Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Because they decided to start their holiday today ...

So students at KU apparently have an agreement to miss their classes starting today. When asked, they told me it's because it's so close to the end of the month anyway and Eid is coming soon. They'd already told me Sunday that most of their teachers have decided to start their holiday Tuesday but I refused to believe that. We have an obligation to teach our 15 week schedule. If teachers decide to start their holidays 2 days before Eid then what model are we setting to our students? When are people in Kuwait going to learn to respect their jobs and be dedicated to them? I realize that many times these jobs can be unsatisfying. But this is the university for crying out loud. Is our job only to teach them what Shakespeare meant by this line and what Plato meant by his cave allegory? Don't we have a bigger moral responsibility to bring up better citizens? Many teachers have the habit of missing the first and last week of classes, claiming that students don't show up anyway. Isn't this the chicken and the egg dilema? If teachers don't commit to their classes why should students do that? I see a few teachers around me, so it's good to know that there are some dedicated ones here. But Kaifan is deserted and it's depressing and I have to stay here for my two other classes at 11 and 2.

So what do I do to kill time?

BLOG.

Thank you for your time ladies and gentlemen. I am now off to class, leaving you with my current msn picture:

Update: 30% attendance at 9:30, 50% at 11, and 30% again at 2.

But guess what? Classrooms were locked at 2. Kuwait University. Go figure!!!

Oh and this from Al-Qabas today: الـجلال يؤكد: لا تهاون في الغياب

24 comments:

Purgatory said...

why did you show up?

Hanan said...

purg. 'cause I had to. It's officially a school day, no?

Purgatory said...

What would happen if you do not show up?

Hanan said...

nothing :) I don't show up. They don't show up. It becomes a habit, a bad one at that.

morning class I had 30% attendance. 11 o'clock class 50%. I'm hoping my 2 o'clock would pick it up to 80%

and how are you this morning purg?

Purgatory said...

excited, 3eeed is tomorrow :)

Hanan said...

It is? Not Thursday? I don't want it tomorrow. I want Sunday off :(

shosho said...

Purg moo shar6, it could be the day after :P

Shurouq said...

Sunday is guaranteed off regardless

And don't give me the guilt trip.. I respect my job but I have a problem with my working hours

I skipped work yesterday by the way

Hanan said...

YAY so Sunday is off.
Shurouq. Don't sweat it. Classrooms were locked at 2 ?!!!

A3sab said...

My god when i read that your working in Kaifan campus "shahagt" it looks does look so depressing.

Asma said...

Hanan, Believe me it already became a habit and not only in KU but almost everywhere in kuwait!
Yup I've heard that Sunday will be off anyway ;) enjoy it

Anonymous said...

I woke up early as a bird and went to school, and found a parking RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GATE!! Can you believe that? This thing only happnes once or twice a year, and what it means is:

a) there are no classes
b) your biological clock isn't working properly; you're going to school on weekend

I thought I'd debate about what to believe later, called my friends and they all picked up sounding either so damn sleepy, sending sleepy rays thru the phone speakers, or so pissed off to be awakened from their sleep. So I decided to attend my class anyways. I did. There were only three of us, and the instructor looked like he was toying with the idea of making a u-turn and pretending that we didn't exist. The lecture lasted for less than ten minutes, so I drove back home.
If tomorrow's not eid, i'll have to attend my 8-o'clock class, but I'm thinking of saving time, effort, and fuel and being a vampire for a day by sleeping as soon as the sun rises.

Spontaneousnessity said...

kho meta il3eed kho

Anonymous said...

3eed's on thursday.

Mother Courage said...

yup , that's how things work in kuwait . not only KU !

Miss. hanan . welcome to our beloved kuwait =)

9oot said...

Do you really teach Plato’s cave allegory in KU? Wow, am impressed. And how do you teach it in Arabic anyways!

Hanan said...

A3sab. Kaifan isn't always depressing but was utterly so this Tuesday.

Asma. Welcome to my blog. First time, no?

q8yshareef. The funny thing here is that some students were conscientious enough to show up only to find the university has locked the classroom doors against them.

zorath. Pillows can be tempting.

anon. I think it's quite safe to miss Wednesday since the rooms were locked Tuesday anyway.

spont. I see Q's post is affecting you :)
And I believe anon answered you.

mother courage. Miss? You dare call me miss? you must be one of my old stubborn students :)

9oot. I teach it in English with the help of a short video clip.

waterlilie. I did. Those who attended Tuesday got 2 bonus points.

Anonymous said...

what's even more depressing than the unspoken absence agreement is when you get lab assistants covering up/lying for the tutors that never showed up for class

Jacqui said...

YAY Bonus points :P

ValenciaLover said...

How about my friend who doesn't want to work all mornings in Ramadan, just because we have night shifts.
Oh, did i mention that our night shift is only one hour 30 minutes? That is 8pm 9:30 pm!!!

Chocolate Fondue? mmmm, Yalla meta?

ValenciaLover said...

I meant 8 to 9:30 pm

Sheba said...

I guess this is the last straw, we're at the pit!

This is the 3rd time i hear of this this week & i am so angry and disappointed, beyond words.

Asma said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Asma said...

Yup, first and not last ;)