It’s nearing the end of the semester. Most students have been doing a pretty good job. They have solid routine, are checking postings every couple of days, etc. Early in the semester, each student who has read the Syllabus carefully has requested 50 free extra credit points to help them with any difficulties. This is five percent of their grade and will easily cover a missed exam or several discussion postings. This is the built-in flexibility I afford to all students in the class.
So now, toward the end, I get an email from a student who wants some special treatment. “I went on vacation to the Bahamas for a week. Could you please open up the Exam I missed.” Interesting! Apparently the student completely forgot about any kind of a Syllabus or any requirements for this class. Now the student would like to negotiate new Syllabus that meets his needs.
I have a canned email for this situation. Here it is:
Hi Freddy,
Here is the email you sent me earlier:
“I request that you add 50 points of tentative Extra-Credit to my grade. I have carefully read and understand all the terms of the Syllabus. I have printed the Schedule and will follow the due dates stated there. I will carefully follow the Schedule. I understand that all or some of these 50 points can be deducted at any time, for any reason, especially if I do not follow the instructions in the Syllabus or do not refer to the Schedule for all due dates.”
I am sorry you have missed the exam. It was due last Sunday at midnight. Please print and follow the Class Schedule as you promised you would in the email. I am sorry but I cannot reopen the exam for you. Please don't worry too much, you still have 50 points of tentative extra credit that will probably be awarded to you at the end of the semester to help you with such malfunctions. Please reread the syllabus again very, very carefully so that you understand the late policy as well as the all-important extra credit quite clearly, ok? Hang in there. You will probably be just fine as long as you get back on track right away.
Best,
Dave
One of the things I have noticed over the 22 years I have been teaching is that more students are expecting special treatment. I am pretty sure this is not just my increased awareness of the situation. I think it reflects a trend. The Millennial Generation has a sense of absolute entitlement, having been brought up to believe they are all unique, special and above reproach. It comes as a shock to some of them when they learn that the requirements of the class will not be modified to suit their individual needs.
It may be a hard lesson that sometimes there are no shortcuts. But it is better for them to learn it now than after they have signed that mortgage contract!
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Good post. I have the same sentiments.
ReplyDeleteMy sister is a teachers aid at a private school. When I told her about students wanting "special treatment", she said "Oh, you have the parents of the students in my first grade class". She said that parents are constantly coming to her with excuses why their child did not get their homework in on time. The parents are claiming it is their fault, not the child's, and would my sister give them special consideration. Boy, was this an eye opener!
Our society is so willing to blame someone or something else, I certainly hope that trend does not continue.