I'm grading papers and one student drew me a picture of Mr. Happy should I

[Catshrink]

(This is a true story, I'm grading papers this afternoon.) BTW, this is a high school chemistry class.

[brainshrub]

1. Who is Mr. Happy? (nt)

[Fenris]

4. Um...think "the PEN IS mightier than the sword."

Especially apt in this case.

[brainshrub]

12. Ohhhhh!

Well was it a big Mr. Happy? Was it a doodle that he forgot about?

[Maddy McCall]

2. I teach college history--funny that the failing students always do that...

and then write a note that says, "I'm a really smart student. I am sorry I didn't live up to my potential in you class. I have to have a B to stay in _______________ sorority. You are a great teacher!"

I never have to hand back finals, so I usually write a note back, just for my own satisfaction, that says, "Don't kiss ass in my class, just do the work :-( "

[Catshrink]

6. That's how I feel about it...

just do the work, follow the instructions, show your units (not those units!). Turn your homework in on time.

Two weeks before the end of the semester it's "What do I have to do to get an A in this class?" from a failing student no less. Well, let's back up 2 months and start performing, eh?

OK. Frustration expressed. Everything is more fun than work.

[Maddy McCall]

17. OMG--those are the worst--

A student who has attended MAYBE half of the classes, has missed two or three assignments, falls asleep in the class comes up and asks "What do I have to do to pull an A in here?"

I always tell them, "You will have a GREAT opportunity in Dr. Soandso's class next semester, because you will be repeating this class. You have earned a firm F."

Then, oh, THEN the calls from "concerned" parents start. "What did little Bobby (who is 21) do wrong??? He said he has kept up with his work. Why did he get an F in your class?" Little Bobby has failed to be honest with his parents, so they can't fathom that their little full-grown angel could have skipped class or missed tests. I don't have to deal with parents, though, thank god, because federal laws don't allow me to discuss student performance of people over the age of 18 with anyone.

I have even been called at home by parents (don't know how they got my number--I live 90 miles away from the uni) to tell me tragedies in their children's lives. IN other words, I should feel sorry for said student because she was in a car wreck two years ago. WTF?

I am always nice to the parents, but subtly suggest they are sure that their little Bobbies are honest before they the take such drastic measures as calling a professor at home.

Finals are always stressful times for me--it's when the worst students flood my office--not for help on a particular topic--but to tell me how their lives will fall apart if they fail--they will lose scholarships, be kicked out of the frat or soror, or be kicked off the dean's list.

[Catshrink]

24. Yep... sounds familiar

One thing that helped me is an online grading program. When I update grades, it can send an email to parents. Parents then log on and check. My life actually got easier because now the kids know the parents can and will check up on them and the parents can see that their little darlings are in fact missing assignments.

Now I'm getting: "My dad said I didn't turn something in -- what did I miss?" It's ongoing so no surprises. The only problem is that not all parents have email accounts but I call them.

[Kamika]

37. Lol you sadists

I'm happy I'm out of that s&m institution.. you guys really enjoy it dont you :)

[liberalhistorian]

27. LOL!

At least you don't have to deal with the damned parents, my parents are retired high school teachers who both retired early because they finally just could not take it anymore.

Everything was THEIR fault, NEVER the kid's fault, never mind if the kid didn't do any of his or her work or often didn't even show up for class in the first place.

NOOOOOOOO, it was always THEIR fault. Then the principal would get on their case because the parents were on HIS case and, of course, it had to be all the teacher's fault because Little Johnny or Janie would NEVER lie to their parents about doing the work and/or attending class, now, would they? And people wonder why I didn't follow my parents and go into education! :puke:

[Maddy McCall]

31. Oh I pity your parents...

The dean of my college AND the president of my university have received calls from pissed parents, and those two offices always funnel the complaint calls BACK to me, which tells the parents that pulling rank won't get an A, and they will ultimately have to deal with me, and I only tell the parents AGAIN that according to Federal privacy laws I CANNOT DISCUSS THE ADULT STUDENT'S PERFORMANCE WITH THEM.

