HA Ha! This one is for those of you who taught physical science. 

posted by splatnikGanglion at 03:21PM CST on February 21

You know, I used to wish that I could attach warnings to students that would show up on class rosters and the like, indicating important things like, "warning: might plagiarize," or "Warning: sqeaky wheel, begs for undeserved grades."

I remember at a TA conference, one of the liberal arts TAs (leading the workshop!) admitted that he usually gave in if someone cried about their grade.  

posted by reid at 09:12PM CST on February 21

In the past, for students halfway between a B and an A or a C and a B -- usually ones that I couldn't tell how hard they were actually working vs. struggling with material -- I've awarded the lower of the two, figuring that if they came to ask about their grade I'd promptly raise it. Maybe that makes me part of the problem...

(Though in my defense I would only raise the grade for such a student, and only one who came in with a reasoned request to consider -- not one who rode in from bawling league on the whaaambulance carrying a bottle of sour whine.) 

posted by mrflip at 10:44PM CST on February 21

Watch out, kids! Reid's gonna put that in your PERMANENT RECORD! Turns out they just pass it up from elementary through high school and right on to college.

That was the greatest scare tactic ever when I was 12, by the way. 

posted by natedogg at 11:15PM CST on February 21

that's a great idea. the permanent record lives! 

posted by splatnikGanglion at 09:15AM CST on February 22