I’m on a perpetual loop during final grading. Here’s a good example.
(If you read this and worry that I could be suffering from split personalities-
Us, too.)
Conscience: Maybe we should let them turn in those assignments they didn’t turn in.
Rationality: Why? We didn’t give the other students that kind of leniency.
Conscience: But the other students didn’t have a major crisis and a medical emergency all while grieving for the loss of three loved ones.
Rationality: Yeah… about that- don’t you ever think it’s a little strange that these problems only come to light in the last week of classes?
Conscience: They must have been too scared/down/unwell to tell us.
Rationality: OR.
Conscience: ?
Rationality: OR they’re making it up to get extensions.
Conscience: (gasps) How can you be so cold? You think they would make up major illnesses and a dead grandparent?
Rationality: It happens all the time.
Conscience: I can’t believe we’re related.
Rationality: Just imagine it. They thought we were a big softie, laid on the puppy dog eyes, gave us a sob story, and BOOM- they go from a D to a C.
Conscience: … It really happens?
Rationality: ALL. THE. TIME.
Conscience: Oh… but what if they really were in the hospital and grieving, and we just shrug?
Rationality: Then we just… uh… wait…
Conscience:
Rationality:
Conscience: Maybe we should let them turn in those assignments they didn’t turn in.
