I love those student emails. I received this one today:
im very concerned about this class, because i have missed so many days and i probably will be out today and on wednesday. would it be possible for you to email me all the notes that you write in class.
My response:
Nope, I don't have a copy of the notes I write during class. Sorry, maybe you can get these from one of your fellow students. You could also read the relevant pages in the textbook. Good luck with your studies!
pick'em:
"what a jerk. it's not my fault i accidentally sleep in all the time."
"textbook? what textbook?"
"mr. whitehead: could, then, you meet with me during office hours and help me understand the book?"
"i can't believe you won't help me. it's professors like you that make this place so awful. as students, we live very stressful lives with lots of things competing for our attention (something that you guys don't seem to -- and can't -- understand), and sometimes class has to go. that's not our fault, and you should be helping us. we pay for your salary, and you only teach two classes anyway, so you have the spare time. "
Posted by: joe student | January 30, 2006 at 03:23 PM
Some day I'd like to write a "Mad Magazine" type article of snappy answers to stupid questions by students.
If I do, I'll send out for submissions to all the academic bloggers. It'd at least sell to professors.
Posted by: The Unknown Professor | January 30, 2006 at 10:39 PM