Petty Battles

Today I had lunch with two people from the department to discuss why our Introductory course doesn't count for General Studies requirements when other courses do. Basically it came down to petty battles between people. We think we have a strategy, including the strategy of not pointing out the obvious stupidity of others, to get the course accepted as a general studies course.

This afternoon I was reading C&EN and found a quote in there about nomenclature. Don't get me wrong I think that nomenclature is highly important, but I found the following both hilarious and sad.

'It was probably one of the low points of my career,' one attendee tells C&EN 'when we spent 30 minutes arguing whether the word should be spelled co-crystal or cocrystal.'--C&EN, June 18, 2006 page 28

My department chair pointed out a while ago that if people agree on something don't discuss it. I nearly lost my non-battle to have all students wearing goggles and not safety glasses in lab because I brought it up for discussion.

Meetings and discussions... tell me about your most pointless one.

Bad Choices

it haunts me how many bad choices students make. they don't study. they don't show up on time to class or tests, they don't answer 10 questions on a 70 question multiple choice test with no penalty for guessing, they sleep with people who hurt them, they stay up late at night, they turn in papers late, they ignore generous hints, they wear revealing clothes (guys and girls) without understanding, they choose what they want to do based on money, they lie, they don't get help.

there are other students i'm so proud to have taught. the one who we gave a g. chem award to which meant a CRC handbook. the professors got thank you notes from that student and mine included a note about how the book had to be put in the closet since it was distracting from studying from finals. the student who earnestly asks questions because knowledge is desired rather than a grade. another student who pays attention, works hard, and doesn't try to pretend everything is fine when things are not. that student asked for help and will get an incomplete that i am sure will be made up as soon as possible. the student who says thanks for the help even when a C- is assigned.