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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Another professor here.

Disagree strongly with your email etiquette gripe. Not all kids have the benefit of being born into a family or attending a high school that conveys these skills. As educators, yes, even college educators with precious research agendas, it's our job to convey knowledge but also soft skills. Or at least point students in the right direction and have tolerance and empathy as they learn. It sounds like you teach Freshmen, so you especially should temper the expectation that all students arrive on campus "polished."

Honestly, it's annoying when students are rude and lacking any motivation. But unless every single student you teach is privileged, which how could you know that?, have some empathy and patience and don't assume the worst and be a positive force. Take 5 minutes to talk about these things to get everyone up to speed. THEN you can complain. But asking parents to teach this stuff so you don't have to is ignorant to the fact that not all parents can.

Rant over![/quote]

It does not require "privilege"  :roll: to learn proper email etiquette. This information is now freely available on the internet. Nor does it require "privilege"  :roll: to have good manners and high motivation. In fact, those without privilege should be even more highly motivated to learn manners and work hard so they can escape their un-privileged condition despite having parents who "can't" teach manners and motivation. Enough with the weaksauce excuses.

If you are not motivated, what are you even doing in college? Just checking the box?

[/quote]
+1 my uneducated blue collar parents taught us to be respectful and have good manners.   You don't need wealth to teach those things. That's ridiculous.  Oh, and they immigrants who don't speak much English.[/quote]
+2 - from another who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, with an immigrant parent

While they may not always be remembered, manners are free and often yield huge benefits. Rudeness, however, is seldom forgotten and often has a high cost.[/quote]
+3 I'm not a professor, but I've had three college interns every summer for the past decade or so. It's not the immigrants or less privileged young adults whom I've had issues with re: respectful communication, timeliness, professionalism, etc. I mean, there might be a few things that are maybe "tells" that they did not grow up MC or UMC, but almost universally, they are humble, hardworking, accept feedback, and are respectful. And they are really, really trying to do well.

It's the UMC kids of "they don't need to learn to do laundry! They'll figure it out when the time comes! They're too busy with soccer and SAT prep, anyway" mommies who are the ones that immediately come to mind when I read the op's list. These are the folks who have all the resources/privileges they need to make sure their kid is prepared for the professional world, but no. That'd quash their spirits. Or something. [/quote]

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