betty has left a new comment on your post "let sleeping dogs lie?":
I don't concern myself with the occasional nod off, but I did have a chronic sleeper one semester. He went into a damn-near coma every class. And he sat close to the front and snorted and jerked in his sleep, so the rest of the students were also aware of him. One day, about 1/3 of the way through the semester, I handed him a large coffee and then asked whether he took cream of sugar. He took both. I stirred it in for him. He drank it, thanked me afterward, and came with his own coffee thereafter.
Posted by betty to academicsecret at 12/21/2007 4:16 PM
Friday, December 21, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Where has all the time gone?.
Unbalanced Reaction has left a new comment on your post "Where has all the time gone?":
I'm a grad student at an R1 which also values teaching, but what many, many of the tenured (and untenured) profs do here is just dump more work on us TAs. Not a good solution! :(
...on the positive side, we grad students do get a ton of teaching experience as a result.
Posted by Unbalanced Reaction to academicsecret at 11/25/2007 8:30 PM
I'm a grad student at an R1 which also values teaching, but what many, many of the tenured (and untenured) profs do here is just dump more work on us TAs. Not a good solution! :(
...on the positive side, we grad students do get a ton of teaching experience as a result.
Posted by Unbalanced Reaction to academicsecret at 11/25/2007 8:30 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on let sleeping dogs lie?.
Unbalanced Reaction has left a new comment on your post "let sleeping dogs lie?":
While I'd like to say that my lectures are so riveting that this never happens....yeah, right!
Unless the student is snoring at a distracting volume (this actually has happened a few times, and I just have their neighbor tap them awake. Class giggles. We move on.), I wait until the end of class and speak to the offender privately. I often get very entertaining excuses, ranging from "sorry, I'm hungover" all the way up to "sorry, I was in lockup until 6 am."
Posted by Unbalanced Reaction to academicsecret at 11/25/2007 8:25 PM
While I'd like to say that my lectures are so riveting that this never happens....yeah, right!
Unless the student is snoring at a distracting volume (this actually has happened a few times, and I just have their neighbor tap them awake. Class giggles. We move on.), I wait until the end of class and speak to the offender privately. I often get very entertaining excuses, ranging from "sorry, I'm hungover" all the way up to "sorry, I was in lockup until 6 am."
Posted by Unbalanced Reaction to academicsecret at 11/25/2007 8:25 PM
Thursday, November 08, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Argh! (A Play in Infinite Acts).
Ms.PhD has left a new comment on your post "Argh! (A Play in Infinite Acts)":
A tale that belongs in Aesop's. Destined to be repeated for the ages.
I have already vowed to do as my advisor did to me, and tell my future students up front that it's part of their job to guess when they're supposed to ignore me.
Posted by Ms.PhD to academicsecret at 11/09/2007 6:06 AM
A tale that belongs in Aesop's. Destined to be repeated for the ages.
I have already vowed to do as my advisor did to me, and tell my future students up front that it's part of their job to guess when they're supposed to ignore me.
Posted by Ms.PhD to academicsecret at 11/09/2007 6:06 AM
Sunday, October 21, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on How much profanity is acceptable?.
TheHellYouSay! has left a new comment on your post "How much profanity is acceptable?":
Well, about all I can say about how much profanity is acceptable is "However much will float your boat!" So-termed 'rating professors' is pandering. I've lost two adjunct jobs because hallway gossip campaigns and RMP posts were BELIEVED by other students. When enrollment drops, you know who's shown the door.
This "rating" crap has zero to do with anyone's competence nor "classroom efficacy" whatsoever. I didn't make it thru Ivy League on looks; I KNOW my stuff, and expect respect. Period.
This "empowering the client"...er, student... is horseshit.
Posted by TheHellYouSay! to academicsecret at 10/21/2007 4:10 PM
Well, about all I can say about how much profanity is acceptable is "However much will float your boat!" So-termed 'rating professors' is pandering. I've lost two adjunct jobs because hallway gossip campaigns and RMP posts were BELIEVED by other students. When enrollment drops, you know who's shown the door.
This "rating" crap has zero to do with anyone's competence nor "classroom efficacy" whatsoever. I didn't make it thru Ivy League on looks; I KNOW my stuff, and expect respect. Period.
This "empowering the client"...er, student... is horseshit.
Posted by TheHellYouSay! to academicsecret at 10/21/2007 4:10 PM
Friday, October 12, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Why is daycare always the woman's responsibility?.
bigted has left a new comment on your post "Why is daycare always the woman's responsibility?":
We have a great Brand New ebook that explains the more caring role of the women in this role. It is how to start a child daycare it also has an affiliate program for publishers who wish to offer our ebook for profit to thier customers.
http://www.startingachilddaycare.com
Posted by bigted to academicsecret at 10/12/2007 7:26 PM
We have a great Brand New ebook that explains the more caring role of the women in this role. It is how to start a child daycare it also has an affiliate program for publishers who wish to offer our ebook for profit to thier customers.
http://www.startingachilddaycare.com
Posted by bigted to academicsecret at 10/12/2007 7:26 PM
Thursday, October 04, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Argh! (A Play in Infinite Acts).
Anastasia has left a new comment on your post "Argh! (A Play in Infinite Acts)":
oh my do I ever relate to this.
Posted by Anastasia to academicsecret at 10/04/2007 5:17 PM
oh my do I ever relate to this.
Posted by Anastasia to academicsecret at 10/04/2007 5:17 PM
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Strategic Incompetence.
redeye has left a new comment on your post "Strategic Incompetence":
The strategically incompetent exist on all planes. Notice a state highway crew. One is digging, two are leaning on their shovels, and three are gathered around the pickup talking about the highway job they did in '96. Getting out of work is not rocket science it is gall. It does tend to share characteristics regardless of the plane on which the game is played. First and foremost, is to make friends with the person in charge. Second, is to have a ready handicap i.e. bad back, klutz, inexperienced, fear, or just plain lazy. Third, is to have no shame. Without shame any of your two's can be used to your advantage and the other poor dope is left to cover for you. Four, be kind, courteous, and praising of other's capabilities. That way they will be happy to be duped again. Now that you know most of the skills involved (I wouldn't dare share the higher plane skills) enjoy your new found method of being the office a$$. Oh and believe it or not I read this article as part of a graduate class in education leadership. This is the "active disengaged employee" we are talking about here. Go WSC!!!
redeye
Posted by redeye to academicsecret at 10/02/2007 9:17 PM
The strategically incompetent exist on all planes. Notice a state highway crew. One is digging, two are leaning on their shovels, and three are gathered around the pickup talking about the highway job they did in '96. Getting out of work is not rocket science it is gall. It does tend to share characteristics regardless of the plane on which the game is played. First and foremost, is to make friends with the person in charge. Second, is to have a ready handicap i.e. bad back, klutz, inexperienced, fear, or just plain lazy. Third, is to have no shame. Without shame any of your two's can be used to your advantage and the other poor dope is left to cover for you. Four, be kind, courteous, and praising of other's capabilities. That way they will be happy to be duped again. Now that you know most of the skills involved (I wouldn't dare share the higher plane skills) enjoy your new found method of being the office a$$. Oh and believe it or not I read this article as part of a graduate class in education leadership. This is the "active disengaged employee" we are talking about here. Go WSC!!!
redeye
Posted by redeye to academicsecret at 10/02/2007 9:17 PM
Monday, October 01, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Where has all the time gone?.
Mary has left a new comment on your post "Where has all the time gone?":
Unfortunately (gah) research has to take priority for a while. Sigh.
Posted by Mary to academicsecret at 10/02/2007 1:39 AM
Unfortunately (gah) research has to take priority for a while. Sigh.
Posted by Mary to academicsecret at 10/02/2007 1:39 AM
Saturday, September 29, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Argh! (A Play in Infinite Acts).
Strawberries has left a new comment on your post "Argh! (A Play in Infinite Acts)":
oh dear, hang in there dandelion! sounds like you figured out what to do though!
Posted by Strawberries to academicsecret at 9/30/2007 2:44 AM
oh dear, hang in there dandelion! sounds like you figured out what to do though!
Posted by Strawberries to academicsecret at 9/30/2007 2:44 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Help! This blog is dying!.
Strawberries has left a new comment on your post "Help! This blog is dying!":
i lost my log-in too when the blogger changed to google too.... help!
Posted by Strawberries to academicsecret at 9/30/2007 2:40 AM
i lost my log-in too when the blogger changed to google too.... help!
Posted by Strawberries to academicsecret at 9/30/2007 2:40 AM
Friday, September 21, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Argh! (A Play in Infinite Acts).
Chartreuse Circe has left a new comment on your post "Argh! (A Play in Infinite Acts)":
Dandelion, I've got to say that you've got it figured out! Congratulations!
It took me years to figure out that balance (investigating the FNM and running the SOACM for production). Probably the worst part of learning that was the realization that my advisor wasn't thinking -- it was pretty much "oooo sparkly!" Sadly, advisors are often clueless (I got myself going "spaaarkly!" just yesterday!), and given their power that's an issue.
Posted by Chartreuse Circe to academicsecret at 9/22/2007 2:53 AM
Dandelion, I've got to say that you've got it figured out! Congratulations!
It took me years to figure out that balance (investigating the FNM and running the SOACM for production). Probably the worst part of learning that was the realization that my advisor wasn't thinking -- it was pretty much "oooo sparkly!" Sadly, advisors are often clueless (I got myself going "spaaarkly!" just yesterday!), and given their power that's an issue.
Posted by Chartreuse Circe to academicsecret at 9/22/2007 2:53 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Argh! (A Play in Infinite Acts).
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Argh! (A Play in Infinite Acts)":
P.S. Your post is hilarious.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 9/21/2007 4:36 PM
P.S. Your post is hilarious.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 9/21/2007 4:36 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Argh! (A Play in Infinite Acts).
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Argh! (A Play in Infinite Acts)":
Ughhh... I can completely relate to this. But it sounds like you've got a good plan of action for dealing with it (i.e. listening to what she's saying, but not getting *too* invested/caught up).
Sometimes I wonder what's happening in certain advisors' heads. Do they really not remember what they told you one month (sometimes one week) ago? I mean, I understand that we may not be their priority, but still...
Anyway, you're not alone! :)
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 9/21/2007 4:36 PM
Ughhh... I can completely relate to this. But it sounds like you've got a good plan of action for dealing with it (i.e. listening to what she's saying, but not getting *too* invested/caught up).
Sometimes I wonder what's happening in certain advisors' heads. Do they really not remember what they told you one month (sometimes one week) ago? I mean, I understand that we may not be their priority, but still...
Anyway, you're not alone! :)
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 9/21/2007 4:36 PM
Thursday, September 20, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Help! This blog is dying!.
Dandelion has left a new comment on your post "Help! This blog is dying!":
Thanks for the encouragement to keep the blog going. It's nice to have this outlet. :)
Posted by Dandelion to academicsecret at 9/21/2007 2:51 AM
Thanks for the encouragement to keep the blog going. It's nice to have this outlet. :)
Posted by Dandelion to academicsecret at 9/21/2007 2:51 AM
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on let sleeping dogs lie?.
fraud, in denim has left a new comment on your post "let sleeping dogs lie?":
Where did I say anything about how I handle it, Anon? I was asking for opinions. Clearly you - and others - have them. Thanks for sharing them everyone. I appreciate it.
Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 9/20/2007 1:10 AM
Where did I say anything about how I handle it, Anon? I was asking for opinions. Clearly you - and others - have them. Thanks for sharing them everyone. I appreciate it.
Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 9/20/2007 1:10 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on let sleeping dogs lie?.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "let sleeping dogs lie?":
Why do you care if they sleep? If they aren't snoring or drooling on someone, go on with the rest of the people that are there. Why draw attention to it? You think that somehow embarrassing them is going to meet some goal other than your own self satisfaction that you showed someone up? Perhaps YOU really are putting them to sleep; if talking louder or changing the prosody of your speech wakes them up, perhaps you are a monotone. People in this world are too damn sensitive to rudeness, get over it. Oh and no, I am not a student, I am a college professor and I see a student here or there pass out on occasion. Many of them work full-time jobs and are trying to get an education (no, they aren't entitled to special treatment, but I CAN ignore the occasional dozing off) to better their situation (i.e., getting off of the graveyard shifts that help them to fall asleep). So yes, let sleeping dogs lie and be a human about it; you don't know WHY they are falling asleep, so stop making the classic fundamental attribution error.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 9/20/2007 12:34 AM
Why do you care if they sleep? If they aren't snoring or drooling on someone, go on with the rest of the people that are there. Why draw attention to it? You think that somehow embarrassing them is going to meet some goal other than your own self satisfaction that you showed someone up? Perhaps YOU really are putting them to sleep; if talking louder or changing the prosody of your speech wakes them up, perhaps you are a monotone. People in this world are too damn sensitive to rudeness, get over it. Oh and no, I am not a student, I am a college professor and I see a student here or there pass out on occasion. Many of them work full-time jobs and are trying to get an education (no, they aren't entitled to special treatment, but I CAN ignore the occasional dozing off) to better their situation (i.e., getting off of the graveyard shifts that help them to fall asleep). So yes, let sleeping dogs lie and be a human about it; you don't know WHY they are falling asleep, so stop making the classic fundamental attribution error.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 9/20/2007 12:34 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on let sleeping dogs lie?.
Chartreuse Circe has left a new comment on your post "let sleeping dogs lie?":
I typically ignore it, because I've found that doing otherwise is more disruptive. Depending on the student/frequency/whatever, I may say something to the student later. I do, periodically, say things like "[X behavior] is a bad idea around somebody who is grading y'all" to the rest of the class, which also gets the point across.
Posted by Chartreuse Circe to academicsecret at 9/19/2007 4:00 PM
I typically ignore it, because I've found that doing otherwise is more disruptive. Depending on the student/frequency/whatever, I may say something to the student later. I do, periodically, say things like "[X behavior] is a bad idea around somebody who is grading y'all" to the rest of the class, which also gets the point across.
Posted by Chartreuse Circe to academicsecret at 9/19/2007 4:00 PM
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on let sleeping dogs lie?.
David Carlton has left a new comment on your post "let sleeping dogs lie?":
I don't recall its happening back when I taught; then again, there was so much group activity that it would have been hard for it to, most of the time.
Having said that, my first reactions would be to either ignore the student (if they weren't bothering anybody); to wake them up and not say anything other than, say, "you fell asleep"; or (if it really bothered me) to wake them up and say "please don't sleep in my class: it really annoys me when students do that."
What are your goals in that situation? That might suggest some courses of action.
Posted by David Carlton to academicsecret at 9/19/2007 5:26 AM
I don't recall its happening back when I taught; then again, there was so much group activity that it would have been hard for it to, most of the time.
Having said that, my first reactions would be to either ignore the student (if they weren't bothering anybody); to wake them up and not say anything other than, say, "you fell asleep"; or (if it really bothered me) to wake them up and say "please don't sleep in my class: it really annoys me when students do that."
What are your goals in that situation? That might suggest some courses of action.
Posted by David Carlton to academicsecret at 9/19/2007 5:26 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on let sleeping dogs lie?.
Nels has left a new comment on your post "let sleeping dogs lie?":
I ball up a piece of paper and throw it at them. When they wake, I say, "You don't have to be here." And I move on.
Posted by Nels to academicsecret at 9/19/2007 2:47 AM
I ball up a piece of paper and throw it at them. When they wake, I say, "You don't have to be here." And I move on.
Posted by Nels to academicsecret at 9/19/2007 2:47 AM
[academicsecret]
Apricot has left a new comment on your post "let sleeping dogs lie?":
The first time it happens, I'm sort of a bitch about it - I get over to their row and continue lecturing - but I talk louder and louder, until they wake up. If it takes yelling, so be it. By this time, someone next to them usually nudges them. When they wake up, I announce to the class, "...and so that's just about everything you'll need to know for the exam."
Any times after that and I just announce, "this is college, there is no naptime. If you can't stay awake, go home." I have no idea if either of these tactics work, though. I mean, people still fall asleep sometimes.
Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 9/18/2007 6:35 PM
The first time it happens, I'm sort of a bitch about it - I get over to their row and continue lecturing - but I talk louder and louder, until they wake up. If it takes yelling, so be it. By this time, someone next to them usually nudges them. When they wake up, I announce to the class, "...and so that's just about everything you'll need to know for the exam."
Any times after that and I just announce, "this is college, there is no naptime. If you can't stay awake, go home." I have no idea if either of these tactics work, though. I mean, people still fall asleep sometimes.
Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 9/18/2007 6:35 PM
Saturday, September 15, 2007
[academicsecret]
Chartreuse Circe has left a new comment on your post "Help! This blog is dying!":
I'm here, too -- sort of.
Posted by Chartreuse Circe to academicsecret at 9/15/2007 9:25 PM
I'm here, too -- sort of.
Posted by Chartreuse Circe to academicsecret at 9/15/2007 9:25 PM
[academicsecret]
Apricot has left a new comment on your post "Help! This blog is dying!":
I'm still here too, but I forgot my log-in, so I can't post anymore! (sigh...)
Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 9/15/2007 8:09 PM
I'm still here too, but I forgot my log-in, so I can't post anymore! (sigh...)
Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 9/15/2007 8:09 PM
Friday, September 14, 2007
[academicsecret]
Poppy Red has left a new comment on your post "Help! This blog is dying!":
I'm here too!
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 9/14/2007 7:24 PM
I'm here too!
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 9/14/2007 7:24 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Help! This blog is dying!.
fraud, in denim has left a new comment on your post "Help! This blog is dying!":
I'm still here (clearly, since most of the recent posts are mine).
I'm all for a revival!
Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 9/14/2007 12:08 PM
I'm still here (clearly, since most of the recent posts are mine).
I'm all for a revival!
Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 9/14/2007 12:08 PM
Thursday, September 13, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Help! This blog is dying!.
bobvis has left a new comment on your post "Help! This blog is dying!":
I'm in the same boat as christine. I've forgotten how I got here, but I liked what I read enough to add your blog to my feeder. I'm sad to hear your blog may be dying. I hope I didn't kill it!
Posted by bobvis to academicsecret at 9/14/2007 3:45 AM
I'm in the same boat as christine. I've forgotten how I got here, but I liked what I read enough to add your blog to my feeder. I'm sad to hear your blog may be dying. I hope I didn't kill it!
Posted by bobvis to academicsecret at 9/14/2007 3:45 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Help! This blog is dying!.
Christine has left a new comment on your post "Help! This blog is dying!":
I just found your blog, so keep on writing and I will keep on reading.
Posted by Christine to academicsecret at 9/14/2007 2:37 AM
I just found your blog, so keep on writing and I will keep on reading.
Posted by Christine to academicsecret at 9/14/2007 2:37 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Help! This blog is dying!.
wisteria has left a new comment on your post "Help! This blog is dying!":
I should add that I had a bit of trouble accessing the blog after all this time - must have something to do with a change at the google blogger. So don't give up, my fellow crayons! You all have mastered far greater challenges!
Posted by wisteria to academicsecret at 9/13/2007 8:09 PM
I should add that I had a bit of trouble accessing the blog after all this time - must have something to do with a change at the google blogger. So don't give up, my fellow crayons! You all have mastered far greater challenges!
Posted by wisteria to academicsecret at 9/13/2007 8:09 PM
Sunday, September 09, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Where has all the time gone?.
Poppy Red has left a new comment on your post "Where has all the time gone?":
Yes, I don't have an answer to how to balance either, but I completely relate. I am very excited about teaching this semester -- I always am, but this semester I'm teaching a new class in my actual field -- but I also need to find time to do my research. Plus I've been so excited about teaching this new class that somehow I managed to forget I am also teaching another class! How did I forget? I have no idea how I'm going to balance this semester... aah!
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 9/09/2007 6:06 PM
Yes, I don't have an answer to how to balance either, but I completely relate. I am very excited about teaching this semester -- I always am, but this semester I'm teaching a new class in my actual field -- but I also need to find time to do my research. Plus I've been so excited about teaching this new class that somehow I managed to forget I am also teaching another class! How did I forget? I have no idea how I'm going to balance this semester... aah!
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 9/09/2007 6:06 PM
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Where has all the time gone?.
fraud has left a new comment on your post "Where has all the time gone?":
It helps to know I'm not alone, Apricot. I'll let you know if I figure out a trick. :)
Posted by fraud to academicsecret at 9/05/2007 12:27 AM
It helps to know I'm not alone, Apricot. I'll let you know if I figure out a trick. :)
Posted by fraud to academicsecret at 9/05/2007 12:27 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Where has all the time gone?.
Apricot has left a new comment on your post "Where has all the time gone?":
I'm having a hard time with it, too (also at R1 where teaching is "valued"). As far as I can tell, some basically neglect teaching - the ones who care about teaching (like I do) struggle. And struggle. And struggle. I'm not being any help here at all, but at least we're not alone, right?
Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 9/05/2007 12:23 AM
I'm having a hard time with it, too (also at R1 where teaching is "valued"). As far as I can tell, some basically neglect teaching - the ones who care about teaching (like I do) struggle. And struggle. And struggle. I'm not being any help here at all, but at least we're not alone, right?
Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 9/05/2007 12:23 AM
Friday, August 24, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
Peter has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
I believe it is nothing in how many hours one work's, rather it is all about how productive they are. I know handful of people who are mostly physically present in the work place, bu their mind would probably in some where else...
draw ticket printer
Posted by Peter to academicsecret at 8/24/2007 4:36 PM
I believe it is nothing in how many hours one work's, rather it is all about how productive they are. I know handful of people who are mostly physically present in the work place, bu their mind would probably in some where else...
draw ticket printer
Posted by Peter to academicsecret at 8/24/2007 4:36 PM
Saturday, August 11, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
Rate Your Students has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
we have a silly question? we recently enabled comments on our own blog (rateyourstudents.blogspot.com), but the "comments" field doesn't show up on the main blog page. If you click the particular entry, then you see them, but we'd like them like yours, where the main page shows comments option. care to help a group of technophobe academics?
Posted by Rate Your Students to academicsecret at 8/11/2007 4:27 PM
we have a silly question? we recently enabled comments on our own blog (rateyourstudents.blogspot.com), but the "comments" field doesn't show up on the main blog page. If you click the particular entry, then you see them, but we'd like them like yours, where the main page shows comments option. care to help a group of technophobe academics?
Posted by Rate Your Students to academicsecret at 8/11/2007 4:27 PM
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
promoteyourblogforfree has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
oxygen is to survive like how love is to hurt and bleed da heart
Posted by promoteyourblogforfree to academicsecret at 8/07/2007 2:17 PM
oxygen is to survive like how love is to hurt and bleed da heart
Posted by promoteyourblogforfree to academicsecret at 8/07/2007 2:17 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?.
promoteyourblogforfree has left a new comment on your post "Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?":
nice blog
Posted by promoteyourblogforfree to academicsecret at 8/07/2007 2:16 PM
nice blog
Posted by promoteyourblogforfree to academicsecret at 8/07/2007 2:16 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
promoteyourblogforfree has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
nice blog
Posted by promoteyourblogforfree to academicsecret at 8/07/2007 2:15 PM
nice blog
Posted by promoteyourblogforfree to academicsecret at 8/07/2007 2:15 PM
Thursday, August 02, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
I have to say I think its a little absurd to work an 80 hours week or a 60 hour week or anything beyond that. I can't even imagine what I would do for that many hours (though grading does take a very long time). This is academia, and if we're supposed to be working 80 hour weeks, perhaps we take ourselves too seriously. I don't say this to demean what we do, but rather to say that quality of life is way more important to me than being seen working or having some "when I was your age I worked 'til I passed out" war story. I work very hard. My 40-50 hours of work are productive because I'm good at getting lots done in a given time frame. Tenure matters to me, as does publishing, because I'm exhaustively reminded that they are supposed to matter to me. They also matter because I am ambitious, though perhaps a bit lazy.
