Who says ‘no’ to extra credit?
Last week I was lucky enough to be graced by the presence of two of the most suck-uptastic people at VCU. I won’t mention names or even what class (if you were there you know exactly who I am referring to), but get this: These two people attempted to talk two professors in two different classes OUT of giving the class extra points on a test.
Last week I was lucky enough to be graced by the presence of two of the most suck-uptastic people at VCU. I won’t mention names or even what class (if you were there you know exactly who I am referring to), but get this: These two people attempted to talk two professors in two different classes OUT of giving the class extra points on a test. Yes, that’s right. There are people in this school and this world who don’t like extra points on a test.
The first person looked up the answer to an invalid test question and debated the validity of the professor’s original claim. The second was more subtle. This individual stood on a soapbox defying the demands of the horde (the class of 200) and supporting the unclear essay test question given by the professor.
I digress; let me get to the point. You model student, definition of university aptitude, business-casual-wearer elite, professional environment student, you college kid tool bag, we hate you. We all have had a run-in with these individuals. Have you ever had a student say, “Man, I’m going to bomb this test,” and then proceed to get a perfect score, throwing off the curve and making you look stupid? If this has happened, you have had a run in with a tool bag. I bet they even said it was just luck. If getting a 100 on a test were “just luck,” I would have a 4.0 GPA.
I am not absolutely sure what should be done about these people. First off, I don’t care how many suits you can wear in a week to class, don’t look down on me just because I am a bit eccentric.
I am definitely not stupid, even though it may seem so at times. I am doing something that perhaps you should write down in your notes (because everyone knows you’re taking abnormally detailed notes), and I like to call it having fun while getting an education. I don’t expect freebees or extra credit; you should get your grade the first time. But don’t dispute leniency, because it may be one of the last times you get it from someone above you. And never dispute the horde.
You can give the professor compliments on his material after class, but standing on a soapbox in front of people who benefit from the professor’s mistake is a good way to get pushed off.
