Quick pre-break post

I don't remember if I mentioned that I got an e-mail from a student who was in the short-story class last semester, saying she didn't understand why she got an F, that I'd told her she didn't need to worry, that I hadn't warned her she was in danger of failing, that it was unfair, that she didn't know professors could change grades but now that she knows.... I sent a very measured--even cheerful--response, saying the matter is too important to discuss in e-mails, so she should come in to meet with me after the break; that way we can look over her grade card and the final grade calculation and see what happened and why. Since I'm too tired to mark anything now (just finishing up my office hour before I head to class), I thought I'd dig out the needed back-up. Sure enough, she had not turned in one of the major essays at all: 15% of her grade was a zero--and since most of her other grades were C's and D's, the final average was a 52. Passing is a 60 or better. I think I'll give her the chance to write the paper. I doubt she'll take me up on it, but if she does, I can legitimately change the grade. Otherwise I'm going to have to contend with "but you told me" versus "I'm sorry if you were misled" (note use of the passive voice here) "but the numbers are what I need to go on at the end." It'll be interesting to see how that one turns out. I could also offer her a mercy D.... I won't know for sure until I'm actually talking with her.

But I did cc Bruce on my reply to her e-mail, which had her message to me embedded in it.

I just had two students from the Native American lit class in here--and I realize I've gotten to the point in the semester when I stop caring about due dates much: there are only seven of them left, and I want to keep them all--and the main thing is for them to do the work. I'm giving them more time for their second major essay, more time for revisions....

I have about a million things on my mind that I should go over with them today, but I don't know if we'll have time for all of it. Or that I'll remember once I get there. I will say, I am not taking one fucking piece of student work home with me for this break. I don't have that much of it--even with what I'll collect today--and I can do it when I'm back. I'm steamrollered, and I need a break.

And in 95 minutes, I'll start one.