Reply to Tell High School Students to Stop Contacting Professors

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think it’s kinda obnoxious for HS kids to think they should get a job doing research.

The professor has a slew of graduate students at his fingertips to help with research. Why would someone think he would ask a kid in HS to help with research?Tell me why.  Let me real here.

Go get a job at the mall and leave this professor alone. [/quote]

It’s insulting. No 17 year old can be helpful to them without a lot of work and handholding. Why does anyone feel entitled to their time?

These are probably the same people who moan about faculty kid acceptances.  It’s right in line with the complete disrespect they have for the profession. [/quote]

So professors shouldn't have an interest in growing their fields and developing talent?  Yes, teaching others new skills is work. Professors  of course do not have unlimited bandwidth.  But it's just depressing that this many academia aren't motivated or creative enough to figure out ways to support younger students at all, and only want help to be a one-way street.  BTW, my dad was a professor and dean for decades and made time for his students. But I've also observed plenty of prima donna academics over the years who barely interact with students at all. Seems to be getting worse. 
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Do you all really want to pay 40-100k annually to send your kids to schools where professors prioritize email exchanges with high school students (many of whom haven’t even applied) over your kid, who is an actual student? Does that seem like a good use of your money? [/quote]

I find this thread depressing and inconsistent with the attitudes of my best professors.  The original complaint is very petty - as though it's simply too much effort to ignore junk e-mail.  And now we've got a parent pulling the "my tuition dollars" complaint.  As though education is only a purchased service and nothing more transcendent.  (I thought professors hated that attitude.)

When I was in high school, I had a class where we had to invite a guest speaker from a career that we were interested in.  I invited a person who my father did a small amount of business with (not a friend).  To this day, I'm still amazed that the guy took time out of his day to come to my high school and speak to my class.  I wasn't anybody to him.  And it was a bit awkward for him - I'm sure it was a one-off for him to talk to kids that age.  But I learned some things from his talk, and I'd hope he felt honored that someone wanted to hear about his work.

It takes very little effort to ignore solicitations.  And a little extra graciousness where there might be a bit of mutual benefit is really appreciated.[/quote]

I get your point.  I'm not the OP and agree that ignoring junk/ unsolicited email is fine. However, when the junk email comes from 15 years olds who are very sincere, it's guilt-inducing. I think the OP wants to cut down on that guilt. 
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