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I had a student cc me and a dean with an email complaint.

Her complaint was that I gave the students a new assignment and that I wasn't doing the same thing every week in class. (She really wants the same thing every week so that it is routine. What a shock that a professor would want to break that routine.)

Her email complained about how outrageous it was that I asked them to do this "unfair, unjust, punative[sic] assignment when students are busy with more important classes." She went on for several poorly argued paragraphs about how this was unjust (sadly, she did not pay attention that our class covered the difference between just and unjust laws or she would have had much stronger arguments).

What was the assignment you ask? What might warrant such irritation with the professor.

A random 10 page paper due in 3 days?
A pop quiz on medieval torture philosophy?


Nope none of that. It was to write 300 words on several questions and hand that in a week later

This was the source of the injustice. 300 words.

Her email was 657 words.

My Dean thanked her for her concern and pointed out to her that if she had spent 1/2 the time she used on the email completing the assignment she would have been done

PS I have a bunch of really great students who are doing fantastic work, but they don't produce rant worthy material

Why is this a source of disappointment when others would find it a source of joy?

You should give an extra credit assignment to write three hundred words on why breaking from established routines in the classroom helps prepare students for the working world.

Ms. Fisher, here is a quarter. Take it, call your mother, and tell her there is serious doubt about you ever becoming a college graduate.

I sure hate it when my boss gives me tasks at work that deviate from routine. I'm going to write his boss about how I don't like doing work that's different than my typical routine. Don't they realize I have more important things to do like setting the roster on my fantasy baseball team?

Good grief.

I love how your class isn't as important as some others. You should remember that and adjust your syllabus accordingly.

Good for your Dean in his/her response.

That poor student has a tough road to hoe. I'll bet a case of Bud Light Lime and some landjaeger-flavored Doritos that she ends up on Judge Judy before it's all done.

AdmiralKird wrote:You should give an extra credit assignment to write three hundred words on why breaking from established routines in the classroom helps prepare students for the working world.

good idea.

a_smith wrote:

AdmiralKird wrote:You should give an extra credit assignment to write three hundred words on why breaking from established routines in the classroom helps prepare students for the working world.

good idea.

And be sure to tell the whole class who gave you the idea.

Hungary Jack wrote:Good grief.

I love how your class isn't as important as some others. You should remember that and adjust your syllabus accordingly.

Good for your Dean in his/her response.

That poor student has a tough road to hoe. I'll bet a case of Bud Light Lime and some landjaeger-flavored Doritos that she ends up on Judge Judy before it's all done.

I thought you hoed rows (or is it rowed hoes?). Hoeing a road will certainly be very difficult, nigh impossible.

Dirt roads can be hoed.