Working Students

[bobbipynn]

I'm a TA for a second year course. Since my prof was away this week, i gave the final lecture and tied up some loose ends. At the end of class, a student asked me if i could pass on a message to the professor: that the amount of assigned readings for the course was unrealistic and impossible to complete, given that the student (and others like her

Comments

[ancarett]

I'm a total bitch in those situations when students come to me, either way back when I was a grad student/TA or now as a prof. I worked fulltime and made straight A marks through my senior year, so I know it isn't impossible. It's just difficult.

You can do it, you just have to put things into the right priorities and that often means putting social activities last or off the list for some of the time. If a student really can't, then he or she has to step up and talk with the people directly -- maybe they'll get counselling to drop back to part time studies for a while or whatever. If there's a genuine scheduling conflict that makes it impossible for them to complete an assignment on time, again, they need to make arrangements up front.

In any case, it's inappropriate for the student to try and bring you into the middle here. Your best response is to tell them that complaints about the course administration ought to go to the professor and, if warranted, the department.

[phasma_aphanes]

I agree that the student should have not said anything to the TA. If one has a problem with a prof, take it to the prof.

[lazerbug]

or just put it on the evaluation at the end of the semester, which is exactly what those little bubble sheets are for.

[phasma_aphanes]

yep. if the students actually take it seriously enough to write in comments.

[lolacat]

I am pretty sensitive to non-traditional students and their schedules when I teach, but I can't help them if they don't talk to me at the start of the semester. A better approach for this student would have been to look at the syllabus during the first week and either drop the class or, if that's not an option, speak with the professor to arrange for accomodations (realistic ones) ahead of time.

I mean, no one not even scholarship kids, reads everything. Most of my non-traditional students have needed accomodations for missing class more often, different arrangements for turning papers in, etc. The only way you can help a student is if they bring this kind of thing to your attention from day one and keep in contact with you. So - she might have a point, but it's her fault if she hasn't advocated for herself with the teacher directly.

[newsbean]

I read everything.

[heterodox_crab]

Me too. Always did. Even in my master's program--the only text I didn't complete was Levi-Strauss' "Elementary Structures of Kinship" and I felt so bad about it that I finished it during my spring break after the course for which it was required was over.

That said, the year I worked full time in addition to attending university full time (in undergrad), I was very strategic with my reading and simply could not read all of every text. I tried, but it was impossible--especially when I came down with mono. That year really made me appreciate what people go through who have to pay their way through college entirely by the sweat of their own brow. My experience that year was totally different; gone was the luxury of meditating upon and really working through dense theoretical texts: it was all about getting the central ideas down pat.

[sophiawestern]

Amen.

[bowenfiredragon]

There are often other alternatives to full-time work - none of which are good ones. The best (and worst) one, is of course, debt. Students often have other alternatives to working full time to go to school. As a second year student, she is demonstrating interest in the subject area, and thus, may be considering a career in it. As such, she needs to understand that second year coursework is more intense than first-year, and that it only gets harder from there. Additionally, she had access to the outline at the start of the course which, hopefully, spelled out the requirements for the course. Had she read the outline, she would have understood the course expectations

[cavum_oris]

ot: i like moons, but that icon is totally nauseating... uy.

[bowenfiredragon]

um,

glad to be of service?

[sweetsatingirl]

*sigh*

I am very clear in my syllabus. I view it as a contract between myself and my students. Students have more then enough time to examine the syllabus and decide whether the want to take the course or not. I think my institution gives them two weeks to drop before they are held financially liable for the course.

Rarely do I alter the syllabus, so my students can predict down to the smallest detail what is expected of them in my class.

I really would not have a response to such a complaint. I think such a complaint is merely an "end of the semester" panic, brought on by procrastination. Maybe I am being a bit cold, but I work 50 hours a week (IP Paralegal), take three courses of my own AND teach one course. I have no sympathy really.

I think if you work full time, you need to examine your capabilities. It is your responsibility to assess whether you are overloading yourself or not. It is most certainly not my responsibility.