I may be the only one, but I went into academia so I could work less than I did in corporate America, where I did the 80 hour work week and spend more time on my writing career. I went into academia so I could travel during the summer. So far, I've been able to do those things and I am thrilled about it. I am simply not going to martyr myself for tenure. I don't think its a good idea for anyone.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 8/03/2007 4:33 AM
I have to say I think its a little absurd to work an 80 hours week or a 60 hour week or anything beyond that. I can't even imagine what I would do for that many hours (though grading does take a very long time). This is academia, and if we're supposed to be working 80 hour weeks, perhaps we take ourselves too seriously. I don't say this to demean what we do, but rather to say that quality of life is way more important to me than being seen working or having some "when I was your age I worked 'til I passed out" war story. I work very hard. My 40-50 hours of work are productive because I'm good at getting lots done in a given time frame. Tenure matters to me, as does publishing, because I'm exhaustively reminded that they are supposed to matter to me. They also matter because I am ambitious, though perhaps a bit lazy.
I may be the only one, but I went into academia so I could work less than I did in corporate America, where I did the 80 hour work week and spend more time on my writing career. I went into academia so I could travel during the summer. So far, I've been able to do those things and I am thrilled about it. I am simply not going to martyr myself for tenure. I don't think its a good idea for anyone.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 8/03/2007 4:33 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
All Blog Spots has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
nice blog
Posted by All Blog Spots to academicsecret at 8/03/2007 12:56 AM
nice blog
Posted by All Blog Spots to academicsecret at 8/03/2007 12:56 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
Ms.PhD has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
Yeah, I think you're missing the point. There are places where people work on campus around the clock, because they want to. Then there's a culture that feeds on itself, it becomes more enjoyable to be on campus working with other people who also care a lot about what they're doing and enjoy it.
And there are places where people work when they feel like it, and sometimes work at home because it's not fun to work on campus when you're alone working.
I'm not sure this is a big pool/little pool thing, but I haven't been enough places to really know. I've been at both kinds of places, though, and while I think the 80 hour work week is highly overrated, I think what you mean is that you are wanting to be in a culture where people are there a lot, sharing ideas, discussing excitedly. I too wish that there were more places like this.
I guess my attitude is very "out there", but honestly I think the problem is that there are a lot of people who choose the academic lifestyle because it's flexible and interesting, not because they really want to get a lot done and be immersed in it all the time.
I sometimes wonder if I would feel less burned out if I were somewhere that had a better atmosphere, where people shared ideas and built better mousetraps, instead of all racing along on their little hamster wheels in separate cages, trying to see who's going to win the race to nowhere.
Posted by Ms.PhD to academicsecret at 8/02/2007 10:21 PM
Yeah, I think you're missing the point. There are places where people work on campus around the clock, because they want to. Then there's a culture that feeds on itself, it becomes more enjoyable to be on campus working with other people who also care a lot about what they're doing and enjoy it.
And there are places where people work when they feel like it, and sometimes work at home because it's not fun to work on campus when you're alone working.
I'm not sure this is a big pool/little pool thing, but I haven't been enough places to really know. I've been at both kinds of places, though, and while I think the 80 hour work week is highly overrated, I think what you mean is that you are wanting to be in a culture where people are there a lot, sharing ideas, discussing excitedly. I too wish that there were more places like this.
I guess my attitude is very "out there", but honestly I think the problem is that there are a lot of people who choose the academic lifestyle because it's flexible and interesting, not because they really want to get a lot done and be immersed in it all the time.
I sometimes wonder if I would feel less burned out if I were somewhere that had a better atmosphere, where people shared ideas and built better mousetraps, instead of all racing along on their little hamster wheels in separate cages, trying to see who's going to win the race to nowhere.
Posted by Ms.PhD to academicsecret at 8/02/2007 10:21 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
For anyone who's interested in more discourse about this, and isn't a regular ready of RYS, the issue's been taken up in the last few post at Rate Your Students.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 8/02/2007 4:49 PM
For anyone who's interested in more discourse about this, and isn't a regular ready of RYS, the issue's been taken up in the last few post at Rate Your Students.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 8/02/2007 4:49 PM
Monday, July 30, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
see that scares me. i work in the way fraud describes, every day. (no way its 80 hrs though!) but i want the life of a 40 hr workweek...
--strawberries
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 7/31/2007 2:01 AM
see that scares me. i work in the way fraud describes, every day. (no way its 80 hrs though!) but i want the life of a 40 hr workweek...
--strawberries
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 7/31/2007 2:01 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
fraud, in denim has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
There's nothing wrong with taking time off, or with people who choose to not work 80 hours a week (Lord know that I don't work 80 hours a week!), I just don't see where all the people who I hear going on and on about how much they have to work are.
Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 7/30/2007 8:29 PM
There's nothing wrong with taking time off, or with people who choose to not work 80 hours a week (Lord know that I don't work 80 hours a week!), I just don't see where all the people who I hear going on and on about how much they have to work are.
Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 7/30/2007 8:29 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
Poppy Red has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
I'm probably going to rock the boat a little here... eek! Ok, I'm a grad student and I work a LOT; I've never thought about how many hours a week, but I don't have much in the way of hobbies or pleasure reading. And I really, really hate it when people don't follow through on what they're supposed to do. However, I guess I don't see why we should be wishing that people would work 80 hours a week. If it's just about pointing out the hypocrisy of people saying they work that much and not actually doing it, then fine, I'm on board. But why should we disparage people for enjoying their lives with scrapbooking or whatnot, if they can find the time? I think people should work hard, definitely, but do we have to want everyone to be in the office 80 hours a week? What's the point, if you'd rather go swimming with your family?
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 7/30/2007 5:33 PM
I'm probably going to rock the boat a little here... eek! Ok, I'm a grad student and I work a LOT; I've never thought about how many hours a week, but I don't have much in the way of hobbies or pleasure reading. And I really, really hate it when people don't follow through on what they're supposed to do. However, I guess I don't see why we should be wishing that people would work 80 hours a week. If it's just about pointing out the hypocrisy of people saying they work that much and not actually doing it, then fine, I'm on board. But why should we disparage people for enjoying their lives with scrapbooking or whatnot, if they can find the time? I think people should work hard, definitely, but do we have to want everyone to be in the office 80 hours a week? What's the point, if you'd rather go swimming with your family?
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 7/30/2007 5:33 PM
Friday, July 27, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
wow. what a great advertisement for taking a position at less demanding institution.
People in my department-- particularly the assistants-- are ALWAYS working. If it's not "publish or perish" it's academic service or community engagement. We DREAM about having the time to be engaged TEACHERS (ostensibly the job we were hired to do).
I can't imagine having the time to scrapbook or take a guilt-free day trip anywhere... even during the summer months. I don't think that I am in the minority in my department. We, the workhorses, number far more than a "handful."
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 7/27/2007 8:15 PM
wow. what a great advertisement for taking a position at less demanding institution.
People in my department-- particularly the assistants-- are ALWAYS working. If it's not "publish or perish" it's academic service or community engagement. We DREAM about having the time to be engaged TEACHERS (ostensibly the job we were hired to do).
I can't imagine having the time to scrapbook or take a guilt-free day trip anywhere... even during the summer months. I don't think that I am in the minority in my department. We, the workhorses, number far more than a "handful."
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 7/27/2007 8:15 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
fraud has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
Oh, I know. I was agreeing with you. :) I guess I just got too wound up to make that clear.
Posted by fraud to academicsecret at 7/27/2007 3:59 PM
Oh, I know. I was agreeing with you. :) I guess I just got too wound up to make that clear.
Posted by fraud to academicsecret at 7/27/2007 3:59 PM
Thursday, July 26, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
Apricot has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
Fraud, I think we're agreeing. I basically said the same thing you did. There's a handful of people who work their butts off, but most people don't.
Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 7/27/2007 5:00 AM
Fraud, I think we're agreeing. I basically said the same thing you did. There's a handful of people who work their butts off, but most people don't.
Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 7/27/2007 5:00 AM
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
fraud, in denim has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
I think it's all a farce, Apricot. The average academic does not work these 80 hour weeks that they brag about. I thought that about Iowa, too. I drove through it years ago and saw not one stalk of corn. Of course it wasn't the right season, but I labeled it a farce and have never let that go.
My view, Anon (and I have to give my partner credit for this because it probably wouldn't be my view if we weren't wedded to one another, but I've adopted it as my own), is that wherever you end up, you work your behind off so that you could get tenure at any of the places that actually give tenure to assistants.
I'm not at a highly ranked school, but I'm not really relaxing or taking it easy. I'm working like I would have had I gotten a job at a top-ten department. That way I'm almost assured tenure here, but I'm also allowing myself to get recruited to one of those top schools later in my career.
That said, I probably sleep better than I would have had I gotten a job at a top school. :)
Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 7/24/2007 9:01 PM
I think it's all a farce, Apricot. The average academic does not work these 80 hour weeks that they brag about. I thought that about Iowa, too. I drove through it years ago and saw not one stalk of corn. Of course it wasn't the right season, but I labeled it a farce and have never let that go.
My view, Anon (and I have to give my partner credit for this because it probably wouldn't be my view if we weren't wedded to one another, but I've adopted it as my own), is that wherever you end up, you work your behind off so that you could get tenure at any of the places that actually give tenure to assistants.
I'm not at a highly ranked school, but I'm not really relaxing or taking it easy. I'm working like I would have had I gotten a job at a top-ten department. That way I'm almost assured tenure here, but I'm also allowing myself to get recruited to one of those top schools later in my career.
That said, I probably sleep better than I would have had I gotten a job at a top school. :)
Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 7/24/2007 9:01 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
I have been thinking about this alot lately as i begin my faculty search. Is it better to be a small fish in a big pond where you are scared of being looked down upon if you don't get that first R01, or better to be a medium to bigger fish in a small pond where expectations might not be as great and you can relax a little bit during your first few years as a PI? I guess just getting an offer somewhere would be nice but I am not sure which place I would rather that offer come from.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 7/24/2007 3:13 PM
I have been thinking about this alot lately as i begin my faculty search. Is it better to be a small fish in a big pond where you are scared of being looked down upon if you don't get that first R01, or better to be a medium to bigger fish in a small pond where expectations might not be as great and you can relax a little bit during your first few years as a PI? I guess just getting an offer somewhere would be nice but I am not sure which place I would rather that offer come from.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 7/24/2007 3:13 PM
Monday, July 23, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on twenty-four/seven academics.
Apricot has left a new comment on your post "twenty-four/seven academics":
For what it's worth, I'm a grad student in a department rated #1 in the country, and only a handful of people here work 80 hour-week, either. But those people? Holy crap, do they work.
Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 7/23/2007 8:07 PM
For what it's worth, I'm a grad student in a department rated #1 in the country, and only a handful of people here work 80 hour-week, either. But those people? Holy crap, do they work.
Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 7/23/2007 8:07 PM
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?.
