TEACHSOC: Re: late arrivals revisited

[Marty Schwartz]

--On Thursday, September 22, 2005 9:12 PM -0400 Sarah Murray <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Apparently this problem has gotten worse over the past decade, what with many of our students working two jobs and trying to carry 18 credits.  Some in the soc. department are aspiring firemen and police officers and are pursuing a degree  <snip>

Close to 30 years ago I had the same problem, mainly with police officers.  They would come and complain that carrying 15 or 18 hours, plus working full time, plus being married with three children, was a heavy load, as if I was supposed to excuse them from the final exam or something.  While I am virtually always considered the most or one of the more student oriented people in my department, my motto in those days was (and dozens of students heard it): "FT Job, good parent, FT student.  Pick two."  I would then explain that no one can do three.  If you want to be a great parent, you can't carry 15 or 18 hours.

Marty


Martin D. Schwartz
Professor, Ohio University

Visiting Fellow, National Institute of Justice
Co-Editor,
Criminal Justice: The International Journal of Policy and Practice