Teachable Moments

— Matthew Henry Hall

Matthew Henry Hall is a cartoonist and writer, living in Flagstaff, Ariz. Matthew would be gosh darned tickled if you visited his Web site: www.matthewhenryhall.com.

Comments

It just doesn’t click with some students

Whole trying to explain to a student that College level algebra was a requirement for her major.. the student whinned..

I don’t see why I have to have math just to be a ICU nurse

Linda Johnson, at 4:35 am EDT on June 29, 2007

Teachable Moments

Reminds me of “Sorry I was absent last week. Did we do anything important?”

Jeff Haseltine, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences at Abilene Christian University, at 9:10 am EDT on June 1, 2007

Also:

“I’ve flunked the first two exams on basic theories and methods. May I do a research paper for extra credit?”

West Coast Prof, at 10:05 am EDT on June 1, 2007

Grim Reaper

I am haunted by the many grandparents who

have, by some grotesque coincidence, died

while I had their grandschildren in class.

Hubert Smith, at 11:10 am EDT on June 1, 2007

What do you mean you don’t round up grades? It says it in the syllabus? Oh, I didn’t read that...

HS counselor, at 11:25 am EDT on June 1, 2007

“I’m going to be absent next week. It’s a family trip. We’re going on a cruise. Could you e-mail your notes to me?”

David Sutton, at 12:20 pm EDT on June 1, 2007

Perceptual bias?

When I first glanced at the cartoon drawing, I thought the teacher was the female standing in front of the blackboard.

The long-haired androgynous person to the right with tie-dyed clothes and bell-bottoms appeared to be the student. But no, it’s the time-warp professor.

Mr. Magoo, at 4:05 pm EDT on June 1, 2007

“I’m in the Cosmetology program Ms. Wilson ... and I need a subject for my make-over exam next week.”

Frizbane Manley, at 2:15 pm EDT on June 2, 2007

“But I thought string theories were classified according to whether or not the particle spectrum includes fermions.”

RWH, at 2:15 pm EDT on June 2, 2007

Make-up work

UNfortunately, in many courses the instructor has had to dumb-down the curriculum to let little Ashley or Tyrone II keep up, so there is generally 30% of the class who actually could make up a 16 week term in 5-6 weeks.

They miss the classroom discussion, but many of the shallow, top-of-the cranium contributions would do little more than give the top 30% of the class a chuckle.

If nothing else, by attending class regularly, the brilliant students could be reviewing and potentially recruiting the dullards who may someday be working for them?

Dr. F. Gump, at 4:00 pm EDT on June 3, 2007

In the excuses series:

“I’ll be absent next week because I am entering the Miss Pennsylvania contest.” [she did, but didn’t win]

My best ever (from evening student):

“I need a 24 hour extension. I work at such and such nuclear powerplant and we’ve just been placed on security lockdown for the next three shifts.” [I gave it to him; I live way too close to that plant]

g-man, at some doomed PA college, at 8:45 pm EDT on June 5, 2007