All Blog Spots has left a new comment on your post "Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?":
nice blog
Posted by All Blog Spots to academicsecret at 7/04/2007 10:24 PM
nice blog
Posted by All Blog Spots to academicsecret at 7/04/2007 10:24 PM
Monday, July 02, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?.
Julep has left a new comment on your post "Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?":
I dunno about those fools but it feels half full to me because I've accomplished about half of what I had wanted to accomplish by this point in the summer. ARGH!
Posted by Julep to academicsecret at 7/02/2007 2:03 PM
I dunno about those fools but it feels half full to me because I've accomplished about half of what I had wanted to accomplish by this point in the summer. ARGH!
Posted by Julep to academicsecret at 7/02/2007 2:03 PM
Sunday, June 24, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Turquoise Stuff has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
Salmon, first, I'm sorry to hear about all these difficulties. I agree that it is _very_ hard to juggle one's feminist ideals and realistic expectations on one's everydays.
I agree that you should get your Master's even if you won't get a PhD, because you truly have put a ton of work into it and yes, it would be great to have something to show for it on paper.
I also agree that switching to the new person as an advisor may be tricky. And as someone else already commented, you may be putting her in a very difficult situation with respect to your advisor who is presumably a senior person and will be voting on her tenure case.
That said, there's no reason you can't approach her for advice.
Regarding raising your child with a god especially if you're not a believer yourself, I hope you don't! That definitely does seem hypocritical and as Flicka Mawa noted, it is absolutely not a necessity for raising a moral child.
In fact, I would go as far as to argue that it could have very negative repercussions. I mean, do you really want your child to live in fear or things she won't understand anyway? That seems like a cruel approach. I think you should have trust in you and your husband to know that you can pass on important lessons without that dishonest approach (I call it dishonest, because if you don't believe in a god then how can you preach its existence to your child?).
Finally, I hope you don't leave a.secret, that would be really sad!
Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 6/25/2007 3:35 AM
Salmon, first, I'm sorry to hear about all these difficulties. I agree that it is _very_ hard to juggle one's feminist ideals and realistic expectations on one's everydays.
I agree that you should get your Master's even if you won't get a PhD, because you truly have put a ton of work into it and yes, it would be great to have something to show for it on paper.
I also agree that switching to the new person as an advisor may be tricky. And as someone else already commented, you may be putting her in a very difficult situation with respect to your advisor who is presumably a senior person and will be voting on her tenure case.
That said, there's no reason you can't approach her for advice.
Regarding raising your child with a god especially if you're not a believer yourself, I hope you don't! That definitely does seem hypocritical and as Flicka Mawa noted, it is absolutely not a necessity for raising a moral child.
In fact, I would go as far as to argue that it could have very negative repercussions. I mean, do you really want your child to live in fear or things she won't understand anyway? That seems like a cruel approach. I think you should have trust in you and your husband to know that you can pass on important lessons without that dishonest approach (I call it dishonest, because if you don't believe in a god then how can you preach its existence to your child?).
Finally, I hope you don't leave a.secret, that would be really sad!
Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 6/25/2007 3:35 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?.
Turquoise Stuff has left a new comment on your post "Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?":
It's definitely not even half over! Even if you're at a school where teaching starts in early/mid-August, you still have almost two months over. But if you're in one that only starts well into September then almost three months to go! So yes, it is still full, even more than half in many cases!
Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 6/25/2007 3:09 AM
It's definitely not even half over! Even if you're at a school where teaching starts in early/mid-August, you still have almost two months over. But if you're in one that only starts well into September then almost three months to go! So yes, it is still full, even more than half in many cases!
Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 6/25/2007 3:09 AM
Friday, June 22, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Salmon Ella has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
To the anonymous poster above: thank you.
Since that last post, I've sworn off posting here, but yet I keep coming back to see the comments through until the end (I'm a glutton for punishment, I guess). I'm usually sorry immediately after I click on the 'whispers' button, but your 'whisper' was a pleasant surprise.
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 6/22/2007 8:07 PM
To the anonymous poster above: thank you.
Since that last post, I've sworn off posting here, but yet I keep coming back to see the comments through until the end (I'm a glutton for punishment, I guess). I'm usually sorry immediately after I click on the 'whispers' button, but your 'whisper' was a pleasant surprise.
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 6/22/2007 8:07 PM
Thursday, June 21, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
I cannot believe the negativity this post generated! Poor salmon ella! You're just trying to juggle being a mom and a scientist and making sure you have time to be fully present and do a good job in whatever role you're in. It is very hard and very complex, and you have every right to be frustrated with someone who wants to use her child (it sounds like) to make you bend to her schedule. You also are not a hypocrite for wanting to make sure that your advisor is actually around for you.
My advisor has not been there for me, and I've adjusted to that pretty well because I am comfortable working on my current project alone. But sometimes I do wish that I had someone who was more attentive. And there is nothing wrong with wanting that--after all, you are a STUDENT of this person.
Guidance is not hand-holding. I agree that there has to be a balance of independence and guidance, but as an instructor myself, if I were as lazy about my students as most of the faculty I know, I don't think I'd want to be in the academy at all. Sometimes I just don't think PhD students matter very much to full-time faculty, when we are the ones who are supporting their own research by the tuition we pay and the low-level classes we teach. I have resented paying tuition every semester since I started my dissertation, because, as far as I can see, I am teaching MYSELF how to do this. At least at the end, I will have the degree, which is worth something, but I think the mentoring system at most American Universities is woefully inadequate all around, and comments such as Ms. Phd's just make me want to spit nails!!!! Are you that far removed from your PhD experience that you cannot remember what it was like in this stage????
What academia needs is more people like ella here, people who are willing to question the establishment, the tradition, and themselves. Those are the people I respect in academia, the people who do work every bit as hard as the rest of the university (and often harder), but who are willing to stop and think critically about the process.
Besides, I thought this blog was devoted to deconstructing academia, not upholding the accepted status quo . . .
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 6/22/2007 3:35 AM
I cannot believe the negativity this post generated! Poor salmon ella! You're just trying to juggle being a mom and a scientist and making sure you have time to be fully present and do a good job in whatever role you're in. It is very hard and very complex, and you have every right to be frustrated with someone who wants to use her child (it sounds like) to make you bend to her schedule. You also are not a hypocrite for wanting to make sure that your advisor is actually around for you.
My advisor has not been there for me, and I've adjusted to that pretty well because I am comfortable working on my current project alone. But sometimes I do wish that I had someone who was more attentive. And there is nothing wrong with wanting that--after all, you are a STUDENT of this person.
Guidance is not hand-holding. I agree that there has to be a balance of independence and guidance, but as an instructor myself, if I were as lazy about my students as most of the faculty I know, I don't think I'd want to be in the academy at all. Sometimes I just don't think PhD students matter very much to full-time faculty, when we are the ones who are supporting their own research by the tuition we pay and the low-level classes we teach. I have resented paying tuition every semester since I started my dissertation, because, as far as I can see, I am teaching MYSELF how to do this. At least at the end, I will have the degree, which is worth something, but I think the mentoring system at most American Universities is woefully inadequate all around, and comments such as Ms. Phd's just make me want to spit nails!!!! Are you that far removed from your PhD experience that you cannot remember what it was like in this stage????
What academia needs is more people like ella here, people who are willing to question the establishment, the tradition, and themselves. Those are the people I respect in academia, the people who do work every bit as hard as the rest of the university (and often harder), but who are willing to stop and think critically about the process.
Besides, I thought this blog was devoted to deconstructing academia, not upholding the accepted status quo . . .
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 6/22/2007 3:35 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?":
I agree with what poppy said--I sure hope it's not over, because I have a lot of writing to do yet! I think those of us who teach summer classes are also feeling that claustrophobic sense of not having enough time to do research or other things, given the pace of the summer term. I keep wondering when I will actually have a summer . . .
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 6/22/2007 3:04 AM
I agree with what poppy said--I sure hope it's not over, because I have a lot of writing to do yet! I think those of us who teach summer classes are also feeling that claustrophobic sense of not having enough time to do research or other things, given the pace of the summer term. I keep wondering when I will actually have a summer . . .
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 6/22/2007 3:04 AM
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?.
Poppy Red has left a new comment on your post "Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?":
Oh my goodness, I hope the summer isn't almost over! I have a lot to do (for my degree) and also a lot more fun to have! I've been teaching summer classes, so in a sense my summer hasn't truly started yet either...
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 6/20/2007 9:07 PM
Oh my goodness, I hope the summer isn't almost over! I have a lot to do (for my degree) and also a lot more fun to have! I've been teaching summer classes, so in a sense my summer hasn't truly started yet either...
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 6/20/2007 9:07 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?.
JaneB has left a new comment on your post "Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?":
My final examiner's meeting is at the end of this week, so my summer doesn't really start until Monday - ooo boy, can't wait!
Posted by JaneB to academicsecret at 6/20/2007 2:32 PM
My final examiner's meeting is at the end of this week, so my summer doesn't really start until Monday - ooo boy, can't wait!
Posted by JaneB to academicsecret at 6/20/2007 2:32 PM
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?":
maybe some people feel like it's on its last legs b/c they got out in early may. i am used to a mid june ending and hence, am right there with you. there is much fun left!
--strawberries
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 6/19/2007 7:55 PM
maybe some people feel like it's on its last legs b/c they got out in early may. i am used to a mid june ending and hence, am right there with you. there is much fun left!
--strawberries
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 6/19/2007 7:55 PM
Saturday, June 16, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Grading Woes.
sakthi has left a new comment on your post "Grading Woes":
I don't feel grading letter doesn't make any changes in him/her fate or attitude,but on the contrary some people perhaps get discouraged when they got "D" and some may get motivated when they got "A"...
European Breakdown Cover
Posted by sakthi to academicsecret at 6/16/2007 3:01 PM
I don't feel grading letter doesn't make any changes in him/her fate or attitude,but on the contrary some people perhaps get discouraged when they got "D" and some may get motivated when they got "A"...
European Breakdown Cover
Posted by sakthi to academicsecret at 6/16/2007 3:01 PM
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Salmon Ella has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
...it sounds like you managed the career part just fine. ;-)
Well, not really--I did get lucky with some research I was doing this semester, though (unfortunately, not my resesarch with my advisor--go figure). But thanks. ;-)
Thanks also for the book reference. I certainly didn't mean to imply that one must be religious in order to be moral and ethical; in fact, that is about the opposite of what I believe. I just think that the concept of 'God' to a young child may have some value because the idea of a higher power explains concepts they might not otherwise be able to wrap their minds around (like the idea of there being a 'greater good'). Plus rules mandated by 'God' seems to carry more weight than rules mandated by Mom and Dad.
All that said, I think the chances of us raising our child religiously are realistically slim to none.
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 6/13/2007 10:59 PM
...it sounds like you managed the career part just fine. ;-)
Well, not really--I did get lucky with some research I was doing this semester, though (unfortunately, not my resesarch with my advisor--go figure). But thanks. ;-)
Thanks also for the book reference. I certainly didn't mean to imply that one must be religious in order to be moral and ethical; in fact, that is about the opposite of what I believe. I just think that the concept of 'God' to a young child may have some value because the idea of a higher power explains concepts they might not otherwise be able to wrap their minds around (like the idea of there being a 'greater good'). Plus rules mandated by 'God' seems to carry more weight than rules mandated by Mom and Dad.
All that said, I think the chances of us raising our child religiously are realistically slim to none.
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 6/13/2007 10:59 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Flicka Mawa has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
I am sorry to read that you don't believe in god yet you want your daughter to fear going to hell so she will behave well. You need to have more confidence in human nature. God and religion are not the only things that make humans act in a civil manner, which you should know first hand if you don't believe in god yourself. I do understand, however, that if you were raised with a strict religion, you may attribute some of your own beliefs to that. As one who has always been an atheist, I can confirm that you can raise your daughter to be extremely ethical and caring without needing religion. In fact, there's a new book out on just that, which I just started reading myself. It's called Parenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion. Please, please consider that you do not need to teach your daughter about god for her to be a moral and ethical child.