I have seen parents make huge fools of themselves.

[Maddy McCall]

19. OH! I THOUGHT YOU MEANT A SMILEY FACE...

NOT A CARICATURE OF AN APPENDAGE. SORRRY!!! *JCHILD BLUSHES!*

[Catshrink]

26. LMAO

You are so funny! Happy face after a Mr. Happy?

[DS1]

3. draw a life-sized picture of a man on the board

stick his paper over were the crotch is. allow time for discovery

[DS1]

11. oh come on, this is twisted genious!

do it do it do it!

[Catshrink]

28. That's not a bad idea...

but I'd get in trouble for it. too bad...

[ulysses]

5. Mr. Happy = ?

I guess I probably know. A penis?

I had a girl (9 y.o.) in my class draw a picture of breasts on her paper a while back - I just told her to mark it out.

[Catshrink]

10. One kid described a crystalline compound as looking like "meth"

and I had him write his whole data table over. He's a smug little so and so who thinks he's so cool. He didn't like it, but he did it.

I did email his mom about that who just laughed and said, "Oh, I guess he's seen it on TV." Naive mom -- her boy wouldn't know first hand. Right.

[Fenris]

15. Hmmm...I watch a lot of TV and I couldn't describe meth

Message to you parents out there: Quit assuming it's their "other" parent.

[Dogmudgeon]

7. Ignore it

He's seeking attention. The poor little idiot.

Grade the test as if Mr. Happy wasn't even there. Give it back to him without further comment.

As they (used to) say on-line: Please Don't Feed The Trolls.

--bkl

[jmm]

14. I agree

I use to be a TA for one of my college classes on Con Law. There was one student who would always draw pictures when she didn't know the answers. I'd just ignore it although I was tempted to remind her it was a PoliSci not an art class.

[philosophie_en_rose]

8. Is it really Mr. Happy?

I think the test should pass or fail on its own merits. If it might be an unfortunate looking doodle, I'd ignore it.However, an intentional penis is meant to embarass you. In that case, I would call the kid to your desk and ask what that was supposed to be. Depending on his or her reaction, any of the options might be appropriate.

[hippiechick]

9. Give it to the art teacher to grade for realism, then give it back

or better yet, call out students names so he/she has to walk up in front of class to claim it in front of everyone.



:hippie:

[Fenris]

13. Ignore it

He wants you to notice it and do something. Don't even acknowledge it's there. I'll just assume he blew the assignment anyway, so getting a D or F and not having the teacher even acknowledge your shitty little drawing is a bruise to the ego.

[JVS]

16. One time I left the room to take a leak and when I came back someone had..

put a Mr. Happy on my paper. Maybe the kid didn't do it. If the kid did the work properly givehim credit and just ask why there is a picture of a penis on the paper. Maybe he doesn't know it is there. If he did it ask him to stop.

[Catshrink]

18. I actually think this is the case

This kid is a video geek -- really into digital photo editing and computers. I've never seen this kind of stuff from him before. He's spacy and forgets to turn in assignments and he's a lot smarter than he shows in my class. Oh well..

I think I'll ignore it.

[salin]

22. if you were sure it was he who did it...

I would fax it to his parents (or scan it and email them)... tell them you thought they might be proud of his level of work product in the class.

[Maddy McCall]

20. Make an overhead of the drawing and do a lecture on the chemistry of sperm

And thank him for his thoughtful drawing on his paper that intimated to you that he felt his class should learn more about the workings of the penis.

[kodi]

21. flunk the kid. that's all, just flunk him

when kids like this get the idea that they can get away with stuff like this all they do is push it elsewhere, and eventually he is going to find someone willing to beat the ever living shit out of him for his attitude. there is always somewhere a bigger bad-ass waiting to mess up a smart mouth punk.

lesson one in any educational environment is that one is held responsibile for one's actions.

that's the life lesson and the little punk had better learn the easy way or the hard way could be fatal for him.

