There is a disturbing trend that is growing. Perhaps it is the absence of proper formation in high schools. Perhaps it is the increased media saturation on television and mobile devices. Perhaps it is a byproduct of the soundbite culture and a loss of the ability to pay attention or pay respect. Any one of these things (and I suspect many others left unmentioned) could contribute to a disturbing trend among young people I’m tentatively calling “blame the teacher.”
In many ways this is nothing new. Talk shows have long been riddled with children blaming their parents for their own life failures. The ability (and even necessity) to blame someone else for your failings continues to this day. Perhaps, though, it is less about blame and more about responsibility. The two are inseparably linked, though. It could be that both are equally prevalent when blame is quickly redirected elsewhere.
You see, today I received an e-mail from a student who failed to complete an assignment correctly. This student boldly proclaimed in an e-mail that I had never told them about the particular requirements for said assignment. The problem is two-fold. For starters, it is generally not a good idea to outright blame someone else for something that could just as easily have been your own oversight. Double that when dealing with people in positionsdeserving of even modest respect (though it is a good idea when dealing with anyone). The second problem is more specific. You see, I teach over 400 students. When over 400 other students were able to correctly complete an assignment (as indicated in-class and digitally) the instructor has to assume that you either weren’t paying attention or weren’t in class at all. Neither of these things sound good for you. The better approach would be to assume your own ignorance, proceed with a statement about being confused with expectations, and ask a question. You’re likely to have a more receptive reader, a less-defensive response, andahappier resolution. While I’m fairly calm about these things other teachers, administrators, bosses, and other authority figures may not be. Best bet is to avoid blame, express concern, and ask a question.