My New Chairiot

After many months of waiting, I am now able to use my motorized chair at school. This photo was taken in one of the college's parking lots. My students wanted to see me 'pop a wheelie' but I told them security would get me for speeding inside a building. :)

The chair has be very valuable in helping me get around the large campus. My department head saw me yesterday in the chair and said, "Ron, I can now assign you to any and all buildings on campus now that you have transportation." :) I relied, "Bring it on." :)

Have a great and wonderful day.
Dr. Ron

Former Student

Yesterday while on campus, one of my former students "blocked" the door so I could not move past her. She had a big smile on her face and open arms to embrace me. We exchanged the normal courtesies and then she said, "Dr. Ron, I will never forget you." When I asked why she replied, "Because of you and your parting thought to us each day, 'know that you are valued, loved, and appreciated,' I'm turning my life around." WOW, her statement blew me away. Why?

Because last semester when I had her in my Ethics class she believed herself to be a loser and did many things to prove to herself and others that she was a loser. She did not care about school. What people thought about her partying ways, etc. She lacked respect for herself and others.

Oh what a joy it was to see her yesterday as the beautiful young lady I knew she could be. She touched my life and I have grown and more than that I touched her life and she has grown.

I end this by saying, "Go forth knowing you are valued, loved, and appreciated."

Dr. Ron

A Novel Experience

I began reading, "The Lord of the Rings." Heretofore, I have not read many novels but books related to philosophy, theology, and ethics. Since January or the Christmas season, my wife suggested I read some novels to broaden my reading horizons. I've become hooked on novels now.

I especially enjoy reading mystery novels. After reading several by Grissom and Robertson and others, I began to read "The Lord of the Rings." My oldest grandson gave it to me as a Christmas gift and now, I'm into it and loving every minute of it.

This book is one of the recommended readings Introduction to Ethics which I teach. So, now I can be more informed about the novel and the "moral of the story" contained within it. The author of the text book we use and Philosopher Martha Nussbuam both recommend reading novels so as to get a good look at life, the situations people find themselves confronting, and how they deal with them. So far I love my new adventures in reading.

Computer Crash

I have had a laptop computer for five years during which I never had any major problems. That is until the other day when I was defragmenting the hard drive. Let's just say the computer "froze up" and I turned if off manually. Bad idea as it would not come back on. A message screen advised me to open it in "safe mode" or "normal." Well, I tried both with no luck.

Took it to a computer repair shop on Saturday. First indication is that it is the hard drive. They will know more on Tuesday. They may or may not be able to extract and save some of the files.

I use the laptop for all of my college teaching work. While I have many of the files backed up, I don't have all of them. :( The semester just stared so I'll have much to do should I have to recreate the lost files. From now on, I think I had better back up my files each day just to be on the safe side.

A good learning experience for me.

Have a great and good day.

Dr. Ron

Beware of this toll free number

Alert!!!!! For the past several months I have been receiving phone calls from this toll free number: 1-800-360-4319 which usually begin by a digital voice saying "Please stay on the line for our next available operator." I usually hang up immediately because if a live person cannot dial my number, I'm not going to waste my time until a live person speaks.

We receive these phone calls early in the morning before 8 am, in the afternoon, the evening, and very late at night. Always with the same prerecorded message. One day last week, I stayed on the line so I could learn the nature of this important call. A very rude young lady asked me if I knew so and so. When I asked her why she was calling my number and to identify herself, she hung up.

Still the calls kept coming. I even dialed it back this evening to tell them I wanted off their call list only to be rudely told by the live person, she could not hear me and hung up. I called again, this time a man answered the phone wanting to know if I had received their letter. I asked him to identify himself and what company he represented. He told me his name but not the company. Then, he proceeded to ask me if I knew so and so. I told him to remove my name from their call list. I doubt if they will.

I Googled the number and found 5 pages of responses from people who have had the same kind of treatment from 800-360-4319. Some indicated it is National Recovery, a collection agency but that the NR folks do not have current or accurate information. Everyone of the responses referred to the rudeness of the callers and the lack of information provided.

So, if you should get a call from 800-360-4319 don't answer it and most of all do not give them any information whatsoever.

I publish this on my blog as a means of educating the public to this unethical "collection agency." I'm not sure it is even a collection agency as I tend to believe it is a scam operation. I could be wrong.

Have a great and wonderful day.

