Spring semester is finally over—I have three weeks or so until Summer 11 classes start (yes, I'm teaching a summer class again). Grading is done, and all I have to do is input the grades into our university database (yes, I've had to do that myself for the past three years—the registrar's office doesn't do that anymore. Maybe they could help us cut costs by firing a few of their freed-up individuals…).
I do have one gripe, though. My summer class has been full since the first week of April. And I've gotten about five e-mails in the last two weeks from students within the last two weeks, telling me that they really need that class, and would I please let them in?
Umm…no. At last check, I had a seat or two still open in my fall session. And I really can't let my summer session get overloaded: we have eight weeks, and still will be doing four papers as well as two blogs per week. I literally cannot keep up with the grading if I accept more than 25 students for that class, especially since I'll be squeezing that grading into naptimes and bedtimes.
The last e-mail, though, really irked me. Said individual marked it urgent. Sorry, sweetie—poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine. You may think you're a special snowflake that deserves special treatment, but I don't happen to agree.
Of course, I can't word it like that without getting into trouble.
CURIOSITY HAS GOT ME:
ReplyDeleteAs a writer of sorts, I can visualize the time involved in 'correcting' 25 written pieces--a hell of lot more time than correcting a bunch of true or false/multiple choice questions,
which are probably computerized tests anyway!
It irks me!
Once upon a time I made a proposal to a school district that I would publish a student
writing 'magazine'--with sponsors--no school expense.
It was a 'split decision' and the students and I lost.
PS: I really like the student BLOG concept as a learning tool!
"Urgent" e-mails very rarely are.
ReplyDeleteI've received stuff about some baby shower for a person I never met before in the administration that was marked "Urgent."
I admit, my attitude is, "Don't tell me. Let ME decide if it's URGENT or not."
And I have the opposite problem from you: my spring semester class fills up and people don't want to put it off until summer. So sad, too bad.