Maybe I shouldn't have started this blog now, not with everything that's been going on.

Since Trigonometry Applications isn’t a pre-requisite of my mechanics class (although it should be, especially when we get to forces in two dimensions), most of the students who were in my Math 1 class last term (and in my Trig class this term) are also in my mechanics class.

I also forgot to mention that late last week the registrar’s office again called me up asking if it was okay that Math 1 was the only prerequisite to my class. I guess she doesn’t know those in high places already made the flowcharts before I started teaching, and I was just following it with no intention of asking it to be changed – at least not yet, until I believe I have more clout.

Randall, one of my students in computer graphics last term (who is also in my mechanics class) said he won’t pass the seatwork since he would only enroll the next day, but he did fill up a class card.

I also told them my new policy that any requirements submitted without a name would have the points distributed to the rest of the class. Randall suggested loudly that they should pass a lot of nameless papers to boost their grades. “Not if there are more papers than enrolled students,” his classmate argued. “Besides, you shouldn’t have mentioned it when Sir is right there.”

Some of my students in Graphics class also only got their course cards last Monday, and are only thanking me for passing them now. A belated Christmas gift, they called it.

Another tidbit from last weekend: leaving the campus late at night, the guard who opened the gate for me asked, “Brother…? ” “No,” I replied. “Professor…?” he fished further. I gave my last name. “Doctor?” he tried one more time, probably trying for my first name, even though I was already out the gate. “No,” I emphasized. “Not a brother. Not a doctor.” Then I turned my back on him. These new guards don’t have the familiarity of the previous agency. But I guess that’s the point.

Last Sunday I was in the house of a friend in Sucat whose younger sister was my student in astronomy two terms ago. When I was introduced to the mom, she first asked if I passed her daughter, and when I mentioned the subject, she recalled it as the time she had to grudgingly accompany her daughter outside at night just to measure the position of the moon using a compass and a protractor. I just grinned apologetically. I would frown on students asking for help with their homework, but I guess I should be glad some parents still take interest in their children’s studies.

An update about the Talent Night from last Tuesday: Ronnie, my co-teacher (and Head of Student Affairs, therefore over-all coordinator of the activity), received e-mail from the parents’ association saying they won’t be able to perform on Friday. This is despite the fact that the Dean and EVP pushed the event in the first place because the parents said they had three acts that they said they were going to present back when the show was scheduled for Christmas. We’re still holding the production, and they better damn well support their children’s efforts one way or another.

At the very least I’ve seen the stage set-up committee (some of them also doubling as performers) working their fingers numb on the backdrop since Friday last week. I’d already give them a standing ovation just for that.