Below is a (slightly edited, to protect anonymity) e-mail I just received.
Unfortuantely, his story is not uncommon. He is just one of the few who
will put it into writing. Here is his letter:
Hi, my name is ***** and I am in your 10:00am class on Mon., Wed., and Fri..
I am having a really hard time keeping up in your class. I know that I am
failing your class and it isn't because of you or even me it is because I
have a full time job that is probably going to end up being my career and I
need to get a Degree in Business management to advance. I was wondering if
there is anyway you can help me get a better grade. I have tried to pass all
your tests, but I have been coming to your class with no sleep because I work
all night and the days I am off I get a little sleep and then have to go back
to work. I tried to drop part of the load on me by dropping one of my classes
but that didn't seem to work and I do study for your tests and understand the
homework and it is just when I get to the point where I have to take the test
I go completely blank. Please if there is anyway you can help I would greatly
appreciate it.
Now, some comments from me:
1. Note: Failure to accept personal responsibility. ("...it isn't because
of you or even me...")
2. Paradox: I have a job that is going to be my career. To have my career
I need a degree. My job is keeping me from getting a degree.
3. I understand all the homework, but I can't do the exams. (He made a 30
on an exam that exclusively consisted of assigned homework problems.)
4. Two weeks before the final he wants to know what he can do to pass.
5. Implicit in this e-mail. He wants to pass the course without learning
the material.
6. My administration wonders why 2 out of 3 of my students fail to make a
grade of C or higher.
I talked to him in class today. I will respond to this e-mail. I'm going
to try, one more time, to convince him that life is a series of decisions,
based on priorities, that lead to consequences.
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