Yet they still manage to fail

I am the easiest teacher alive. Attendance policy? What's that? Late work penalty? None. Rewrites? Anything to improve the grade. I give extra credit -- I stay late -- I hold special help sessions. But somehow or another, I have 6 students absolutely failing my class and another 4 that are getting D's. Why? How?

Well, again, I may be more dedicated to their educations than they are. I must have been an obnoxious student -- I have a few of those, too. I never showed up, I rarely was on time when I did, I begged for extensions on every assignment. I still maintained nearly a 4.0 for my Bachelor's (and we won't bash any Sociology teachers because we need the room to bash "Linguistics" professors from AU).

Okay, let's be honest. I flunked out of Illinois State (well, maybe not actually, but pretty darned close). I took 13 years to get a 2-year degree from Waubonsee. I was admitted to Phi Theta Kappa there by the skin of my teeth (and only because Cherie "forgave" some really old grades -- including an "F" that Kevin Whaley's dad gave me -- thanks a bunch -- another thing for which I hold him personally responsible).

AU wasn't "easy," as such ... but I've always been good at my "job." I had been a professional student for some 15 years before I started there -- I finally figured out how to do it right.

How disappointing those few students are who show up infrequently, turn everything in late, saunter in to class (keeping in mind that I teach IN THE DORMS) some 15 or 20 minutes late -- but some of them write really well. Damn.

I'm surprised that Jack never wrung my neck. How crazy I must have made him for all of those years. I certainly hope that I make it through the term without killing any of these underachieving and disappointing students.

So, I talked to Christine's mom for, like, 45 minutes tonight, and then to Christine for another 15. Looks like a "bonus" opportunity for a job this summer. I hope that works out because it may just mean that I can pretty much blow off any responsibility for the whole summer. I'd only need to work 2 long weekends (Fri-Sat-Sun) for the whole summer and make close to $700.00. Then with tutoring and my student loans ... it could be a fun summer.

The answer is, "Yes," then -- I can go camping that weekend -- are you buying the gas? I've only got $700 to spend and that won't cover us roundtrip. We can't get more than 3 or 4 miles on $700 worth of gasoline!