On another note, having just read your post from nearly a year ago where you said you were vying for laziest grad student on academic secret, and in this one you say you are seen as star student and poster child for having a family and doing research, it sounds like you managed the career part just fine. ;-)
Posted by Flicka Mawa to academicsecret at 6/13/2007 9:11 PM
I am sorry to read that you don't believe in god yet you want your daughter to fear going to hell so she will behave well. You need to have more confidence in human nature. God and religion are not the only things that make humans act in a civil manner, which you should know first hand if you don't believe in god yourself. I do understand, however, that if you were raised with a strict religion, you may attribute some of your own beliefs to that. As one who has always been an atheist, I can confirm that you can raise your daughter to be extremely ethical and caring without needing religion. In fact, there's a new book out on just that, which I just started reading myself. It's called Parenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion. Please, please consider that you do not need to teach your daughter about god for her to be a moral and ethical child.
On another note, having just read your post from nearly a year ago where you said you were vying for laziest grad student on academic secret, and in this one you say you are seen as star student and poster child for having a family and doing research, it sounds like you managed the career part just fine. ;-)
Posted by Flicka Mawa to academicsecret at 6/13/2007 9:11 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Graduate school is not for babies..
Flicka Mawa has left a new comment on your post "Graduate school is not for babies.":
Nice post. I hope to have a baby before I finish grad school as well, and I share many of your concerns. I just discovered academic secret; looks pretty neat! My post about babies and grad school is here: Grad school is not my everything.
Posted by Flicka Mawa to academicsecret at 6/13/2007 9:03 PM
Nice post. I hope to have a baby before I finish grad school as well, and I share many of your concerns. I just discovered academic secret; looks pretty neat! My post about babies and grad school is here: Grad school is not my everything.
Posted by Flicka Mawa to academicsecret at 6/13/2007 9:03 PM
Saturday, June 09, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Unbelievable.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Unbelievable":
I love overheard conversations. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 6/10/2007 4:48 AM
I love overheard conversations. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 6/10/2007 4:48 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
fraud, in denim has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
I guess for me graduate school was, in so many ways, easier than being a faculty member (at least a first-year faculty member).
That said, having my son before I started graduate school was the best thing that I ever did. He started first grade when I started my job last year and now that we're both "in school" our schedules and lives are much more similar than they were before. It's not any easier when he's sick and I'm still staying up to work at night to get it all in, not to mention going in one weekend day a week - so timewise it's all still a crunch, but schematically it's all much smoother now that he's older.
Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 6/09/2007 9:04 AM
I guess for me graduate school was, in so many ways, easier than being a faculty member (at least a first-year faculty member).
That said, having my son before I started graduate school was the best thing that I ever did. He started first grade when I started my job last year and now that we're both "in school" our schedules and lives are much more similar than they were before. It's not any easier when he's sick and I'm still staying up to work at night to get it all in, not to mention going in one weekend day a week - so timewise it's all still a crunch, but schematically it's all much smoother now that he's older.
Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 6/09/2007 9:04 AM
Thursday, June 07, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Fraud, Dr. Fraud..
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fraud, Dr. Fraud.":
dr farrell palos heights
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 6/07/2007 9:34 AM
dr farrell palos heights
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 6/07/2007 9:34 AM
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Salmon Ella has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
i think it's a complete error to assume that you can wait it out until they get older and it will all be easier.
I think my main point is that when kids are older, they are expected to go to school, and the time that you will have when they are in school is a given. People do not frown upon kids going to school 20-30 hours a week, but the same cannot be said about daycare.
Kids of all ages require lots of time and energy, obviously.
I'm not 'waiting it out'--I'm grinding through it. However, I do fully expect things to get easier when I'm finished with my course work (which will free up many hours a week), finished taking qualifying exams, finished with my thesis, etc., etc. Yes, I know, those things can be replaced with writing grants and teaching and serving on committees and whatnot, but honestly, I have never had anyone tell me 'Oh grad school was the easiest time of my life and things just got harder from there!'
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 6/06/2007 4:59 AM
i think it's a complete error to assume that you can wait it out until they get older and it will all be easier.
I think my main point is that when kids are older, they are expected to go to school, and the time that you will have when they are in school is a given. People do not frown upon kids going to school 20-30 hours a week, but the same cannot be said about daycare.
Kids of all ages require lots of time and energy, obviously.
I'm not 'waiting it out'--I'm grinding through it. However, I do fully expect things to get easier when I'm finished with my course work (which will free up many hours a week), finished taking qualifying exams, finished with my thesis, etc., etc. Yes, I know, those things can be replaced with writing grants and teaching and serving on committees and whatnot, but honestly, I have never had anyone tell me 'Oh grad school was the easiest time of my life and things just got harder from there!'
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 6/06/2007 4:59 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Anastasia has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
in many ways, children demand more attention as they get older. not less. it's a different kind of attention and it requires a different kind of energy but i think it's a complete error to assume that you can wait it out until they get older and it will all be easier.
just thought I'd say. especially since I have a newborn and a three year old and I can't work because of the three year old. not the newborn. What the hell, she sleeps 20 hours a day.
anyway. it did occur to me that you might should evaluate what you really need and think through how else you might motivate yourself but someone already said and you already replied. So whatever.
last thing, i agree with you about the value of strict guidelines in religion, even if you don't follow them. at least, what you said really did make sense to me.
Posted by Anastasia to academicsecret at 6/05/2007 10:20 PM
in many ways, children demand more attention as they get older. not less. it's a different kind of attention and it requires a different kind of energy but i think it's a complete error to assume that you can wait it out until they get older and it will all be easier.
just thought I'd say. especially since I have a newborn and a three year old and I can't work because of the three year old. not the newborn. What the hell, she sleeps 20 hours a day.
anyway. it did occur to me that you might should evaluate what you really need and think through how else you might motivate yourself but someone already said and you already replied. So whatever.
last thing, i agree with you about the value of strict guidelines in religion, even if you don't follow them. at least, what you said really did make sense to me.
Posted by Anastasia to academicsecret at 6/05/2007 10:20 PM
Sunday, June 03, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Salmon Ella has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
I wanted to make sure to take the time to respond to the other comments left here.
Thanks Strawberries and Poppy. Poppy--I do agree that things might be different with the nicer advisor if I were officially her advisee. She may not be around much because she doesn't have any advisees yet and therefore maybe has no reason to be around a lot. I just don't know if I'd have the heart to start over. The project is completely different from what I currently do, and I am a slow learner to begin with. I'm also not really sure the nice advisor wants me, because of how it might affect her relationship with my current advisor. I can't really tell.
I agree that in a way I don't respond well to negativity, but in a way I kind of do, so it's tricky. However, we've talked through some of our issues, and he has actually responded pretty well, so I am going to grin and bear it this summer and then go from there. (My friends say I have battered woman's syndrome.)
To the first two anonymous posters, re. religion: I do intend to teach my child to think critically about religion. It's just that sometimes I think religion works best when it lays out a rigid set of rules, and while you don't totally obey them, they still set some basic moral guidelines for you. I don't know if 'anything goes' religions like Unitarianism do that. Sorry if that doesn't make sense--maybe I can try to explain it better.
And finally, for the record, I have rejected many male advisors for the same reason that I rejected the nice advisor: not being accessible enough. However, since the topic of my post was hypocrisy, I didn't find it pertinent to mention this. The reason the male advisors I rejected aren't around that much isn't because they have young children, but if it were, I would not want them, either. Likewise, if the nice advisor weren't around much just because she didn't feel like it (like some of her male counterparts), I also wouldn't want her. I seem to need an advisor who is around a lot, and this applies to both males and females. If I'm too needy, then so be it, but my advisor has never told me this, and he doesn't seem to have any problem pointing out my deficiencies to me, so I'm sure that he would have told me that by now if it were true. So while I agree there are some gender issues here (mainly because the main burden of child rearing usually falls on the woman), I don't think it's fair to say I hold men and women to different standards. If we were talking about a nice advisor who was a single dad and a mean advisor who was a bachelorette workaholic, I'd be having the same dilemma.
That is all.
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 6/04/2007 6:52 AM
I wanted to make sure to take the time to respond to the other comments left here.
Thanks Strawberries and Poppy. Poppy--I do agree that things might be different with the nicer advisor if I were officially her advisee. She may not be around much because she doesn't have any advisees yet and therefore maybe has no reason to be around a lot. I just don't know if I'd have the heart to start over. The project is completely different from what I currently do, and I am a slow learner to begin with. I'm also not really sure the nice advisor wants me, because of how it might affect her relationship with my current advisor. I can't really tell.
I agree that in a way I don't respond well to negativity, but in a way I kind of do, so it's tricky. However, we've talked through some of our issues, and he has actually responded pretty well, so I am going to grin and bear it this summer and then go from there. (My friends say I have battered woman's syndrome.)
To the first two anonymous posters, re. religion: I do intend to teach my child to think critically about religion. It's just that sometimes I think religion works best when it lays out a rigid set of rules, and while you don't totally obey them, they still set some basic moral guidelines for you. I don't know if 'anything goes' religions like Unitarianism do that. Sorry if that doesn't make sense--maybe I can try to explain it better.
And finally, for the record, I have rejected many male advisors for the same reason that I rejected the nice advisor: not being accessible enough. However, since the topic of my post was hypocrisy, I didn't find it pertinent to mention this. The reason the male advisors I rejected aren't around that much isn't because they have young children, but if it were, I would not want them, either. Likewise, if the nice advisor weren't around much just because she didn't feel like it (like some of her male counterparts), I also wouldn't want her. I seem to need an advisor who is around a lot, and this applies to both males and females. If I'm too needy, then so be it, but my advisor has never told me this, and he doesn't seem to have any problem pointing out my deficiencies to me, so I'm sure that he would have told me that by now if it were true. So while I agree there are some gender issues here (mainly because the main burden of child rearing usually falls on the woman), I don't think it's fair to say I hold men and women to different standards. If we were talking about a nice advisor who was a single dad and a mean advisor who was a bachelorette workaholic, I'd be having the same dilemma.
That is all.
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 6/04/2007 6:52 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Salmon Ella has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
P.S. Also, I think you misunderstood. When I said 'I'm also a mom' I meant that like her, I'm a mom, too. She doesn't have time to be in the lab because she can't leave her kid, but I'm supposed to make sure I'm there whenever she can be?
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 6/04/2007 6:07 AM
P.S. Also, I think you misunderstood. When I said 'I'm also a mom' I meant that like her, I'm a mom, too. She doesn't have time to be in the lab because she can't leave her kid, but I'm supposed to make sure I'm there whenever she can be?
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 6/04/2007 6:07 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Salmon Ella has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
Do you think you'll never have time to be a mentor? Or do you assume that your kid(s) will be older by the time you're a PI, and then it will all be manageable?
If you can't put in the time to figure it out the hard way, you're not going to make it in science.
I have bent over backwards to try to make my schedule correspond with the new grad student's schedule so that I can be in the lab at the same time as she is, which is hard when she's only willing to put in three or four hours a week and is not flexible at all. Why is it my problem and not hers? I consider it my problem if I can't be in the lab at the same time as my advisor because he is the one doing the favor. In this situation, I'm the one doing the favor.
I don't expect to 'make it' in science to any degree that people here would find acceptable, but thanks for pointing that out to me anyway. I don't expect to ever be a PI because that isn't what I want to do. But for the record, yes, I do think that it gets easier when your kids get older; in fact, it is already easier for me now than it was a year ago. Eventually they start going to school and by the time you're a PI you actually get paid for your time, so you can afford childcare.
