Public Speaking Epic Fail
It is that time of the semester when I complain about BRCC students. I -love- my classes this semester. My students are a complete blast. I haven’t had this much fun teaching since I taught Women’s Studies at USF. I’m not sure what’s happening or why the chemistry is there. Maybe I’ve just finally hit my stride. So, yay me!
Ok, why am I bitching then?
I have one class that I just don’t understand. I mean, there are some curious dynamics in that class and I’ve discussed those dynamics openly with the students. I’m trying to regroup and change the class culture so that it is more positive. The class is quite chaotic; consequently, students are not -hearing- what they need to in order to master the material.
I’ve just posted midterm grades and out of 24 students, I posted NINE F’s. Yes, 9. Many of these F’s are for students who’ve disappeared. I’m hoping they will drop so that they don’t ruin their GPA’s. But, usually, they don’t — they just take the F. It’s endemic to BRCC culture. I don’t understand it. If someone could explain it to me, I’d sleep better. I’m an ENTP, so I just HAVE to understand.
In addition, several students simply failed to deliver their last speech. They just..didn’t do it. Didn’t even make the effort. One student, who was unprepared on the first day of speeches, raised his hand on the second day of speeches (still unprepared) and said he didn’t understand the assignment.
Also, several students were obviously unprepared for the exam. The midterm is an essay exam where the students analyze a speech. I post the speech for analysis and the essay questions more than a week ahead of time. So, several students walk into the fifty minute class ten minutes late, look at their classmates, and then realize they need a bluebook. They leave the class to go to the bookstore to buy their bluebooks. When they’re back, they look at the speech and at the questions, and it’s obvious to me that this is the first time they’ve seen the material.
So, here’s the deal. I should be used to the fact that students will take a letter grade or two deduction on their assignments for not being prepared. It just doesn’t seem to bother most of them. I should be used to the fact that students disappear and don’t bother dropping the class. That also doesn’t seem to bother most of them. It’s just the overwhelming proportion of it. I suppose it was bound to happen. Enrollment is a crap shoot, but 9 out of 24 just seems like a statistical improbability.
A colleague once told me that you give students until midterm to step up to the plate. You help them, hold their hand, spoon feed them, do everything! But if they haven’t started to pull their weight by midterm, you cut them loose. It’s hard for me not to internalize students’ failure. I think all good teachers feel that way at some point. I just have to remind myself this is a cultural norm that I have no control over and that I can’t change.
I hope I don’t get into trouble for posting this. I haven’t named names. But you never know. And maybe if any of my current or former BRCC students happen to surf by, they can explain it to me, or they can be inspired by my kvetching to kick their friends in the ass.
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