When does
something become a lost cause? When do you pack it in after all the failures?
When is it simply too much? I’m not even talking about writing, though I’ve had
my share of failures. I’m talking about teaching. Over the last few semesters
there’s been a change in students. What worked a few semesters ago no longer works.
But then, nothing seems to work. Trying to get reactions (or actions) out of
the students is more difficult than ever. I look over my gradebooks at the
number of students who don’t bother to turn in assignments, and have no idea
how to get through to them.
It’s not
me, either. Every teacher I talk with, even on up to my brother the Ph.D. at a
university, is reporting difficulties with students. They need hand-holding.
They need ultra-specific directions, so that the instructions are actually
longer than the essay assignment they’re supposed to write.
I am at a
loss. I don’t want to give up. Giving up feels wrong, especially when it comes
to students, but I’m running out of ideas.