So here's my final secret, because I really think I need to stop posting here. I don't even want to get a Ph.D. anymore, but I do want to finish my Master's because I have put way too much work into going back to school to not have something to show for it. Plus I really enjoy teaching, which I can do with a Master's. I don't have any delusions of getting a Ph.D. or a tenure-track position or becoming a PI or whatever, but I don't think that makes my grad school experience any less legitimate. However, people here seem to have one-track minds, and I'm starting to feel a little out of place.
Goodbye.
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 6/04/2007 5:31 AM
Do you think you'll never have time to be a mentor? Or do you assume that your kid(s) will be older by the time you're a PI, and then it will all be manageable?
If you can't put in the time to figure it out the hard way, you're not going to make it in science.
I have bent over backwards to try to make my schedule correspond with the new grad student's schedule so that I can be in the lab at the same time as she is, which is hard when she's only willing to put in three or four hours a week and is not flexible at all. Why is it my problem and not hers? I consider it my problem if I can't be in the lab at the same time as my advisor because he is the one doing the favor. In this situation, I'm the one doing the favor.
I don't expect to 'make it' in science to any degree that people here would find acceptable, but thanks for pointing that out to me anyway. I don't expect to ever be a PI because that isn't what I want to do. But for the record, yes, I do think that it gets easier when your kids get older; in fact, it is already easier for me now than it was a year ago. Eventually they start going to school and by the time you're a PI you actually get paid for your time, so you can afford childcare.
So here's my final secret, because I really think I need to stop posting here. I don't even want to get a Ph.D. anymore, but I do want to finish my Master's because I have put way too much work into going back to school to not have something to show for it. Plus I really enjoy teaching, which I can do with a Master's. I don't have any delusions of getting a Ph.D. or a tenure-track position or becoming a PI or whatever, but I don't think that makes my grad school experience any less legitimate. However, people here seem to have one-track minds, and I'm starting to feel a little out of place.
Goodbye.
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 6/04/2007 5:31 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Ms.PhD has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
I don't get it. The line about how you can't be a mentor, because you're a mother? I get that you don't have time right now. I don't get why it's okay for you to be in grad school if that's really what you think. Do you think you'll never have time to be a mentor? Or do you assume that your kid(s) will be older by the time you're a PI, and then it will all be manageable?
Obviously you've thought about this some, since you're aware of the hypocrisy of the problem that this busy female PI with a family is probably exactly the right advisor for you.
But try thinking of it this way: you're committing the most egregious crime against any woman scientist anywhere: holding her to unrealistic standards you don't apply to any males.
Now, go get a clue, and stop expecting any PI to hand-hold you through protocols. That's not her job, and you should know that by now unless you just started grad school yesterday. If you can't put in the time to figure it out the hard way, you're not going to make it in science. If you can't get independent right quick, you never will, no matter who your advisor is.
Posted by Ms.PhD to academicsecret at 6/04/2007 3:28 AM
I don't get it. The line about how you can't be a mentor, because you're a mother? I get that you don't have time right now. I don't get why it's okay for you to be in grad school if that's really what you think. Do you think you'll never have time to be a mentor? Or do you assume that your kid(s) will be older by the time you're a PI, and then it will all be manageable?
Obviously you've thought about this some, since you're aware of the hypocrisy of the problem that this busy female PI with a family is probably exactly the right advisor for you.
But try thinking of it this way: you're committing the most egregious crime against any woman scientist anywhere: holding her to unrealistic standards you don't apply to any males.
Now, go get a clue, and stop expecting any PI to hand-hold you through protocols. That's not her job, and you should know that by now unless you just started grad school yesterday. If you can't put in the time to figure it out the hard way, you're not going to make it in science. If you can't get independent right quick, you never will, no matter who your advisor is.
Posted by Ms.PhD to academicsecret at 6/04/2007 3:28 AM
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
God the Father the true Daddy loves you.
Jesus died for your forgiveness
and best of all THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS YOU BELIEVE AND FOLLOW AND OBEY.
I totally utterly believe and stake my life on God loving Academics, God wanting to build His Kingdom in Academia and His love for the whole intellectual enterprise.
Every Blessing and love on you.
I have the Dawkins book too but I want to find out how the Church is letting Academia down and I know it is being reflected in the Journals and I am NOT in any way in the Academy.(!!!!!)
LORD make this one I meet in Heaven first Heaven one!!! Thank you Jesus alive through all the Death (in many forms agggh) Jesusxxxx(((Jesus)))
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/24/2007 1:41 AM
God the Father the true Daddy loves you.
Jesus died for your forgiveness
and best of all THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS YOU BELIEVE AND FOLLOW AND OBEY.
I totally utterly believe and stake my life on God loving Academics, God wanting to build His Kingdom in Academia and His love for the whole intellectual enterprise.
Every Blessing and love on you.
I have the Dawkins book too but I want to find out how the Church is letting Academia down and I know it is being reflected in the Journals and I am NOT in any way in the Academy.(!!!!!)
LORD make this one I meet in Heaven first Heaven one!!! Thank you Jesus alive through all the Death (in many forms agggh) Jesusxxxx(((Jesus)))
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/24/2007 1:41 AM
Monday, May 21, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
Also on the 'god' line...if you want a good, open minded church experience, try a Unitarian Universalist congregation.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/22/2007 12:32 AM
Also on the 'god' line...if you want a good, open minded church experience, try a Unitarian Universalist congregation.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/22/2007 12:32 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
On the topic of raising your child to believe in a god that you don't believe in - how about teaching your child to think critically and make religious decisions on her/his own? For a great book on this and relevant topics I highly recommend Dawkins book "The God Delusion"
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/21/2007 5:35 PM
On the topic of raising your child to believe in a god that you don't believe in - how about teaching your child to think critically and make religious decisions on her/his own? For a great book on this and relevant topics I highly recommend Dawkins book "The God Delusion"
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/21/2007 5:35 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Poppy Red has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
I also don't think you're a hypocrite -- you're complicated, as strawberries said, and you're also very understandably looking out for yourself and trying to finish your degree!
I'm not a science person, so I don't really know what it's like to be in the middle of an experiment and need help at that moment in order to save the experiment, so you can take or leave any of my suggestions about the advisor thing. But I will say, I think it might be worth it for your sanity to have this nicer advisor. I wonder if she would treat you differently if you were officially her advisee? For example, maybe she'd be around a bit more? (She's new, right? Does she have people she's advising?) Or maybe she'd be willing to give you her home/cell number to use if you get screwed up in an experiment? You know, as long as you used it sparingly or something. Is there a way to work around HER schedule more, be in the lab when she's around and build your schedule on hers?
As for her motivating you/keeping you on track: is there some way you can get this motivational support from someone else instead? My advisors do not motivate me or keep me on a schedule either. I've just sort of learned I have to find that motivation elsewhere, and it's not going to come from within me (I do not do very well without a set schedule). So I do things like write up a schedule for myself that I then give to a friend or my fiance to check on me, or I tell as many people as possible that I'm going to do X by X date, so that I'll be embarrassed if it doesn't happen.
It just sounds like you really don't respond very well to the kind of "motivation" your current advisor gives, so maybe it would be worth it to take a little more time than you want to but to do it in a more pleasant way. If you do stay with the current advisor, you might have to start ignoring him when he says things about your laziness, etc. My friend has an advisor who has crazy expectations, and I just tell her to be sure to process what he says after each meeting so as not to start believing everything he says all at once and all at face value.
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 5/21/2007 2:51 PM
I also don't think you're a hypocrite -- you're complicated, as strawberries said, and you're also very understandably looking out for yourself and trying to finish your degree!
I'm not a science person, so I don't really know what it's like to be in the middle of an experiment and need help at that moment in order to save the experiment, so you can take or leave any of my suggestions about the advisor thing. But I will say, I think it might be worth it for your sanity to have this nicer advisor. I wonder if she would treat you differently if you were officially her advisee? For example, maybe she'd be around a bit more? (She's new, right? Does she have people she's advising?) Or maybe she'd be willing to give you her home/cell number to use if you get screwed up in an experiment? You know, as long as you used it sparingly or something. Is there a way to work around HER schedule more, be in the lab when she's around and build your schedule on hers?
As for her motivating you/keeping you on track: is there some way you can get this motivational support from someone else instead? My advisors do not motivate me or keep me on a schedule either. I've just sort of learned I have to find that motivation elsewhere, and it's not going to come from within me (I do not do very well without a set schedule). So I do things like write up a schedule for myself that I then give to a friend or my fiance to check on me, or I tell as many people as possible that I'm going to do X by X date, so that I'll be embarrassed if it doesn't happen.
It just sounds like you really don't respond very well to the kind of "motivation" your current advisor gives, so maybe it would be worth it to take a little more time than you want to but to do it in a more pleasant way. If you do stay with the current advisor, you might have to start ignoring him when he says things about your laziness, etc. My friend has an advisor who has crazy expectations, and I just tell her to be sure to process what he says after each meeting so as not to start believing everything he says all at once and all at face value.
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 5/21/2007 2:51 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Hypocrisy!.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Hypocrisy!":
i don't think you're a hypocrite, just complicated, and we all are. i feel so similar to you in your i want to have a life yet admire-need those who do not... its so complex...
--strawberries (my acct is not working)
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/21/2007 9:17 AM
i don't think you're a hypocrite, just complicated, and we all are. i feel so similar to you in your i want to have a life yet admire-need those who do not... its so complex...
--strawberries (my acct is not working)
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/21/2007 9:17 AM
Thursday, May 17, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Grading Woes.
Fraud has left a new comment on your post "Grading Woes":
I hate final grades for many of the same reasons.
This semester I had to grade on a plane, far away from my desk and excel file, and found it really liberating just to grade the papers and let the chips fall when I crunched the numbers. Had I been here, in my office, I would have been agonizing as I entered each grade in.
My big quandry this semester was a case of academic misconduct. For the first time in my life, I decided to report it through the official channels. From here on out, I'm done with the begging and pleading from students that inevitably leads to agonizing and guilt for me. If they violate the code, they get passed on through the system. Let someone else decide if the student's guilty or not, if they're dismissed or allowed to stay. Let someone else lose sleep over such things. I'm done.
Posted by Fraud to academicsecret at 5/17/2007 2:05 PM
I hate final grades for many of the same reasons.
This semester I had to grade on a plane, far away from my desk and excel file, and found it really liberating just to grade the papers and let the chips fall when I crunched the numbers. Had I been here, in my office, I would have been agonizing as I entered each grade in.
My big quandry this semester was a case of academic misconduct. For the first time in my life, I decided to report it through the official channels. From here on out, I'm done with the begging and pleading from students that inevitably leads to agonizing and guilt for me. If they violate the code, they get passed on through the system. Let someone else decide if the student's guilty or not, if they're dismissed or allowed to stay. Let someone else lose sleep over such things. I'm done.
Posted by Fraud to academicsecret at 5/17/2007 2:05 PM
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on At long last!.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "At long last!":
I'm so jealous - we're still in exam time, and this isn't even the quarter system! Still. Can't wait until we're through!
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/16/2007 3:19 AM
I'm so jealous - we're still in exam time, and this isn't even the quarter system! Still. Can't wait until we're through!
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/16/2007 3:19 AM
Monday, May 14, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on At long last!.
WhatLadder has left a new comment on your post "At long last!":
Thank you, chartreuse for mentioning the gendered aspect of student entitlement. I blogged about my experience with that issue a little while ago (and as a result acquired an e-stalker who claimed I am a sexist). It's nice to find someone else who perceived the same issue.
