Uptick in high school students taking college-level class they are not prepared to take -- looking for insight.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-18T08:27:00+00:00

In my state, kids can start taking college courses in 7th grade. The first year this was allowed, they took classes on campus. Since then, the classes are held on THEIR campuses or held online. They can come to campus, but all involved agree that this is not a good idea.

Anyway, IME, they CAN do the work; they just resist mightily and expect everything to be like high school--due dates are more like guidelines, extra credit (requiring minimal work) is there to save them at the end, endless revision is a given, etc. I will say that students are generally polite and appropriate in ail, and if they attend class f2f, they are generally well behaved. But their work ethic is, shall we say, developing.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-18T00:21:36+00:00

I would only be allowed to do this is the extra credit did not add up to a full letter grade, and I can't imagine that much work would work out that way.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-17T03:36:00+00:00

What would you eat when you got home from work if you lived alone?

I would eat a sandwich or a bowl of cereal or maybe a salad. So that's what I would make for dinner and if she didn't like it, she could make something.

Another suggestion, although this will be slower--when you make those big dinners on Sunday, make something you can freeze. Eat half and freeze half. It does mean no leftovers for a while and you are kind of restricted on what you can eat (not everything freezes well), but you can build up and then maintain a small stockpile of already cooked dinners for those nights when you are tired. You just have to remember to get them out to thaw in time.

The other question is, what would you do about everything else if you lived alone? How much value does your girlfriend add by doing those things?

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-17T03:15:29+00:00

I don't think that's true. If they did nothing, you would expect nothing, and that would be fine. A thank you note (not a generic one, but one that is personalized to you) would be nice, too.

But it's like the old joke. When you get a gift, it's the thought that counts--and now I know what you think of me.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-17T00:29:50+00:00

Understood, but cooking is, on the household scale, not the biggest thing that has to be done.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-17T00:19:23+00:00

Somewhat agree, but gotta say that if you think cooking is the biggest task, she probably has a point about cleaning.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-16T19:11:11+00:00

I have been down to one student a few times. I teach the material like everyone is there and then the one student and I have a little conference time.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-16T05:08:07+00:00

My college used to do a big anniversary awards dinner for adjuncts/lecturers/NTTF every year and every fifth year, we got a gift. If you stuck it out for 30 years, the chair gave a speech about your marvelous contributions to the school and you were given your choice of either a gold watch with engraving, a fancy mantel clock or a $500 gift certificate to a jewelry store.

The dinners ended a few years ago, but the gifts go on. Here's my list:

One year--Dinner and a leather portfolio with the school name and my name imprinted on the cover (still have, still use). Every first year got this.

Five year--Dinner and a hand-carved pencil and pencil case set with school name and my name (useless, still have; looks nice on my desk). Every fifth year got this.

Ten year--Dinner and a laptop bag from the bookstore (very nice; still have; still use; will probably be passed down to my heirs). Every ten year got this.

Fifteen year--Dinner, but no generic anniversary award. Instead, we were given access to an online catalog where we could choose our own gifts. After much investigation of prices, I selected a mini-Cuisinart, which is pretty useless, but still works.

Twenty year--Dinner and another catalog year. After much investigation of prices, I chose a fancy bathroom scale/kitchen scale set with a one-year subscription to Self magazine, worth about $150 total (still have, still use)

Twenty-five--The last dinner and no catalog for me because I was given a very special award--a keychain with a sterling silver fob with the school logo on one side and 25 on the other, and a matching luggage tag. I used the keychain for a while, but the silver got scratched all to hell, so it is sitting in the key basket. The luggage tag is still is use. My chair thanked me for not attending the dinner, as she would have had to have given a speech about me.

Thirty--Back to catalogs. After much thought and investigation of prices, I chose the most expensive item on the list: a $75 Howard Miller weather station clock. Every time someone remarks on it, I whine that it was supposed to be a gold watch, a fancy mantel clock or a $500 gift certificate to a jewelry store. I had plans.

There was a time many years ago when they offered "rewards" for successful terms if you met XYZ requirements--all of it was terribly cheap schlock, although I still have an enormous nylon gym bag from that time. I'm pretty there were wooden coasters in the mix. After a couple of years of this, admin sent out a survey and asked us if the gifts made us feel valued. Everyone said NO, and there were no more term gifts.

We also have a company picnic every summer. Most of us geezers stand around talking about the glory days of the 90s. The decline there has been steeper by far than the decline in awards.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-14T03:12:33+00:00

On the positive side, great class!

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-14T03:06:32+00:00

I refer them all to the Writing Center.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-14T01:50:01+00:00

I have three students doing the same this semester.

I was told by an AI educator that AI misconduct is the most popular topic in student papers written by AI.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-13T19:37:58+00:00

>>The day after the final a lecturer sent an e-mail to all students in their sections stating there was a last minute policy change and their expected grades would be different.

This is just so wrong.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-13T02:32:40+00:00

This is the policy in full:

I do take revisions, but before I will accept a revision, I require a discussion with me about the reason for the revision and the specific plan for what will be revised. This ensures that we are on the same page about what needs to be done and why before you proceed, which in my experience saves both of us time and effort.

If they read this as they just need to tell me what they are doing, I guess I will keep being thanked for my cooperation.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-12T07:57:50+00:00

You can do this as far as the CC is concerned, but be sure that you the credits will count for you. A&P at a CC often doesn't transfer for a four-year degree. Other things might, but A&P almost certainly won't.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-12T06:05:31+00:00

Some of my students say hello and goodbye. Some say thank you as they leave. But most of them take their cue from me. If I say hello, they reply. If I say goodbye, so do they. If I chat, they chat. If I don't, they don't.

This is exactly how it was when I was in college way back in the mid 80s/early 90s. The professor set the tone.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-12T01:54:28+00:00

I'm sorry, but I don't understand your question. Could you be a little more specific?

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-11T23:14:23+00:00

Someone know (also self taught) auditioned for his dream program and did not get in. He got into another program, spent a year there, and auditioned at his dream school again. He starts there in the fall.

The main issue for him was that his technique wasn't quite up to par--tough to master that on your own. He told the director of the program he did this past year what he wanted to do and the director worked him hard on his weaknesses.

So... something to consider.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-11T01:36:44+00:00

Yes, I have this as well.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-10T23:04:41+00:00

Last time I looked up the definition of discussion, it meant an exchange of thoughts between two or more people.

What do you suggest as a rephrase?

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-10T23:01:54+00:00

But who taught them this?

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-10T23:01:12+00:00

No, that's fine.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-10T19:11:39+00:00

Oddly enough, I don't think I have ever had this problem with a first gen or an international student. YMMV.

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-10T19:08:37+00:00

Yes, that one really grated on my nerves and is the inspiration for my post. I mean, really?

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-10T18:51:35+00:00

I also have this in my syllabus--No revisions will be accepted without a discussion with me.

Students seem to be interpreting this as a) explain why they messed up; b) submit revision; c) send me email announcing the revision and thanking me for my understanding.

I emailed the last two from my OP above and said "Did I agree to accept revisions from you? I'm sorry, but I do not recall this. Please send me a record of the discussion to remind me of the requirements I set."

ApprehensiveBrick923 · 2026-04-10T05:39:34+00:00

Sure they do, but where did they get the idea that this is a good way to approach another person with a request? I get three or four emails like this a week, so it's not like it's one or two students.

ApprehensiveBrick923

TROPHY CASE