adjuncthell: the storm after the calm

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

the storm after the calm

Well you knew the onslaught of gripes was just around the corner after this relatively calm and content semester, no? Finals Week is all but here so of course that's when the most objectionable student behaviour starts rearing its ugly head slash bugging the shit out of me.

Today is our final in-class composition plus final exam review. Why was I surprised, after having posted a copious info sheet about the final exam and what would be on it and how it would work and when and where it would be to have the first 4 questions about it concern info that was readily available and even in some cases HIGHLIGHTED on that info sheet??!! I guess I must be learning a little because a few semesters ago it would be the questions themselves that would have surprised me but this time it really is the fact that I didn't see them coming. When am I going to learn to stop expecting so much from today's students? "So much" being things like: reading even cursorily an info sheet I've posted (and stressed about posting on time, etc.)

One of these semesters I'm going to not give any advance info out about anything ever - it will all be on an on-demand basis only. I bet I wouldn't get any more questions than now when I provide them with all kinds of info ahead of time.

aaaargh.
Stay tuned for more fun as Finals Week evolves!!!

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The world is full of this kind of dumb smart-alec who doesn't understand anything.

- Richard Feynman  

I did not achieve this position in life by having some snot-nose punk leave my cheese out in the wind.

 - Ed Rooney, Ferris Bueller's Day Off by John Hughes

  Danny: I've gotta go to college.. I gotta. 

Webb: Aahh Danny... You don't have to go to college; this isn't Russia. Is this Russia? This isn't Russia is it? No, didn't think so..

 - Caddyshack  

Of course there's a lot of knowledge in universities: the freshmen bring a little in; the seniors don't take much away, so knowledge sort of accumulates.  

- A. Lawrence Lowell

  If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want an education, go to the library.  

- Frank Zappa  

In school, we had a policy of never studying unless it was absolutely necessary, and still got high-to-mediocre grades. This convinced us that we were smarter than the average citizen, and actually, we're still thinking that way.

 - Jo Ann Beard, "The Boys of My Youth," The Boys of My Youth  

  ...I hesitated; with the lack of self-knowledge I'd exhibit for years to come, I'd signed up for an eight o'clock class.

 - Melissa Bank, The Wonder Spot  

You can lead a boy to college, but you cannot make him think. - Elbert Hubbard

  ...Meanwhile, the Internet's booming, and kids we gave C pluses to are waltzing out of college and getting rich on stock options while we bust our asses for a pathetic stipend that doesn't even cover the rent.  

- Tom Perrotta, Little Children  

You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink 'til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does.

 - Tom Petty  

Colleges are like old-age homes, except for the fact that more people die in colleges. 

- Bob Dylan  

DISCLAIMER: The rocker quotes here should be taken with a grain of salt accuracy-wise as they are taken from thinkexist where many a poor quotation has been faultily cited. If anyone has corrections I urge you to comment. I would be very happy to make changes.