When I first started adjuncting I was also nursing (I was a nurse for 18 years). I tended to think of students as my patients, and I wanted to do all sorts of things for them to help them. I finally had an epiphany one day when I found myself waiting in a long registration line for a student so that I could submit some form that needed my signature. I was working two jobs at the time, while in graduate school, and really didn't have a lot of free time. But there I was, doing HER work. I think that the addiction literature calls it co-dependence.
I agree with the teacher who suggested that teaching students that poor work results in low rewards is very beneficial for them. Some need more instruction in this area than others. I still help them quite a lot more than some with bigger classes are able to do, but only if they recognize they need it and ask. (Though I have started writing "how can I help you?" on exams with failing scores. Interesting note... even though none of those students contacted me after receiving those comments, several of them showed marked improvement on the next exams.) Carolyn Pevey, Ph.D. Department of Sociology P.O. Box 244023 Auburn University Montgomery Montgomery, AL 36124 (334)244-3550
