[CW] Re: [Fists] Let's Face It!!

[Bob Liesenfeld]

N7DC@cs.com wrote:

> Some 10 years or so ago, I was teaching a ham class to a group of Scouts in
> the next county over.  I carefully explained some antenna theory, showed the
> half wave dipole formula, ran thru a couple of displays on a blackboard and then
> gave them the question.  It was something like:  "What is the length of a
> halfwave dipole for 7.150 MHZ?"
>
> When I looked around, there they all sat, hands hung at their sides, or
> scratching their heads.

 Ken,
   I teach electronics at a technical college.  I have taught here off and on since about
1980.  About 5 years ago my colleagues and I were noticing a distinct change in student
behavior and attitude.  One class stands out....It is not much of an exaggeration to say
that they were 'animals'.  Lots of screaming at one another, chair pushing and posturing.
Few could be motivated to buy/bring a textbook to class.  I was really pulling my hair out
as to how to handle this group, and was about out of ideas.
 I think a few of the students must have picked up on the fact that I was really trying to
make a go of the course, and was only trying to help them, so one of them took pity on me
and took me aside one day to 'explain the errors of my ways'.

Among other gems that he offered was...."One thing I guess you don't understand Bob, is
that when you tell us that this or that work is required to pass the course, or that we
must achieve a certainly level of proficiency to get an "A" or "B" etc.,..... that is
>very< disrespectful to us as individuals".

Once I picked my jaw up off the floor, and thought about what he had said, while I could
not for the life of me figure out how a person would arrive at that mind set, I had a
better understanding of why they were so out of control.  They were --angry-- at be treated
so 'poorly'.

I have only seen an increase in this kind of attitude over the last few years.....It makes
for a very difficult teaching environment.  Especially when >I< was raised in a different
atmosphere.....I think one of my dad's sayings says it best:
"Blessed is he who does not expect much...........cause he ain't gunna get it".  In other
words You have to WORK >hard< to get much of anything.

 Sorry to vent so much but your post really struck a cord with me...  ;)

72
Bob