Comments on: excuses

By: bon

bon — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:45:36 +0000

Dawn…yep, i really do care. this term, i’ve realized how much i missed teaching the past few years. and given that the program these students are in is a condition of their admission, and attendance is part of the program, i’m tough on attendance. otherwise, i wouldn’t be. but for the majority, it’s part of the expectations their parents (and gov’t funders) have of us when they send them so far from home to study in Canada. so they get The Look. and also, genuine sympathy when they’re genuinely sick. or even when they might be.

By: dawn

dawn — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:41:36 +0000

Bon,
Even though these students can be their own enemy. Stupidly so…I do feel that you care for these students. Your standards are fair and conversations with them are of the “real world” where they are venturing. It’s good to know that as I send my children off to the big world away from home they will not escape, “THE LOOK”. One a mother understands.

P.S. One day I used “The look” with no results, only to realize I had my sunglasses on….phew thought I was loosing my touch.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:10:39 +0000

This had me laughing hysterically.

Queen of Excuses…come to my home and meet your match.

I love that you skipped school to read books, just like I did. For whatever reason, mom never seemed to catch on and thought that book-reading was good for healing. It was awesome.

By: Louise

Louise — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:58:33 +0000

Last year, I caught three of my students cheating on a test. And while I had to go through the proper School Policy Procedures, I felt like a total hypocrite because all through grade 11, I had all the algebraic formulae written on the inside cover of my calculator case.

By: lisa b

lisa b — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:21:46 +0000

I never faked a note. I am good at showing up.
Am wondering if this is an indicator that I will never be a professor?

By: Misty

Misty — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:19:23 +0000

I skipped alot in highschool. I just didn’t bother with excuses. No need in lying too. In university, I dragged my butt to class even if hungover. I was paying them after all to be there. The only exception was a physics course that I aced anyway, without attending a lecture. Which to me, supported my decision in not needing to go.
Reiley has learned how to copy my signature. I caught him copying it in his agenda that is supposed to be signed each night, which I often forget to do. Not a big deal now, and kinda funny finding his practice page, but we’ll see if I’m still laughing in a few years.

By: Erica

Erica — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:13:46 +0000

The one time I asked for an extension in college I was terrified that I’d have to give a long story about why (I’d just broken up with a boyfriend), but the prof (bless her) saw I was upset and gave it to me without any prying whatsoever.

I’ve found that “plumbing problems” works quite well as an excuse in my adult life (no one wants to hear about your toilet backing up). But I wish I could pull off a convincing “I was needed to straighten out a diplomatic crisis overseas,” instead.

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:15:50 +0000

Yeah, I never forged parents’ signatures. I was too much of a goody-goody. Made up for that in spades, though, when I flew the coop to go to university. That’s another post. As for me, I use my kids to get out of things I don’t want to do, such as socializing when I don’t want to, or attending something I don’t want to attend. They’re quite useful that way. Probably should not have admitted that.

My husband who’s a teacher, had a student show up late for a class. When my husband asked him about it, expecting the usual cast of excuses teachers hear, was pleasantly surprised when the student said, “uh, well, I slept in and because it was raining I wasn’t in any rush to get here”. Why can’t we all be that honest?

By: Kyla

Kyla — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:39:28 +0000

I skipped class last night. Sent an email that detailed my respiratory virus (true!) and fever (true!), but not the fact that since I was home anyway, we would be spending the evening decorating the tree, having cocoa, and watching the Grinch.

I hate it when professors care about attendance. If I can pull a 100 in the course and be absent a few times, don’t give me grief or make me feel like a child.

By: Hannah

Hannah — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:14:32 +0000

I TOTALLY forged my mom’s signature and handwriting. ALL THE TIME. On homework notebooks and bus notes, mostly. The best part is – she knew I did it, and didn’t care, as long as I didn’t abuse the privilege and always brought her test scores and report cards for a real signature.

Bless her and her impossibly neat handwriting. It’s a standing joke with my siblings that anyone could copy her writing.