The Five Stages of Student Failure
As I recharge my batteries, about to start my sixth year of teaching, I did some reflection as I dealt with a difficult student this summer. When he saw his failing grade, and began a flurry of emails (mind you, he never contacted me with questions for two and a half months), I started thinking about the same exchanges I've had over the years, and have since extrapolated out what I'm calling the five stages of student failure:
Denial: The student is in sheer disbelief that his/her work wasn't up to par or that he/she didn't pass the class. Expect over generous assessments of performance in class and Walter Mitty-esque fantasies about classroom performance. The student will swear that he/she did missed assignments, but will not have them available to substantiate when requested.
Bargaining: The student will then beg for opportunities to recreate under-par assignments or retake tests. If that fails, the student will then beg for extra credit assignments. The student will show no concern for other peers who might benefit from this (were it extended to them) and will even insist that extra credit be given only to them when reminded of the need to treat all students fairly. Pleas to pathos may be heavy and often border on (if not tap dance right in to) ad misericordiam.
Hostility: The student resorts to negative attacks on anything he/she feels might present a weakness in the teacher's ethos--often after a semester of sheer bliss before the failing grade. Suddenly, the student found material from the class offensive and objectionable, or the student decided that the professor engaged in inappropriate language or behavior in the classroom three months earlier. The student's hostility phase may present itself in a simple narrative context as part of the bargaining phase, or it may take the form of blackmail as a final salvo to coerce the teacher into changing a grade.
Tantruming: The student then resorts to a metaphorical kicking and screaming on the floor, trying to get the attention of anyone who will listen. Anonymous postings are made to professor-rating services and Myspace. Novella-length appeals are filed with deans and committees. The student may even threaten to call the media.
Acceptance: The student accepts the grade and moves on to his next victim.
Denial: The student is in sheer disbelief that his/her work wasn't up to par or that he/she didn't pass the class. Expect over generous assessments of performance in class and Walter Mitty-esque fantasies about classroom performance. The student will swear that he/she did missed assignments, but will not have them available to substantiate when requested.
Bargaining: The student will then beg for opportunities to recreate under-par assignments or retake tests. If that fails, the student will then beg for extra credit assignments. The student will show no concern for other peers who might benefit from this (were it extended to them) and will even insist that extra credit be given only to them when reminded of the need to treat all students fairly. Pleas to pathos may be heavy and often border on (if not tap dance right in to) ad misericordiam.
Hostility: The student resorts to negative attacks on anything he/she feels might present a weakness in the teacher's ethos--often after a semester of sheer bliss before the failing grade. Suddenly, the student found material from the class offensive and objectionable, or the student decided that the professor engaged in inappropriate language or behavior in the classroom three months earlier. The student's hostility phase may present itself in a simple narrative context as part of the bargaining phase, or it may take the form of blackmail as a final salvo to coerce the teacher into changing a grade.
Tantruming: The student then resorts to a metaphorical kicking and screaming on the floor, trying to get the attention of anyone who will listen. Anonymous postings are made to professor-rating services and Myspace. Novella-length appeals are filed with deans and committees. The student may even threaten to call the media.
Acceptance: The student accepts the grade and moves on to his next victim.