[Catshrink]

29. Nah, not over this....

I agree he should be held accountable. He could have crossed the thing out. I might ask him to do it over and protect it from his buddies who were trying to get him in trouble.

[Padraig18]

23. Just ignore it.

If he did it, saying nothing will be put-down enough, and if someone else did it TO his paper, you'll spare him a great deal of undeserved embarrassment. A win-win solution. :)

[Lefty48197]

25. Hang it in the display case in the lobby

Let his friends see how mature he is.

[maxanne]

30. if you don't confront it

he might try harder to gain your attention.

I'm in favor of the head on collision. Tell him that you aren't interested in illustrated papers, and the next one he turns in will earn him a failing mark for the semester. Mention that you are disappointed in his lack of respect. Ask if he'd like to accompany you to the principal's office, to discuss moving to another class.

Don't take any crap.

[salin]

32. since it was a chemistry exam

perhaps tell him since he added unasked information on the exam, that you will detract a certain amount of points if he does not explain the relevancy of this graphic form of answering the exam questions, and that he will 'earn' those same points back (as in - not lose anything, but not gain either), if he CAN come up with a an explanation related to course material to which his graphic datapoint has relevancy. Make him work, intellectually (even if it is a bit of a gag... but it would force him to transfer known knowledge to an unknown situation) to stay out of trouble. He will be so embarassed that he won't pull such a stunt on you, or anyone else, again.

[Catshrink]

33. Wow!

That is really a good idea. I like that. That I could get away with... failing him for the semester because of one assignment I couldn't (and I wouldn't).

[salin]

41. have a bit of experience

working with teens from all ends of the academic spectrum... I find it a good challenge to find a way to meet multiple ends (make a point... and maybe force the student to apply stuff that he knows to other things in a way he may not realize that he is capable... all at once.) Keeps me on my toes, and allows me to keep a sense of humor about things rather than getting cynical and/or burnt out. :D Best of luck and let us know what you do.

[VOX]

35. Brilliant, salin...

Absolutely brilliant.

:toast:

[salin]

42. *takes a bow*

believe it or not... I really enjoy teenagers. Can't back away from a challenge like how to deal with this. Had to get the angst response out first (fax his parents) before thinking about a response that drives the point home... and may have some added benies as a teacher :D

[Ronnie]

34. Are you sure...

it's not Florida.

[mlawson]

36. They even do that in college.

I usually ignore it, but sometimes I do tell them that if they try anything like that in grad school, they will be 'up Shit Creek'....

Or some similar sentiment.

[HEyHEY]

38. tell him it's kinda small

that outta make him think twice next time

[JVS]

39. I don't understand why you are upset 8====>

;-)

[Catshrink]

40. I'm not upset..

more amused actually. But amused/upset/whatever or not, I want to be sure I'm dealing with it intentionally. If I ignore it, it's because I'm intentionally ignoring it and have decided for one reason or another to let the kid slide. If I talk to him about it, it's because I've decided it's the best way to deter him from doing it in the future -- or to encourage him to safeguard his work so his "friends" don't mark it up for him. Etc....

[SheilaT]

43. No matter how you handle

the drawing of Mr Happy, you absolutely must grade the rest of the paper on its own merits. It seems to me to be completely out of line on your part to flunk him (either that one paper or the whole semester) just because of the one picture.

And since this is high school, you should speak to him privately about this, not publicly humiliate the kid. Unless he's been a big discipline problem all semester, in which case it's probably okay to humiliate him publicly.

[Catshrink]

44. Agreed

This kid hasn't been much trouble other than being a space cadet about assignments. He's no stellar scholar in my class, even though he definitely has the ability. He's more obsessed with his technology stuff.