The Great Equalizer

Last night about half of the students came to my class. So far, none of them have missed enough times to be administratively withdrawn, although quite a few just never handed in the first essay, despite my repeated admonishments about taking a "0" when you could have a "56."  There's an "F," folks, and then there's a "0."  It's all about the spreadsheet.  Do they care?  No.

After much grousing about how much they hate position essays and my grading system, I had to level with them.  "Look," I said.  "I am a tough teacher because so is life.  There are no effort points in the real world, guys...the commas go where the commas go."  (groan, moan)  Then we talked about how writing is the great equalizer, and no one need know if they are male, female, black, white or brown when they are writing.  All their audience will know is whether or not they are well educated.

That one seemed to have more impact on this group than it has had on my past classes.  Their sleepy eyes opened a little wider.  Most of the students in this class are what state universities would call "nontraditional."  They are not eighteen.  They are not living on campus.  They are working full-time in banks, hospitals and preschools.  They have kids ranging in age from five months to 22 years.  They say there is nothing in their lives that they need that they can't get in Kansas City, Kansas.  But they, like everyone else, want people to think they are smart. 

I like teaching these guys because they don't think they world owes them anything.  They understand the rules.  Despite all this, however, I know damn well most of them won't turn in their essays next time.  And that's their choice - I know deep down they understand what the consequences are - most of them are trying out community college for the second or third time by now.  It's a totally different world than I lived in at the University of Iowa.