-centered. But on observation, I seem to see that attitude not only increasing, but actively fostered and encouraged by media, including social media. Andy Warhol's 'everybody gets their 15 minutes of fame' seems to have translated to 'I have to be ready constantly for *my* fame', with an understood "and screw everybody else." It's in politics, from fed to local levels. It's taken over church philosophies, where churches are no longer bodies of praise in service and example, but of "prosperity doctrine."

I know the attitude has always existed--every organism out for its own existence--but it's evidently more blatant, and more encouraged and supported, rather than being counted as a negative trait to be suppressed and discouraged.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's bad. And I don't like it.

Is this kind of self-absorption and entitlement also on the rise in non-English speaking European countries? I'm wondering if it's a result of most people no longer needing to do manual labor to make ends meet, or if the cause is more cultural and less physical.