do i have to?

Sadly, I wish I was writing a pithy little post about my whiny three year old, but alas, this post is in response to my whiny students that simply act like three year olds.


Over the last several weeks, a growing number of students have asked the question, "Do I need to stay for this?" Other students will ask, "Do I need to come to class?" or "Can I leave?" or, "Will you tell me what we're doing on ______?

How does a teacher respond to these questions?

My response is generally one of surprise, dismay, and then finally, reluctance to reply. I usually say something like, "Do what you think is best. Of course you can leave class. I can't make you do anything. This is a college, not a high school. I am a teacher, not a jail warden." Their usual response, of course, is to flee the scene faster than a pack of chubby toddlers would chase after a spongebob squarepants DVD set.

At any rate, these questions depress me. When I was in college as an undergrad, I was scared of my professors. Not scared, like 'ewww, you're frightening," but generally sort of respectful of their rules and schedule. If I skipped a class (and boy did I), I would always return sheepishly, apologetically. If I missed an assignment, I knew I was screwed! There was no begging the teacher for an extension (though in retrospect, perhaps I could have).

Maybe it's me. I want the students to like me, because generally, I like them! I meet a lot of nice, interesting students, from all walks of life. But I think my teaching style is a little too close to my parenting style. I start out like a hard ass, all rules and regulations, and no missed papers, but in the end, I'm a big softy... Maybe I need to be a little more scary myself!

In the end, the students skip the class. I take them on a trip to the library for research, and while some seriously thumb through encyclopedias, while others carelessly grab a coffee and hang out with their friends. I say let's discuss our research papers for bonus points, and ten people leave the class because in their mind, the conversation wasn't mandatory.

In the end, the people that keep coming back will pass. Those that leave and skip assignments fail. Is it natural selection? Is it the dumbing down of society? Or, is it just sheer laziness?