Last week I was rummaging through some old paperbacks (on sale for a quarter each) at the local GED/Learning Center. I picked out a few novels and paid the teacher that was there. He struck up a conversation with me:
"Do you go to [local college]?"
"Yes, I'm at [local college where I teach]."
"Oh, what's your major?"
At this point I grimace, because I realize that, once again, I have been mistaken for a student. I don't like to correct people, because 1) it sometimes embarrasses them, and 2) it prolongs the conversation (which I'm usually politely trying to leave). Unfortunately, this time it had (I suspect) the opposite effect.
"I teach these students that are trying to get their GED's. Their writing is atrocious! Look at this page." He shows me a page of student writing. "I have to go through and mark all the errors. Do you think you could do that? Put in all the commas and apostrophes and such?"
I don't know if he's advising me not to be an English major or what. "Uhh . . . maybe," I say glancing back at the door. All I really want to do is go home and read the books I just bought.
"I'm always snowed under with these papers, and it takes a long time to mark them. It would really be great if you or some of your friends could volunteer to mark some of the papers."
I want to burst out laughing. So that's what this is about! He wants to have fun teaching and rope someone else into doing all the legwork for him! I envision the 250 pages of student essays back in my office I have yet to grade, and I want to say, "Buddy, ain't no way I'm doing your dirty work for you." But, polite person that I am, I just say, "Uh, we'll see. I'll mention it to my friends. Bye!" and hurry out.
I might have a solution to this problem. I've just had business cards made up. They're very nice -- black & white, to be sure, but with an attractive logo of the college on them with my office contact information. Now, when I introduce myself, I can just take a card from my wallet and give it to them.
Plus, my 10th anniversary class reunion is coming up in a couple of weeks, and I want to show off.
"Do you go to [local college]?"
"Yes, I'm at [local college where I teach]."
"Oh, what's your major?"
At this point I grimace, because I realize that, once again, I have been mistaken for a student. I don't like to correct people, because 1) it sometimes embarrasses them, and 2) it prolongs the conversation (which I'm usually politely trying to leave). Unfortunately, this time it had (I suspect) the opposite effect.
"I teach these students that are trying to get their GED's. Their writing is atrocious! Look at this page." He shows me a page of student writing. "I have to go through and mark all the errors. Do you think you could do that? Put in all the commas and apostrophes and such?"
I don't know if he's advising me not to be an English major or what. "Uhh . . . maybe," I say glancing back at the door. All I really want to do is go home and read the books I just bought.
"I'm always snowed under with these papers, and it takes a long time to mark them. It would really be great if you or some of your friends could volunteer to mark some of the papers."
I want to burst out laughing. So that's what this is about! He wants to have fun teaching and rope someone else into doing all the legwork for him! I envision the 250 pages of student essays back in my office I have yet to grade, and I want to say, "Buddy, ain't no way I'm doing your dirty work for you." But, polite person that I am, I just say, "Uh, we'll see. I'll mention it to my friends. Bye!" and hurry out.
I might have a solution to this problem. I've just had business cards made up. They're very nice -- black & white, to be sure, but with an attractive logo of the college on them with my office contact information. Now, when I introduce myself, I can just take a card from my wallet and give it to them.
Plus, my 10th anniversary class reunion is coming up in a couple of weeks, and I want to show off.
posted by Mark at 11/10/2005 01:07:00 PM
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