Tardiness

A new semester has dawned at the University, and one of the traditions for us crusty professors is that we get to see the previous semester’s student critiques. (For those not familiar with the tradition, college students in the US get to rate their professors and talk about what they liked and didn’t like about the class toward the end of the semester. The professor for obvious reasons doesn’t get to see these remarks until the grades have been turned in.)

Last semester’s crew gave good remarks and had some useful criticism, which is always good. One student, though, put in the “things you liked least about the class” category that “the professor made us come to class on time.”

That’s pretty special. And it makes me wonder what goes on in other classes.

Oh, and if you happen to be a teacher struggling with how to get your flock to show up on time, the answer is simple: Short quizzes that start at exactly the time class is supposed to begin and that can’t be made up. Nothing like losing points to make students take notice.

(Cue Evil laughter and pinky-to-the-lips…)