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Hatcher
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 602
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 Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:16 am Post subject: Cant seem to adjust the constant requests to lie on attendan |
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I have been here for a while and some things are tough to adjust to. The 5 am prayer call is one.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the endless requests for me to lie on attendance because the student wants to leave. I dont know them and they are no friends of mine... Dont they feel in anyway uncomfortable about asking ppl to lie for them? Drives me nuts and if I had some understanding maybe it would be easier. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 9:31 am Post subject: |
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| Hatcher wrote: |
| Drives me nuts and if I had some understanding maybe it would be easier. |
There's nothing to understand except that your students simply don't want to stay in class and don't care how they can make that happen, even if it means nagging you to lie about their attendance. But doesn't your university have an attendance policy? If so, firmly enforce it. Don't get roped into a verbal tug-a-war about why; that only serves to wear you down so that you give in. On the other hand, if your uni doesn't have an attendance policy, have this discussion with your supervisor or coordinator.
By the way, in my classes, if a student asked to leave early, my response was no unless she wanted to be marked absent for the entire class period per the uni's policy. If the student decided to leave anyway, I followed through and put her down as absent. Khalas. Obviously, she might have had a legit reason to leave (e.g., a doctor's appointment). But, even then, she was required to provide written verification of her appointment the next day. My students eventually ended up reminding each other of the attendance policy, so it really was a non-issue for me. |
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babur
Joined: 10 Aug 2010
Posts: 178
Location: Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 11:05 am Post subject: small price to pay |
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| I have been here for a while and some things are tough to adjust to. The 5 am prayer call is one....the endless requests for me to lie on attendance. |
Welcome to Saudi Arabia! That's a small price to pay. No rent, hospital bills or tax! |
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Hatcher
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 602
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| Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes I know this the KSA.... but I am looking for some type rationale for it. |
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dragonpiwo
Joined: 04 Mar 2013
Posts: 1650
Location: Berlin
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| Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 2:34 pm Post subject: Babur's right |
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| Count your money, develop hobbies and choose your friends wisely. Much of what is done is educationally questionable throughout the Middle East. Attendance is something they can be anal about as the bosses are rarely any good at doing what really counts. Never let them leave, refer them to a superior for permission immediately and then it's not your fault when he wraps his VXR round a palm tree during class time. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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You have to be firm and consistent. I always told my students, "I'm sorry; I can't. That would be a lie, and that is wrong." Then an Islamic quote:
"Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: “You may know the hypocrite by three things: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted with something he betrays that trust.”
Regards,
John |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Do not negotiate and do not weaken. Rule is simple. Here = PRESENT. Not here = ABSENT |
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lcanupp1964
Joined: 12 Dec 2009
Posts: 381
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| Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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Hatcher, if you try to look for the rationale behind it, you can find it, but I feel you are really looking for a way to lessen the stress you put on yourself and all the BS that goes with it.
I tell my students that it is not my job to interpret, or justified the policy. Rather, I tell them that I simply record who is here and who is not. It’s up to the administration to use that information however they choose to use it. I then suggest that they speak with administration if they have any questions. Once you remove their version of “circular logic” from the argument, they will know that they are not going to win the debate. I tell them that I care about their education and that I need to show my class, though example, that I am a professional and that the King pays me to be the best teacher I can. I have this chat with my students during the first few days of class. Once the students know you can't be coerced, they will find a way to go to another teacher's class during add/drop week, or will stop asking you. |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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| some excellent advice there and that's a great quote John |
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rollingk
Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 212
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| Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Yes I know this the KSA.... but I am looking for some type rationale for it. |
All the advice given is spot on .. . follow the policy given to you. It's really all you can do.
As for causes: most admins will tweak attendance based on wasta, and you can hardly blame those students with little wasta from trying to influence us, who are not in on the subtleties of this system, to help them out. Actually, they're probably trying to seek a bit of justice, but in this case it's simply beyond our scope. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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Dear sicklyman,
Using the Quran and/or the Hadith never failed me - it was always a stopper whenever a student wanted me to break some rule.
Yes, the Devil can cite Scripture for his purposes.
Regards,
John |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Or in your case - a former seminarian can quote the Koran for his own purposes ! Ad majorem Dei gloriam ! |
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