Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Further Incidents from the Past Semester

            Honestly, I’m beginning to think I could fill a book with these. Another colleague experienced another disgruntled student. That’s nothing new. We see those all the time. What makes this special is the depth of the disgruntlement. The audacity of it still astounds.
            The student had been absent for 8 days. Typically the maximum allowed absences in the range of 3-4. This student had nearly missed 3 weeks of class with no explanation, with no prior arrangement. Only when my colleague had begun the paperwork to withdraw him did he return. Moreover, in that time he had missed an essay assignment.
            The student complained (for 3 consecutive hours) that had an absolute right to stay in the class because he paid for it. He complained that my colleague wouldn’t work with him. He complained in front of the department chair, too, and he got his way. He was even allowed to turn in the late assignment.
            Here’s the interesting twist.
            He plagiarized the entire essay.

            Like I said, audacity.