For a class this week I had to watch this video:
It got me thinking… too many people don’t think for themselves.
I’m specifically thinking of my physics students. Too many of them don’t stop to take a look at what they’re doing. I can walk them through a step by step process of solving a problem and if I ask a question about the very last thing I said (essentially asking that they repeat what I said) they look at me blankly or throw out a random topic “buzzword”. It’s so frustrating. I want them to understand why it is they’re being asked to do these experiments. this week I nearly cried at their behavior in class. It makes me sad that they could care so little. They are also horrible horrible suck ups. All they want is the grade. They’ll quibble over half a point on something trivial. They ask me for help in a manner that they just want to be given what they need to get the grade, but not understand the material. thing is, they won’t get the grade come exams if they don’t understand.
The video also reminded me of many highly controlling professors or teachers I’ve had in the past. In Jr. High I had a teacher who insisted everyone’s handwriting be the same. She took off points if the capital and lower-case letters didn’t follow a strict 2:1 size ratio. Yes, I’m being serious. It was absurd. I can see the premise was wanting neatly written, legible assignments, but this was too much. It didn’t matter if the work was legible.
Last quarter I had a professor who placed the majority of the grade emphasis on formatting of a paper, and not on contact. I loathe quantity over quality professors. If I had gotten comments regarding my research or my writing then I would understand, but not the formatting. Worse yet, that professor seemed to be against my bringing my own views, analysis, and predictions into the paper.
This quarter looks promising. At least, I think my professors are promising. these past three weeks have been difficult, yes, but refreshing. Here’s hoping.
