Spin-off "The student as a paying customer"

[Anonymous]

This attitude seems to cut right to the heart of a very entitled generation.
The student is a paying customer for dorms and food, yes! The actual education, is NOT a commodity. "I paid 3k for this chemistry class and I still got a D, I should pass because I paid". I am former faulty, and I got so fed up with kids who expected to be spoon fed the answers and information, and won't open their BOOKS . Student: "You didn't tell me this would be on the exam." Me: "Is it in the assigned textbook? Is it in the syllabus?" Back in MY day, I read the entire assigned text! Imagine that! And if I didn't understand the assigned text, I read another text covering the same material. I went to lectures, and talked to TAs as needed.
I know some people may say "Why go to college if I can just read the book?" The value added is from faculty helping you understand concepts, or correlate the material to other disciplines, from having peers to spark discussions.
Sheesh

[Anonymous]

seems like maybe a generational thing. Aren't employers saying millenials are acting like this in the workplace as well?

[Anonymous]

I agree with you mostly. But it seems there shouldn’t be a surprise about what is in the exams. You mention the information being in the textbook. But you never mention that you went over the information. I honestly would expect that if something wasn’t discussed in class it would be pointed out to the student as something that would be covered on the exam.

I have several close family members who are college professors so I hear many stories about entitled students and their parents. They agree with me on this point.

[Anonymous]

It is true. When I was a TA, a student knocked on the door of my apartment the night before a paper was due (we happened to live in the same building, but were not friends). She wanted me to "pre-read" it, and give instructions that would ensure she got an A.

[Anonymous]

The parents on this site help me understand where they get their attitudes from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you mostly. But it seems there shouldn’t be a surprise about what is in the exams. You mention the information being in the textbook. But you never mention that you went over the information. I honestly would expect that if something wasn’t discussed in class it would be pointed out to the student as something that would be covered on the exam.

I have several close family members who are college professors so I hear many stories about entitled students and their parents. They agree with me on this point.

If she assigned reading to them, and material from the reading appears on the exam, then it wasn't a surprise. A college class should not involve the professor repeating or mentioning every detail presented within assigned reading. Class discussion should involve the implications of key issues or complex details that are also presented within the reading, or deeper analysis of some of the issues that are also presented within the reading. It's fine if some exam questions involve basic information from the reading that the professor didn't repeat in class.

I'm saying this as a high school teacher who does spend more time in class discussing elements within the assigned reading because I am trying to train my students to read carefully, identify what is important, and make connections. They'll be ready for college classes in which there is less hand-holding, and I tell them this to prepare them. College isn't high school.

[Anonymous]

that's why readings are assigned, there's a limit to what happens in the 4 hrs a week of lecture and discussion

[Anonymous]

Sounds like some college professors do not know how to teach.
Unclear instructions, professor who does not explain clearly, unorganized and sloppy

[Anonymous]

You have no idea how annoying it is to be teaching, and have a student raise their hand and ask, "Is this going to be on the test?"

The implication is that if it is not, they can stop listening (or go back to their iphone).

[Anonymous]

Well this gets to be more of a problem when schools charge so much. $75k all in for a year of school is insanely expensive for most people. It's only natural that they're going to want something tangible back for that type of money.

Turns out that there is some point where an intangible idea like "you must have learned something" isn't going to cut it for the kind of money they're demanding. It's the schools own fault, imo.

I say this as someone with no skin (no kids, no plans to have them, graduated long ago with no loans) in the game btw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have no idea how annoying it is to be teaching, and have a student raise their hand and ask, "Is this going to be on the test?"

The implication is that if it is not, they can stop listening (or go back to their iphone).

Perhaps everyone is not cut out to be a teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well this gets to be more of a problem when schools charge so much. $75k all in for a year of school is insanely expensive for most people. It's only natural that they're going to want something tangible back for that type of money.

Turns out that there is some point where an intangible idea like "you must have learned something" isn't going to cut it for the kind of money they're demanding. It's the schools own fault, imo.

I say this as someone with no skin (no kids, no plans to have them, graduated long ago with no loans) in the game btw.

+ 1

I don't feel bad for them either

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like some college professors do not know how to teach.
Unclear instructions, professor who does not explain clearly, unorganized and sloppy

Yes, for the price we are paying we should expect more from them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well this gets to be more of a problem when schools charge so much. $75k all in for a year of school is insanely expensive for most people. It's only natural that they're going to want something tangible back for that type of money.

Turns out that there is some point where an intangible idea like "you must have learned something" isn't going to cut it for the kind of money they're demanding. It's the schools own fault, imo.

I say this as someone with no skin (no kids, no plans to have them, graduated long ago with no loans) in the game btw.

...but the professors literally have z e r o control over that.

[Anonymous]

High tuition is a whole other discussion; professors aren't getting salary increases to match the tuition increases, I promise you!
But I think the sheer absurdity of college costs is influencing the parents' attitudes toward education, at the least