Taking Responsibility

An aspect of my teaching is to help my students to take responsibility. The majority of them get the message right away as I tell them the very first day of class, "Each one of you has an 'A' right now." I follow that up by stating that if they desire to keep the 'A' they must take responsibility to be in class [although I cannot compel them to be there], do the assigned readings, turn in the written assignments on time, and to take the test and exams. I don't automatically give 'A's' to each student if they do the above but assess them on their ability to do the work. If there is a problem, I counsel with them to determine how I can help them achieve the very best grade possible for them.

I, also, emphasize that if they are going to miss class to let me know either in person or via email. This applies to papers and exams as well. I do this so the student will take responsibility for their education.

Having said all of this, I received an email from a student who received a "D" for the final grade. She wanted to know why. The reason being: she has missed class since mid March, failed to take two exams and failed the final exam. I had attempted during the semester to reach her via email but no responses from her. In her email this week, she indicated that she just had to have an 'A+' because she was an all 'A' student and thus could she do some extra credit work to bring up her grade? I had to remind her that the semester was officially over the day of the final exam and to allow her to do some additional work would not be fair to the other students who did their work during the semester and that the 'D' would have to stand.

When I asked about why she did not respond to my offers of help during the semester, her reply was she was the kind of person who did not ask for help. My last comment to her was to take this semester as a learning experience---to take responsibility and to let the instructors know you are having trouble. Most of the instructors I work with are willing to help the student who needs the help but we cannot help those who refuse it.

Ah the joys of teaching. I love it.

Annual Review

Today I met with my department head for my first performance review. She gave some very valuable information as to how to maximize my in-class room time. She, also, complimented me on my "laid back" style and how well I relate to my students. Overall, it was a good performance review.

Exams

Two of my classes have taken the final exam with the third class to take its final on Friday. Now, the "fun" begins for me as I have to grade the exams with short answers and essays. I know of two students who will receive a lesser grade because they wrote only one sentence on 2 of the 4 essay questions. When I asked them about it, they indicated that's all they knew about the subject even though I had given each class a study guide a week or so prior to the exam. Go figure.

One of the students in the Friday class emailed me this morning because he could not find something in the text book that was contained on the study guide. I wonder why students wait until the last minute to cram for finals? I have to ask myself, did I do that while in college? Of course, that has been so long ago I have forgotten.

Grading the exams and tabulating all of the assignments to arrive at a final grade for each student will consume most of the weekend. But, that's okay as I love teaching.

Semester Draws to a Close

Today was the last official day of classes. The finals will be on Wednesday and Friday. I will have two finals on Wednesday for my 2 ethics classes and one on Friday for the Philosophy class.

Most of the students are well prepared and will do well on the comprehensive final. Others will struggle to maintain a "C" because they have not applied themselves during the semester.

Overall, I've had a good group of students this semester. Two of them will graduate Thursday evening with their A. A. degrees. One will continue her studies at a local university while the other will return to her home state of Minnesota to continue her college education there.

Today was a bitter-sweet day for me as I get attached to the students only to let them take their flight beyond the "nest." Oh well, I will have another group of students in the Fall.

Such is the life of a teacher/educator. Until next time, have a great day.

Students One Week Before Finals

This is the way my students looked today one week before final exams. I teach Introduction to Ethics and Introduction to Philosophy at a local community college. Most of the students are right out of high school and in their freshman year.

I tell them they should not cram the night before the exam and if they have paid attention all semester long and did the assigned reading, they should have no trouble with the final. What really frightens them is the short answers and essay questions---4 on each exam. I have even given them a study guide but they are still terrified.

Ah, the joys of learning.

A Good Semester

I teach Philosophy and Ethics part time at a community college. It is a late in life career which brought me out of retirement several years ago. This semester is almost over. Friday will be the last formal class day with final exams to follow next week.

This semester has been a good one for me as I have been encouraged by the students who make up my 3 classes. Many of them have been eager to learn and have participated in small group and class discussions. Others, a minority, have not been so eager to learn which provided me with a motivational challenge. During the semester, I was able to motivate some of the minority but not all. I learned a long time ago, you can't make someone do what they are unwilling to do.

The majority of my students will do well on the finals and with their collegiate education or careers. I have no doubt that many of them will be excellent leaders in the future.

I am thankful I had the opportunity to play a small part in their education. They have touched my life and I have grown.