Posted by WhatLadder to academicsecret at 5/15/2007 1:14 AM
Thank you, chartreuse for mentioning the gendered aspect of student entitlement. I blogged about my experience with that issue a little while ago (and as a result acquired an e-stalker who claimed I am a sexist). It's nice to find someone else who perceived the same issue.
Posted by WhatLadder to academicsecret at 5/15/2007 1:14 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on bad-minton.
paramour has left a new comment on your post "bad-minton":
Something similar happened to me this semester with a student "athlete", a.k.a. golfer. The frakker actually tried to physically intimidate me. For his effort, I was advised to report his arse to the dean. Since this was the SECOND time he did so.
Posted by paramour to academicsecret at 5/14/2007 3:25 PM
Something similar happened to me this semester with a student "athlete", a.k.a. golfer. The frakker actually tried to physically intimidate me. For his effort, I was advised to report his arse to the dean. Since this was the SECOND time he did so.
Posted by paramour to academicsecret at 5/14/2007 3:25 PM
Thursday, May 10, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Imagine a new kind of academic job market....
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Imagine a new kind of academic job market...":
Hilarious! Or you could have an American Idol-like show, with three judges from your field--one has to be nasty, like Simon--judging candidates' weekly lectures, with one potential professor cut each week. [Does he or she have to repeat the lecture once cut!?!] I realize it doesn't work as well as your scenario in terms of logistics, but I still think the idea is awesome. I would watch it.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/10/2007 1:49 PM
Hilarious! Or you could have an American Idol-like show, with three judges from your field--one has to be nasty, like Simon--judging candidates' weekly lectures, with one potential professor cut each week. [Does he or she have to repeat the lecture once cut!?!] I realize it doesn't work as well as your scenario in terms of logistics, but I still think the idea is awesome. I would watch it.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/10/2007 1:49 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on bad-minton.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "bad-minton":
Um, I might be going crazy, but it seems totally obvious that the original anonymous poster (also author of fourth post) is a student. His or her logical reasoning, grammar (esp. the comma splices), and text-messaging punctuation scream STUDENT to me. If my hunch is wrong, then it depresses me that someone like that is working in an academic setting. "Going to class is not important." ???
Fraud, you are totally justified for feeling frustrated with this student. He betrayed your trust, broke an academic code of conduct, and now feels entitled to a good grade. Unfortunately, I don't think your story is the exception. Given what I hear from colleagues and my own experiences, it seems more like an epidemic...
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/10/2007 1:44 PM
Um, I might be going crazy, but it seems totally obvious that the original anonymous poster (also author of fourth post) is a student. His or her logical reasoning, grammar (esp. the comma splices), and text-messaging punctuation scream STUDENT to me. If my hunch is wrong, then it depresses me that someone like that is working in an academic setting. "Going to class is not important." ???
Fraud, you are totally justified for feeling frustrated with this student. He betrayed your trust, broke an academic code of conduct, and now feels entitled to a good grade. Unfortunately, I don't think your story is the exception. Given what I hear from colleagues and my own experiences, it seems more like an epidemic...
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/10/2007 1:44 PM
Sunday, May 06, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on bad-minton.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "bad-minton":
I don't think badminton is any less of a sport than some 'academic' topics are 'academic.'
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/06/2007 6:41 PM
I don't think badminton is any less of a sport than some 'academic' topics are 'academic.'
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/06/2007 6:41 PM
Saturday, May 05, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on bad-minton.
fraud has left a new comment on your post "bad-minton":
Oh, badminton was a psuedonym for the sport he really played. :) My school has not yet stooped to counting badminton as a competitive sport... ultimate, on the other hand...
Posted by fraud to academicsecret at 5/06/2007 3:26 AM
Oh, badminton was a psuedonym for the sport he really played. :) My school has not yet stooped to counting badminton as a competitive sport... ultimate, on the other hand...
Posted by fraud to academicsecret at 5/06/2007 3:26 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on bad-minton.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "bad-minton":
I thought my credulity was being stretched when a student told me that he would be absent for an ultimate frisbee regional tournament. REGIONAL, you see. But badminton. I'm afraid I'm not yet mature enough to not have laughed at that particular excuse. This is not to cast aspersions on the sport of badminton per se, but in the name of all that is holy, there are limits to the suspension of disbelief and tolerance of student excuses.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/06/2007 2:38 AM
I thought my credulity was being stretched when a student told me that he would be absent for an ultimate frisbee regional tournament. REGIONAL, you see. But badminton. I'm afraid I'm not yet mature enough to not have laughed at that particular excuse. This is not to cast aspersions on the sport of badminton per se, but in the name of all that is holy, there are limits to the suspension of disbelief and tolerance of student excuses.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/06/2007 2:38 AM
Friday, May 04, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on bad-minton.
Salmon Ella has left a new comment on your post "bad-minton":
What a load of crap, I tried to leave a comment this afternoon and you wouldn't believe how much grief I got from Blogger.
Anyway, I think my comment was something along the lines of not thinking that it's petty to be annoyed when you're lied to. It's especially annoying when the said liar has such a sense of entitlement that he actually has the audacity to whine about his grade. I hope you let him know that you knew he was lying.
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 5/05/2007 1:32 AM
What a load of crap, I tried to leave a comment this afternoon and you wouldn't believe how much grief I got from Blogger.
Anyway, I think my comment was something along the lines of not thinking that it's petty to be annoyed when you're lied to. It's especially annoying when the said liar has such a sense of entitlement that he actually has the audacity to whine about his grade. I hope you let him know that you knew he was lying.
Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 5/05/2007 1:32 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on bad-minton.
fraud has left a new comment on your post "bad-minton":
Nearly all my posts on here will be petty, because they're my secrets. Some aren't appropriate to share with others, but a lot just aren't worthy.
I guess that I think the going to class and participating is part of doing good work, but that's related to course and area.
Posted by fraud to academicsecret at 5/04/2007 11:57 PM
Nearly all my posts on here will be petty, because they're my secrets. Some aren't appropriate to share with others, but a lot just aren't worthy.
I guess that I think the going to class and participating is part of doing good work, but that's related to course and area.
Posted by fraud to academicsecret at 5/04/2007 11:57 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on bad-minton.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "bad-minton":
sorry, I just said it sounded petty not that you were petty. Anyways, just give them something really hard to do for extra credit, they usually run away. Thats what I do anyways. Going to class is not important, quality of work is important, thats my point.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/04/2007 10:12 PM
sorry, I just said it sounded petty not that you were petty. Anyways, just give them something really hard to do for extra credit, they usually run away. Thats what I do anyways. Going to class is not important, quality of work is important, thats my point.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/04/2007 10:12 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on bad-minton.
Nicole has left a new comment on your post "bad-minton":
I don't think being annoyed about being lied to is petty at all, and especially not when the lying person has such a sense of entitlement that he thinks it's okay to whine about his grade. I hope you told him you caught him in a lie.
Posted by Nicole to academicsecret at 5/04/2007 5:43 PM
I don't think being annoyed about being lied to is petty at all, and especially not when the lying person has such a sense of entitlement that he thinks it's okay to whine about his grade. I hope you told him you caught him in a lie.
Posted by Nicole to academicsecret at 5/04/2007 5:43 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on bad-minton.
fraud has left a new comment on your post "bad-minton":
Thanks, Poppy. You're right that this is not a correspondence course and part of doing one's part as a student is coming to class and participating in the discussions.
As far as your comment goes, Anon, I don't appreciate being lied to by students, or being accused of being unfair by them. I am more than accomodating and give them plenty of opportunities to do well. I think that for them to suggest otherwise either directly or by asking for even more favors is disrespectful. If that's petty, then you're right, I'm petty.
Posted by fraud to academicsecret at 5/04/2007 1:12 PM
Thanks, Poppy. You're right that this is not a correspondence course and part of doing one's part as a student is coming to class and participating in the discussions.
As far as your comment goes, Anon, I don't appreciate being lied to by students, or being accused of being unfair by them. I am more than accomodating and give them plenty of opportunities to do well. I think that for them to suggest otherwise either directly or by asking for even more favors is disrespectful. If that's petty, then you're right, I'm petty.
Posted by fraud to academicsecret at 5/04/2007 1:12 PM
Thursday, May 03, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on bad-minton.
Poppy Red has left a new comment on your post "bad-minton":
Anonymous, are you for real, or a troll? Getting annoyed by someone who 1) lies and 2) whines about his grade only when it's not convenient for him is not petty.
It's gotten so it's hard for me to believe students at all with their excuses. Somehow simultaneously, though, I've become more lenient than I ever could have imagined I'd be, especially considering how totally uptight *I* was about never missing classes, and how I even got mad at my own roommates for not going to class. Giving people extra absences is unfair to the students who go to class diligently , but sometimes it's also so much easier than fighting about it, ugh. I'm also annoyed with the idea that turning in assignments is all that's required. If that's the case, why aren't we all just doing correspondence courses? Students absolutely do learn more when they're in class than when they just do the assignments but don't go to class.
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 5/04/2007 3:58 AM
Anonymous, are you for real, or a troll? Getting annoyed by someone who 1) lies and 2) whines about his grade only when it's not convenient for him is not petty.
It's gotten so it's hard for me to believe students at all with their excuses. Somehow simultaneously, though, I've become more lenient than I ever could have imagined I'd be, especially considering how totally uptight *I* was about never missing classes, and how I even got mad at my own roommates for not going to class. Giving people extra absences is unfair to the students who go to class diligently , but sometimes it's also so much easier than fighting about it, ugh. I'm also annoyed with the idea that turning in assignments is all that's required. If that's the case, why aren't we all just doing correspondence courses? Students absolutely do learn more when they're in class than when they just do the assignments but don't go to class.
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 5/04/2007 3:58 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on bad-minton.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "bad-minton":
If he does good work who cares, you sound petty
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/04/2007 2:47 AM
If he does good work who cares, you sound petty
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 5/04/2007 2:47 AM
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Imagine a new kind of academic job market....
Kisha has left a new comment on your post "Imagine a new kind of academic job market...":
he he he. I actually explain the job market to my family in this way (They work in professional sports). My analogies: The academic job market is somewhat like free agency. Not getting tenure means you've been "cut" from the team.
Posted by Kisha to academicsecret at 5/02/2007 5:54 PM
he he he. I actually explain the job market to my family in this way (They work in professional sports). My analogies: The academic job market is somewhat like free agency. Not getting tenure means you've been "cut" from the team.
Posted by Kisha to academicsecret at 5/02/2007 5:54 PM
Monday, April 30, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Imagine a new kind of academic job market....
thistle has left a new comment on your post "Imagine a new kind of academic job market...":
awesome post, fraud!
Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 4/30/2007 5:36 PM
awesome post, fraud!
Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 4/30/2007 5:36 PM
Saturday, April 28, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on At long last!.
Chartreuse Circe has left a new comment on your post "At long last!":
Fraud, I hope you can use some of that energy -- I could, too!
TTN, I don't know if this is normal or not. All I know is that it's never felt this bad before. At this point, I'm feeling like Anonymous made the best choice (and I hope s/he is feeling like that too!).
Good luck getting your terms wrapped up!
Posted by Chartreuse Circe to academicsecret at 4/28/2007 10:54 PM
Fraud, I hope you can use some of that energy -- I could, too!
TTN, I don't know if this is normal or not. All I know is that it's never felt this bad before. At this point, I'm feeling like Anonymous made the best choice (and I hope s/he is feeling like that too!).
Good luck getting your terms wrapped up!
Posted by Chartreuse Circe to academicsecret at 4/28/2007 10:54 PM
Friday, April 27, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on At long last!.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "At long last!":
For the last three years I have taught at an Australian University. Last semester, I had five post-graduate courses to teach - all the lectures and tutorials, all the marking of assignments and final exams. I was also supervising two Masters student's dissertations and co-supervising two PhD students.
