Gradness Madness

This author complains about students who disclose information to others (especially profs) that seems (in his opinion) too personal.  He seems affronted to be the recipient of such information.

My thoughts:

1.  Perhaps some instructors would rather give assignments, have students complete those assignments, and that’s the extent of the interaction.  I suppose it’s a valid model.  But in my view, there’s some interaction on the personal level happening between instructors and students every day.  We’re people.  We live in community with others.  Some of the personal stuff is going to leak over into our academic lives. Life’s messy that way.

2.  Our students are young adults, and learning to navigate the challenges of adulthood in an environment where, perhaps for the first time, they don’t have parental guidance.  Their friends aren’t much help; they don’t know any more than our students do.  At times, they may share something with a trusted adult (that’s me and you).  Our challenge is to handle it appropriately.

What do you think?

https://chronicle.com/article/article-content/133169/