Spoiled

My College Comp class is spoiling me. As a result, they are ruining my other classes.

Here's how it happens.

I assign an essay in College Comp. The next day, the essays are done. The students are eager to share theirs and to respond to others. Then they turn them in, hungry for my feedback. Then they are eager for the next assignment. They care about their work. They care about doing their best. They care about the class.

Then my American Lit classes roll around. If I assign work, it barely gets done. Now don't get me wrong. I have a select few who work very, very hard. But the vast majority are slugs. A large portion of that majority are worthless slugs. They have no intention of working and could care less.

Just this morning one of my slugs, who came in late, as usual (as it was noted - by an administrator - or her foster mom - "she has to get in that cigarette break"). She is always paired with a buddy, but this time her buddy made it on time. Before I could enter the room she said, "There's nowhere to sit." Now in her dim world she meant "there isn't a seat open next to my friend." But she either didn't think of that or lacks the higher order thinking skills to organize such a thought.

So I said, "Just pick a sit WHERE NO ONE IS SITTING!"

Even some of the other slugs were shocked at her stupidity.

Then later she turned in her assignment for "Young Goodman Brown" half done. I looked at it and said, "You need to do it ALL."

She looked at it and said, "What do you mean?"

I replied, "This is English I'm speaking. Nod your head if you just understood those words. Finish the ENTIRE assignment. You let the last half blank."

Then she got it and giggled. Giggled, I tell you!

One day she'll learn that she'll have to process the entire turkey. She'll probably giggle then too.

So how do I survive without becoming a cynical old bastard (far too late for that part, I'm afraid)? I cherish that college class and my few non-slugs. I deal with the slugs as best I can. For "this too shall pass."