Friday, August 3, 2012

School is Cool

School is cool.
Unless you work there.
And it's a college.
Where the students are adults.
But they don't act like it. 
Then it gets a bit tedious.
And yes, here in Tucson school starts in August.  Can you guess the date my school starts?  Yep, that would be August 22.  Even though the schools here, including the college and university, start in August, there will be an influx of people showing up after Labor Day interesting in starting school. 

Actually I like my job. I like the routine of it but that it isn't always routine. It changes depending where in the semester we are. I guess that makes it a cyclical routine.  I like to help people, but I admit to bias. I like to help people who want to help themselves. If you call or show up expecting us to do it for you, hold your hand, wipe your nose, give you a pen, and pass you in your class even though you never show up for it, well, let's just say I'm not so sympathetic.

Hubby has a theory about why the younger students (we have lots of honest-to-god adults attending our school, the average age of our student body is 29) are such pills. He blames today's parenting.  He says many folks treat their offspring like pets--they teach them stay off the furniture and not to piddle on the floor and that is where it ends.  Manners, respect, responsibility, common courtesy, common sense... nope, they don't bother with those at all. And it shows.  Just because you are your mommy's favorite pet doesn't entitle you to anything in the real world.  You might as well learn it now.

The Fine Print: The parenting theory doesn't apply to all parents. We still get some good kids whose hands I want to shake and take them around and introduce them to all the staff, "Look! We got a winner here!"  Our school has gone to a lot self-service, self admissions, self registration, open assessment times, etc. so we tend to get the never-been-to-college crowd or the ones who can't/won't do it for themselves.  Stamps by a combination of A Muse Artstamps and A Muse Studio.  And yes, school is cool.


3 comments:

Words and Pictures said...

Great calendar page - and how interesting to hear you get all that off your chest! Couldn't agree more about being so willing to help those who are up for the task (as a coach rather than teacher, but the same game really), and to your list of things people seem not to develop I'd add common curiosity... no desire to change where they're already at. Again, obviously with exceptions, and you meet so many of those here in Craftland - which is why I love it here!
Alison x

Julia Dunnit said...

Yah, schol is cool. I love your calendar. And your opinions. And i agree.

VonnyK said...

I agree wholeheartedly with your feelings. If mine don't use manners, they don't get anything and I spend a lot of time teaching them some common sense. My hubby is a teacher of high school advanced maths and I can relate to everything you said, but his kids are only 16 and 17 years old. Love your calendar page and card, really cute.
Von