I like teaching, but I can't do this amount of work and do it well.
So at the end of last semester, I resigned. And it was a tenured academic position.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/28/2007 5:50 AM
For the last three years I have taught at an Australian University. Last semester, I had five post-graduate courses to teach - all the lectures and tutorials, all the marking of assignments and final exams. I was also supervising two Masters student's dissertations and co-supervising two PhD students.
I like teaching, but I can't do this amount of work and do it well.
So at the end of last semester, I resigned. And it was a tenured academic position.
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/28/2007 5:50 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on At long last!.
TenureTrackNewbie has left a new comment on your post "At long last!":
Still got two weeks to go over here, but I am already feeling similarly giddy. Everyone gets the sense that they can never return to this chaotic world of the academic rollercoaster by the end of the semester, and I hope it's not just you and me and fraud.
Posted by TenureTrackNewbie to academicsecret at 4/28/2007 4:38 AM
Still got two weeks to go over here, but I am already feeling similarly giddy. Everyone gets the sense that they can never return to this chaotic world of the academic rollercoaster by the end of the semester, and I hope it's not just you and me and fraud.
Posted by TenureTrackNewbie to academicsecret at 4/28/2007 4:38 AM
[academicsecret] New comment on At long last!.
Fraud has left a new comment on your post "At long last!":
All I can say is AMEN!
I can't wait until my own semester's over, and my own glorious summer begins. After reading your post I've been nourished with some of your energy to get me through in the meantime.
Posted by Fraud to academicsecret at 4/27/2007 2:51 PM
All I can say is AMEN!
I can't wait until my own semester's over, and my own glorious summer begins. After reading your post I've been nourished with some of your energy to get me through in the meantime.
Posted by Fraud to academicsecret at 4/27/2007 2:51 PM
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on An indicator of trouble in academitopia.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "An indicator of trouble in academitopia":
I've always loved filling out forms, so taxes, job applications, and the like really, really appeal to me. Well, I should say that they once appealed to me. This year, as a struggling assistant professor, I despise forms and find them a huge waste of time. I even filled out one dependent care sheet and copied it 11 times so I wouldn't have to keep filling out that same three lines every month. So, with my new-found hatred of forms, I filed all my taxes, even the two state taxes, online, and let some electronic program have all the filling out form fun!
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/18/2007 4:55 PM
I've always loved filling out forms, so taxes, job applications, and the like really, really appeal to me. Well, I should say that they once appealed to me. This year, as a struggling assistant professor, I despise forms and find them a huge waste of time. I even filled out one dependent care sheet and copied it 11 times so I wouldn't have to keep filling out that same three lines every month. So, with my new-found hatred of forms, I filed all my taxes, even the two state taxes, online, and let some electronic program have all the filling out form fun!
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/18/2007 4:55 PM
Saturday, April 14, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Fraud, Dr. Fraud..
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fraud, Dr. Fraud.":
"dr farrell palos heights"
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/14/2007 1:00 PM
"dr farrell palos heights"
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/14/2007 1:00 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Fraud, Dr. Fraud..
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fraud, Dr. Fraud.":
"dr farrell palos heights"
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/14/2007 1:00 PM
"dr farrell palos heights"
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/14/2007 1:00 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Fraud, Dr. Fraud..
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fraud, Dr. Fraud.":
dr farrell palos heights
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/14/2007 12:59 PM
dr farrell palos heights
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/14/2007 12:59 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Fraud, Dr. Fraud..
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fraud, Dr. Fraud.":
dr farrell palos heights
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/14/2007 12:58 PM
dr farrell palos heights
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/14/2007 12:58 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Fraud, Dr. Fraud..
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fraud, Dr. Fraud.":
dr farrell palos heights
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/14/2007 12:57 PM
dr farrell palos heights
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/14/2007 12:57 PM
Friday, April 13, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Forget blue. Color me red..
The Boss has left a new comment on your post "Forget blue. Color me red.":
There is.
http://rateyourstudents.blogspot.com/index.html
A Regular Reader of Rate Your Students who has Friends and Family who are Faculty.
Posted by The Boss to academicsecret at 4/13/2007 8:25 PM
There is.
http://rateyourstudents.blogspot.com/index.html
A Regular Reader of Rate Your Students who has Friends and Family who are Faculty.
Posted by The Boss to academicsecret at 4/13/2007 8:25 PM
Thursday, April 12, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on How much profanity is acceptable?.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "How much profanity is acceptable?":
there should totally be a ratemystudent.com, so we can exchange information on kids and say things like, "he always comes to class late", "she says she reads the book, but doesn't seem prepared,", "if this kid gets on your waiting list, don't let them in!".
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/12/2007 11:11 PM
there should totally be a ratemystudent.com, so we can exchange information on kids and say things like, "he always comes to class late", "she says she reads the book, but doesn't seem prepared,", "if this kid gets on your waiting list, don't let them in!".
Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 4/12/2007 11:11 PM
Sunday, April 08, 2007
[academicsecret] New comment on Time Flies....
Turquoise Stuff has left a new comment on your post "Time Flies...":
Fraud, sorry to hear this. I think taking at least one day off is a must! Alternatively, yeah, don't write it on your calendar, although I'd go with the taking-time-off approach.
As for the summer, I remember looking forward to it so, only to have several grad students give me various documents just as it started. Ugh.
Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 4/08/2007 3:48 PM
Fraud, sorry to hear this. I think taking at least one day off is a must! Alternatively, yeah, don't write it on your calendar, although I'd go with the taking-time-off approach.
As for the summer, I remember looking forward to it so, only to have several grad students give me various documents just as it started. Ugh.
Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 4/08/2007 3:48 PM
[academicsecret] New comment on Forget blue. Color me red..
Turquoise Stuff has left a new comment on your post "Forget blue. Color me red.":
Fraud, I am *really* sorry to hear this, it sounds very very annoying and upsetting. Unfortunately, without more details, it's hard to say much more, but I did want to say that you certainly have my sympathies.
Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 4/08/2007 3:45 PM
Fraud, I am *really* sorry to hear this, it sounds very very annoying and upsetting. Unfortunately, without more details, it's hard to say much more, but I did want to say that you certainly have my sympathies.
Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 4/08/2007 3:45 PM
Thursday, April 05, 2007
[academicsecret] 4/05/2007 09:03:26 PM
Chartreuse, I know how hard it is to let a bad review go. The following research paper on RMP helped me put it all in perspective.
http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol10/issue3/kindred.html
(Pardon the link...I am a new blogger!)
--
Posted by Freducha to academicsecret at 4/05/2007 09:03:26 PM
http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol10/issue3/kindred.html
(Pardon the link...I am a new blogger!)
--
Posted by Freducha to academicsecret at 4/05/2007 09:03:26 PM
[academicsecret] 4/05/2007 08:38:32 PM
You might as well be me. I might as well be you. I am dealing with this very situation this quarter with one of my male students. I feel totally powerless. Ironic, isn't it, since I am the teacher and he is the student!
I stumbled upon this blog looking for answers. My student is so shrewd and I feel like any conversation with him is a lose-lose. Fraud's suggestion seems like the best course of action for me. In the end, I don't want to alienate him; I want him to learn something (a modicum of common courtesy, perhaps?). I hope my cretin turns himself around the way yours did!
Does anyone have a recommendation for a book/article on strategies for female instructors to effectively deal with conflict in the classroom?
--
Posted by Freducha to academicsecret at 4/05/2007 08:38:32 PM
I stumbled upon this blog looking for answers. My student is so shrewd and I feel like any conversation with him is a lose-lose. Fraud's suggestion seems like the best course of action for me. In the end, I don't want to alienate him; I want him to learn something (a modicum of common courtesy, perhaps?). I hope my cretin turns himself around the way yours did!
Does anyone have a recommendation for a book/article on strategies for female instructors to effectively deal with conflict in the classroom?
--
Posted by Freducha to academicsecret at 4/05/2007 08:38:32 PM
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
[academicsecret] 3/29/2007 04:48:40 AM
I think Spring Break and the Easter Bunny have a lot in common, actually.
Really, though, I wholeheartedly support taking a day off sometimes. We deserve it! And our breaks should be at least a teeny bit of a break. Not that I took one, sigh. But next year, next year!! (Oh, wonderful next year, when I hope to defend the diss; I plan to party for a month if it really happens...)
--
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 3/29/2007 04:48:40 AM
Really, though, I wholeheartedly support taking a day off sometimes. We deserve it! And our breaks should be at least a teeny bit of a break. Not that I took one, sigh. But next year, next year!! (Oh, wonderful next year, when I hope to defend the diss; I plan to party for a month if it really happens...)
--
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 3/29/2007 04:48:40 AM
[academicsecret] 3/28/2007 12:28:10 PM
That's amazing, Poppy, but great too! I'm glad things have turned around. I hope that you can see know that it clearly wasn't something about you or your teaching or your control over the classroom, but something about him.
--
Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 3/28/2007 12:28:10 PM
--
Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 3/28/2007 12:28:10 PM
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
[academicsecret] 3/27/2007 04:55:19 PM
I don't know if anyone is still reading these comments, but I just wanted to report an amazing update. The other day, I had a meeting with The Angry Student. Quite randomly in the middle of the meeting, he APOLOGIZED for his behavior in the class I initially wrote about, and said he had done research on the point I was trying to make, and discovered that indeed, my point had merit. He also agreed with that my point was not a matter of "reading too much into the text" in the style of a "typical academic" (which is what he had claimed) but rather that it was a matter of his own resistance to that specific reading. !!! It was like a dream, where the person who made you angry suddenly recanted and agreed that you were totally right and even had insight into their character. Yes, it's still somewhat problematic that he could only come to this conclusion by getting verification from other critics instead of looking to how I was trying to guide the students in the text (another male-female dynamic in my opinion), BUT I do feel that he has a lot more respect for me now and will stop pulling this shit, at least in a really disrespectful way. He is argumentative by nature, but I think it won't be as bad. And it just goes to show how students are still processing beyond the classroom, and that things just don't always sink in immediately.
This has been one of the weirdest teaching experiences, but it's certainly taught me a lot!
--
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 3/27/2007 04:55:19 PM
This has been one of the weirdest teaching experiences, but it's certainly taught me a lot!
--
Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 3/27/2007 04:55:19 PM
Sunday, March 25, 2007
[academicsecret] 3/25/2007 08:30:07 PM
Ye gods.
The brat.
Get a copy of How to WIN Every Argument by Madsen Pirie. It's priceless ;-)
Very best,
Alex
--
Posted by Alex to academicsecret at 3/25/2007 08:30:07 PM
The brat.
Get a copy of How to WIN Every Argument by Madsen Pirie. It's priceless ;-)
Very best,
Alex
--
Posted by Alex to academicsecret at 3/25/2007 08:30:07 PM
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
[academicsecret] 3/21/2007 03:27:55 AM
Hey, how are we supposed to tell them that they have to change their egocentric attitudes so this world won't be ruled by selfish little brats in a couple of decades if you depend on student evaluations in the end of the semester?
--
Posted by TenureTrackNewbie to academicsecret at 3/21/2007 03:27:55 AM
--
Posted by TenureTrackNewbie to academicsecret at 3/21/2007 03:27:55 AM
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
[academicsecret] 3/14/2007 08:52:31 PM
i don't have anything useful to add. I just wanted to say I think I had this guy's twin brother one semester and I feel for you.
--
Posted by Anastasia to academicsecret at 3/14/2007 08:52:31 PM
--
Posted by Anastasia to academicsecret at 3/14/2007 08:52:31 PM
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