So far all of my MBA classes have placed at least 15% of my grade on participation and attendance.  Very often (as is the case this semester), one of my teachers is so horrible that they have to make attendance mandatory otherwise no one would come to class.  If you miss more than one class (for whatever reason) your grade gets docked.

I am not good at sitting through classes taught be teachers that are bland, uninteresting and really do not purveymuch information.  I’d rather spend my time doing something that takes advantage of my limited resources.  Thank God, I can access the Internet.  You will notice my Facebook usage is most prevalent on Monday nights.  My Wednesday night class is actually interesting and engaging.  A couple of Mondays ago, one classmate next to me what playing a game, the other writing a paper for another class, the other e-mailing her friends.

Why make attendance mandatory?  If no one shows up and everyone gets a good grade, that says something to you as a teacher.  We’re in advanced, advanced education and you’re still forcing students to come, really?  If I chose to not attend and I need to, my grade will suffer.  Am I not old and responsible enough to make my own decisions?  I suppose the University rather have bodies just taking up space than students actually learning.

The difference between a teacher who can truly teach and one that can’t is education changing, no life-altering.  I look forward to Wednesdays.  I can’t wait to go to class and I come home energized and challenged.  I will remember the lessons and conversations for the rest of my life.  To bad, I can’t say the same thing about Mandatory Mondays.