Sapper Replies To A Student

I received a message from a student in my 9:25 TT HIST I class yesterday. He was reacting to a minor confrontation I had with a coed at the end of that class. She foolishly asked if she could get through the course (despite all of my preaching to the countrary) without using WebCT. (The course management system at Amarillo College that provides Mail, Bulletin Board, Glossary, Quizzes, as well as links to the course syllabus, practice tests in the textbook Web site, and the like.) I wanted to say: You have as the same chance of passing as snowball in Hell has of not melting. I said something that went to effect of do whatever you want (fool — unstated). The coed went on, Will I get extra credit if I succeed in this course without using WebCT? I said, No, and dismissed class. Mr. Moses wrote to me in WebCT Mail (after he got out of class?) and expressed dismay at what passes for a student at Amarillo College in Fall 2003.

The irony is that the High Poo Bahs at Amarillo College give full faith and credit to the opinions of the coed discussed above. That student has as much business evaluating me and my competence as she would have in a local hospital performing brain surgery.

How much longer, O Lord, how much longer?

In message 24 on Thursday, September 11, 2003 12:13pm, Henry Moses writes:

Hello Dr. Sapper,

I hope you're having a wonderful day with all of your eternally grateful students.

Oh wait, I mean those who choose to show up. Oh wait, did I say grateful, I meant seemingly ungrateful. Anyway, I was thinking about this when I became curious as to why you stay at Amarillo College. Wouldn't you rather teach at a university, where the students actually have an idea as to why they're in school. I love Amarillo College and I'm glad it's here so that I can get back into the college groove.

As I've told you before, I really do appreciate the discipline you are teaching us, but I just don't understand why you would want to stay here and put up with IDIOTS who think it's funny to try to get through your class without using WebCT and then trying to be cute by asking if they'll get extra credit for passing your class without using it. I have been to academic hell by dropping out of high school and I'm blessed to be given a second chance. This however, is not true for most people and I really hope that some of these young "Idiots" will realize this and get things rolling before it's too late. Anyway, thanks for letting me vent a little. I wouldn't mind hearing your reasoning for staying and putting up with the AC way.

God bless you and have a great day.

Hank Moses



Wow, Mr. Moses. That is world-class venting.

Why am I still at Amarillo College? I have been asked that by a regiment of former student. Usually, the question comes in the checkout line of a supermarket or a discount store. The former student recognizes me and asks THE QUESTION. It's as if the student thinks that I am on the gigantic treadmill of life: spinning my wheels at Amarillo College while they have moved up/on to be a checker in a retail store.

I have been at Amarillo College for 31-going-on-32 years. Why? Inertia. Laziness. Fear of the unknown. (It's better to deal with the devil you know than the one you don't.) Providing my children with the stability of never moving away from their community and friends and never changing schools (K-12) without a support group. My children have grown up and moved away with vows of never to return and I am still in Amarillo and still at Amarillo College. My children are successful; both have reached the big time in their respective fields. So, as I look back upon it, the investment of my life was worthwhile.

I wish that I could claim that I had made such a contribution to my students. As you state — very bluntly — the are a lot of students who don't get it. Some never will. Some take advantage of a second chance. I hate to say it, but the AC Option (Not doing a DAMN thing!) is not uncommon at most colleges and universities. The rare exceptions are places like Harvard and Yale and Stanford and the like. There are slackers in those schools, but they are few and far between.

There are many other reasons that I am still at Amarillo College, but I have stated the basics in this reply. In the meantime, thank you for your kind words. I am grateful that I know the Moses family: your mom, your sisters, and your brother. If I had been anywhere other than still at Amarillo College, I wouldn't have had the Fabulous Flying Moses Family in my classes.

Have a great weekend, Mr. Moses. See you in class.

-Dr. Sapper