Jim: As a professor at a university with a religious affilitation, sometimes my students come in asking me to show them "grace" by accepting assignments late, or by making exceptions to the attendance policy, or by allowing makeup exams. Some students implicity suggest that it is my responsibility as a Christian professor show them love and grace. My response usually includes the following comments:
1. It is not grace if you have to demand it. 2. I care too much for them to allow them to sabotage their own education by giving less than their best. This usually satisfies them and helps them to see that I am on their side. Most students accept this and we move forward as partners in the learning process. Rod ______________________________________________ Roderick D. Hetzel, Ph.D. Department of Psychology LeTourneau University Post Office Box 7001 2100 South Mobberly Avenue Longview, Texas 75607-7001 Office: Education Center 218 Phone: 903-233-3893 Fax: 903-233-3851 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage: http://www.letu.edu/people/rodhetzel > -----Original Message----- > From: James Guinee [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2002 8:42 AM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences > Subject: Re: Rescue me > > > > Subject: RE: Rescue me > > From: "Hetzel, Rod" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > I never cease to be amazed by the requests that students > bring to me. > > I had one student who took a course with me in the summer, > failed the > > course because he only came to class about 25% of the time > and didn't > > complete any assignments, never responsed to my requests for extra > > help, and then came to see me 3 weeks after grades were turned in > > expecting me to take his late assignments so I could turn > his F into a > > higher letter grade. The part that shocked me was that he was > > genuinely surprised--and then angered--when I would not accept his > > late work. > > Rod (and maybe some others), > > This one is up your theological alley. > > An athlete came to me last year after the final with a 72% > and wanted to > know what extra work he could do for a "B." > > When I denied his request (as I always do), the next day he > came back to > my office and told me he had prayed to God to soften my heart. > > My response was: "So you asked God to get me to change the > rules and help you get something you didn't earn. Is that right?" > > God was not reintroduced in his subsequent pleas for a break. > > Happy finals, > Jim G > > > > > > ******************************************************************* > Jim Guinee, Ph.D. > > Director of Training & Adjunct Professor > > University of Central Arkansas Counseling Center > 313 Bernard Hall Conway, AR 72035 USA > > > > "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. > Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who > asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. > But do this with GENTLENESS and RESPECT" > [emphasis mine] [1 Peter 3:15] > > > > E-mail is not a secure means to transmit confidential > information. The UCA Counseling Center staff does not > use e-mail to discuss personal issues. The staff does > not maintain 24-hour access to their e-mail accounts. > ********************************************************************* > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
