Courtney (Dr. Version)

My current no-fail way to really mess with a student:

Them: “how long should the answers be?”
Me: “As long as they need to be, I’m not collecting these. But you can use them on the quiz next week, so I'd be thurough.”
Them: “You're not collecting this? Why? Why should I do this then?”

I would LOVE to - but none of the places I'm working at uses them/will produce them for me. And adjuncting (hell teaching in general) does not leave me with the funds to make them myself.

THIS. I may just do this next semester too.

It's devastating for so many reasons, because they're going to lose out on the vibrancy of the scholarship in the field. And along with this, Perusall/Hypothesis are also losing their value in the classroom in terms of comprehension and dialogue.

In case you were wondering, we had a second "Syllabus Day" in class followed by a study hall wherein they were to read the sources they were meant to read today.

In which I also learned that it takes approximately 35 minutes to read an approximately 6 page framework text.

So today is also the day I learned that 8 of 9 students have not been reading the textbook all semester bc it's not linked in Canvas.

“….have you been looking at the syllabus this semester at all?”

“No, why would I do that when we have canvas?”

1of 9 students came to class today prepared for a discussion (with discussion questions they're supposed to have prepared) that's been on the syllabus all semester & the handout has been posted for weeks.

For Pete's sake.

Literally the worst. And then went on to say something like how my dissertation made them have to rethink part of their own framing of their work. I was not pleased.

I think I’m gonna start showing up late to my own classes. Since no one else can be on time…

And yet I had one committee member (external) question my qualifications bc I disagreed with their buddy’s book. And backed it up with 3+ reviews of big names who also disagreed with it.

“Why hasn’t X, turned in yesterday, been graded yet?”

Hi, Thanks for your patience. I hope to get to it this weekend. As you know, I am teaching 8 classes this semester with over 150 students, & while I work to keep grades updated promptly, grading does take time. I appreciate your understanding.

Do any good thing you can, no matter how small. No good thing is ever insignificant.

“Why hasn’t X, turned in yesterday, been graded yet?”

Hi, Thanks for your patience. I hope to get to it this weekend. As you know, I am teaching 8 classes this semester with over 150 students, & while I work to keep grades updated promptly, grading does take time. I appreciate your understanding.

Literally sent out an email of "please remember that professionalism is part of your grade, which includes things like coming to class prepared, staying of your phones, etc" and then had at least 3 in a class of 13 constantly on their phones throughout the 75 minute class.

Yeah, in my larger class I've given up. Ironically that's a class with a tiny percentage of offenders. It's the tiny classes where we're supposed to be discussing things and a more engaged environment. That's where I just... can't.

That is brilliant. I may try that after I do the "stop being disrespectful and leave for the day" plan.

I had a colleague that had her friend text her early in the class and she looked at the class and was like, "sorry I have to take this" & then texted while sitting on the front table for 10 mins.

I get that phones will happen, but this is a tiny class, and when the majority of them are obviously not paying attention? That's insulting. Next time they do it I'm going to kick the whole lot of them out and tell them they're all being counted as absent for the day. The headphones irk me more.

And then the GLARES I get when I ask them to put their phones away (or take out their headphones, or stop using AI to summarize a reading they were meant to have done for class, or.....)

I'm exhausted. 100%, literally exhausted.

Literally sent out an email of "please remember that professionalism is part of your grade, which includes things like coming to class prepared, staying of your phones, etc" and then had at least 3 in a class of 13 constantly on their phones throughout the 75 minute class.

One of my students said that Constantine used the Edict of Milan to “score relatability points” with the laity because he returned property and such to the church. I’m dead. I love this so much.

One of my students said that Constantine used the Edict of Milan to “score relatability points” with the laity because he returned property and such to the church. I’m dead. I love this so much.

That whole "you expect us to write WHAT for the exam?!" viral video going around? Yeah. It's not a joke.

I actually had a few people reach out with some leads, so I don't think I actually need to flood the list serve with that question anymore! But thanks for the suggestion - I will remember it next time I have a wild medieval medical question a student asks me 😅🤣

What's wild is the same exact exam style I gave 2 years ago was almost too short for a 50 minute class period.

The average time it took a student to finish it was around ~35 mins.

Today? I don't think I'll have ONE student finish more than half the exam before the class period ends.

Contemplating applying for some non-academic jobs just for the sanity and stability they might offer. And I hate it. But I also am not cut out for a lifetime of adjunct work. And the direction academia is going is terrifying.

Is this giving up? Self preservation? Hopelessness? I dunno.

Oh wait, I hadn’t even thought about emailing MedMed 🤦🏼‍♀️ but anything at this point. Journals, open access books, and ILL are all totally fine. I’ll have to send an email!

This has happened more times than I can count:

Me, emailing a student: So, your paper? It was AI. I'm gonna let you rewrite it, but heaven help you if you do it again...

Student, replying to my email: Thank you for your concern [redirects conversation to not the thing I'm concerned about]

So, tiny library strikes again! Any of my #HistMed or #MedievalSky or #Skystorians folks have any resources on or suggestions about Measles in the Middle Ages for a student of mine? Sources you'd be willing to share?

I thought I had some (or some suggestions) but... I'm lost. Whoops.

Yesterday, those who teach Intro to Sociology at Florida colleges (as opposed to universities) received a ready-made curriculum from the state and were ordered to teach it.

Yes, you read that correctly. The *state* is enforcing a curriculum on college profs, complete w/ the following restrictions:

Do you write thank you notes for personally sent rejection letters?

Asking for a friend.