STUDENTS' ACCOUNTABILITY

I wrote the article below months ago which I decided not to post yet due to lack of meat in its content...here goes...

https://ethicsandsociety.org/2016/01/19/recommendations-and-resources-exploring-faculty-responsibilities-toward-students-in-distress/

One student approached me in panic about not being able go take his midterm exam.  The first reason he presented was due to being late during the exam so he did  not push through in entering the classroom.  I told him about valid reasons that are being considered.  And he added " oh i brought my sibling to the hospital".  That part i thought he was already lying.  And I said, "the answer is No".  

In the afternoon, he visited me at the office and brought a copy of the student handbook of the university.  He must have thought I did not know the policy.  Truly, I felt insulted by that but still, I got his copy and showed it to my colleague.  I felt his panic though, I still said "no".  Policies are there to guide, yet in the  end, it will always be the teacher or instructor's discretion to allow the student to take or not.  What was not tolerable if I may stress my point on my resistance is the obvious lies being piled up to make it appear convincing.

Another incident yesterday during my first period class was with another student who came inside my class who I hardly knew to belong to my class.  I immediately blurted upon her entry " are you my student?  you don't look familiar",  She stated that she was only absent for a week before the midterm.  But I could not be wrong.  My class is relatively small.  There are less that 40 of them and some are absent.  Since she did not take the midterm exam,  I could not allow her to join that session so I told her to meet me after the class at the office.  

When we talked, the best and striking part was seeing her reaction when I showed her the attendance. She gave me that pale face with a look of disbelief and embarrassment.  She only showed up during the prelim.  From that she blurted " i thought ma'am you are not checking the attendance".  Since I caught her in that lie,  She still asked to take the midterm exam.  And I finally ended our discussion with the statement "my decision is final, you are dropped in my class".  Though she uttered reasons such as she worked up to 12 midnight and that it was difficult to come by as early as 7:30 am, I had to be firm with my decision.  She piled up her lies until she was plainly caught with he facts I presented.

The above are only few of those challenging cases I have encountered, apart from forging of signatures during signing of attendance, enumerated excuses and reasons why not certain things are done.  It would all boil down to taking responsibilities and facing the many challenges of student life.  Excuses and explaining loses the strength and chance of growth.  What these students are afraid of actually is the pain when not being admitted in classes or when teacher says NO to their requests.  They just want to get what they want at the fastest, easiest and most convenient instance.  They just want to get things their way not adhering or submitting to process of the arduous discipline of education.

What can I do then?  I will just have to say it plainly...there are times when I would have to say NO no matter how painful it is to tell my students...THERE ARE RESPONSIBILITIES TO FACE...AND THEY NEED TO LEARN FROM THEM...

PS...the first student I shared...still I gave him his chance for the exam...we discussed...and told him..he did not have tell stories to convince me...the TRUTH is more than enough ...:-)

My Little Girl's Summer Fun

dang-justaboutanything.blogspot.com

No matter how busy work is for me, I always find and make time for my family, my daughter in particular.  with great leap of joy in my heart that she has started to make friends with neighbor kids (sophie, zy, enjo, pau and tanya), I thought of the many ways to create that venue for these children to have fun.  such as swimming, biking, running around, eating together, walking around the streets, etc.

We have also agreed to a one weekend barbecue and swimming gathering with all of them as agreed by all of the mothers  which  I thought of it as a perfect idea as this would expose more my daughter with socializing with friends.  We also agreed on what food to bring since it would extend up to lunch time bonding.

From mikaela's first experience,  I did not allow her to stay in the water long since I observed her to be so cold already.  I knew then that the she could only sustain few minutes with her teeny winny cutie two-piece bikini hmmmm...She really looked skinny in it.  Anyway, that's what she looked like in that swim.  I knew she need to put on more flesh...what I can do with her feature...she is all vege diet rarely blended with meat.

Anyway, the weekend that we agreed to have that party gathering was postponed as some of her friends could not make it due to health condition.  I pray that all of them shall be well by the next weekend to push through with the fun fun time with my girl and her friends...:-)