I've had loads of students come & work with me, and the standards have got worse each year, but I'm 3 days into supervising a student (of a 4 week placement) and ready to tear my hair out. Day 1 Student asked to attend, observe/ assist at an event at the English Institute of Sport 3 hours only. Student e mails at end of the day, said he turned up, couldn't find anyone, so went home. Day 2 Student aske to attend a different event at EIS Text from student: "My girlfriend is going to Australia, am I needed today, I know it's a bit cheeky, and I'll come if I'm really needed." Day 3 Text Do I start at 9 or 10? Text I've missed the bus, I'll get the train, where shall I wait to be picked up? When I replied that his travel arrangements should have been sorted long before now, his reply was that he'd e mailed me 3 weeks ago, though admittedly he could have chased it up. (No mention of the 4 replies I'd sent him trying to confirm his arrangements) Turns up for work, does some work, goes home. Text "It's cost me £8.40 to get into work today. I'm really struggling at the moment... I know it's not your fault, but couldn't the organisation pay half?" Is it me or are students just taking th p### these days? (furious) (banghead)
I work with them on regular basis and to be fair 99.9% of them are ok. You do get the odd one who turns up when they want and does as little as possible. It used to rile me, but I now see it as their loss not mine.
Been on placement myself.. Been left with a class whilst teacher was on a course twice in a week, been planning for the whole of the tier and I've been marking SATs papers. I don't mind any of it, but I think the everyone takes advantage where they can!
Take your point but When students come to work for us we treat them REALLY well We take them on as part of the team, give them varied experiences, pay out of pocket expenses, drive them about, arrange transport, help them find work, provide them with kit. What we DON'T do is take advantage of them. If there's a crap boring job to do, I wouldn't dream of asking someone to do it unless I was prepared to do it myself. This lad seems to think he's doing us a favour by turning up. THe only thing that made me not send him home was that he looked terrified when he arrived. He actually did some good work, but his attitude defies belief.
Maybe it's been a long time since last year .. but on Friday I did a guest lecture & had to kick a student out for being disruptive. Maybe the common denominator is ME!!