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

It’s the last day of the term, so it’s probably best for me to wrap up my stories today because I’ll probably be back on January 5. when both the classes and the offices open.

Five out of twenty one students failed in my Mathematical Methods 1 class. These were the ones who really had low standing in class – less than forty percent. In fact, out of these, there have been none who complained, although there were some who were surprised that they passed.

There were three students who got zero point zero from the twenty one students in my Trigonometric Applications class. One of these had not even taken the final exam (or attended the last week or so of classes), even though it was his second take, I had failed him already the term before and he knew I already had a line to his study attitude. The other two, whose percentages were really abysmal (in their teens) were even asking me today if they would pass or not. It’s the unrealistic expectations of such students, and their intangible grasp of their academic situation, that doesn’t surprise me that they would get a failing grade in the subject I’m handling.

Another five did not make the cut in the mechanics lecture class of twenty-two students. Three of these unofficially dropped the course, not attending as early as after midterms, and they did not get their course cards anymore. Two of these, though were still hoping for a passing grade, showing up until the finals even though their scores in the exams weren’t so good. Unfortunately, their overall standing was just like with my MM1 students – below 40%, and could not be pulled up anymore. Assuming they poured in more effort after the midterms, it still was not enough to hurdle them over sixty percent.

In mechanics lab, I gave failing marks to ten out of twenty four students. Just like in the lecture class, three of these had erratic attendance during the first few weeks of the term before they stopped showing up altogether. These were the only ones who failed in both the lecture and the lab.

The other seven failed because of incomplete requirements, even though all of them passed, and some even excelled, in the lecture class.

Even when most of them got their course cards, they simply clarified that the subject did indeed have a one-unit credit. It’s that kind of attitude that makes them take longer to graduate than they should be able to.

One student though kept returning and asking for consideration, even if I would just give him a one-point-zero. I told him to write a letter and have it signed by the dean to show that someone above my rank is willing to give him more consideration that I would. Then he could pass the one report he insists is all he did not pass.

I told him that I did not have either of his other two reports, and since they are documents files, he should have no problem reprinting them to submit them, after he has had his excuse letter signed.

He returned again after that, and I kept telling him the same procedure, that he should follow if he really wanted to pass.

And that’s it for this term. Leftover tidbits will be posted next year. Here’s to an enjoyable break for all.