zayda post intelligent rant about student attitudes in her class. moonriver confucius say: occasionally me also teach several undergrad and grad class. same raw-material students, different philosophy of pedagogy.

first day of class, me say: "me your instructor/adviser, me also your friend." me insist we call each other first-name basis. endearments allowed like doll, dahling, sweetie, dude, buddy. me urge them to share life stories, relate to class subject matter.  me tell them story about sophie and the werewolf. develop good personal empathy.

second day of class, me say: "me your teacher, you also be my teacher. we teach one another. me no know-it-all about subject, we all strive learn, achieve excellence." me allow them think different, and say in class, "hey man i think you're wrong there" if he really think so. some days really blah-lazy, all of us bored out of our minds. me and entire class agree go play hookey.

third day of class, me say: "this class unique, no other class exactly like it. each of you like river reed, not distinguish from thousand other reeds. college throw me fresh river reeds, they expect me turn you into hotshot office furniture in two years. but we work as team. one reed alone, no good. many reeds strewn about on floor, no good either. but we find out how best weave into each other. me suggest we make fine patio chair, me take home, good for late afternoon quickie." me see students grab chance for great initiative, develop confidence and teamwork.

some student really bad school attitude, bad classroom habits. but me no generalize. come to class no pen, no paper, no nothing. for me, no problem. me have drawer full of pen paper even paper clips. me offer them, one set for one dollar. just don't tell dept head or she chew me out for turning class into fleamarket. they laugh, but keep class secret.

me deal with habitual absentee, give him 2-3 very hard take-home papers or projects for entire sem, on top of finals, basis for pass-fail. in many cases, absentee turn out to be brilliant but uncut gem, free spirit no need cut up.

some nubile gurllzz expect earn good grades or at least good graces with me if they flash some skin, flirt with me. me flirt back, tell her with wink, "me free for private tutoring next weekend, doll, you up to it?" but no-no to serious nookie. some bad-ass dudes think me alpha male collect class harem, try to get my goat. me give them someone else's goat.

me think sexual-political-cultural tension make class more interesting. they learn good skill in concubinage handling and royal backstabbing, very useful for later in life when they work in office hierarchy.

if me able to build good class esprit d'corps, they tend help each other, trim each other's rough edges. few who unable to adjust, they simply drop out, me say "so long dude/doll" with smile, no hurt feelings.

some student misbehavior expected. but me no generalize whole generation students. dept head think my handling of class horrible. me think she just jealous of my harem of brainy nubile gurrllz. but college dean think me ok, so long as no-nookie-with-student rule followed.

me not judge zayda rant either. me just share different perspective, different situation.