I’ve had situations like the one you describe. Many students don’t feel they have any responsibility in the learning process. They expect to be spoon-fed everything, and they want to find someone else to blame for whatever happens to them. Of course, they take this laisser faire attitude with them when they leave school and enter the “real” world. Something has to be done.

So I do my share by holding students accountable. Last semester was my first at Langston, as you probably know, and many of my students last semester were completely appalled that I was so strict about everything (formatting work, adhering to policies, controlling behavior and attitudes, etc.). I had a very difficult time at first. My students this semester weren’t surprised because they had already heard how “mean” I was. :P But the thing is, now that they’re acting better, I don’t have to be as strict and mean. One of my students the other day was yelling through the wall (it’s plaster stuff with a hole cut out around the lighting units… :/) at me (and I paraphrase): “I love you, Mrs. Hawke. They all say you’re mean, but you’re really not!”

As far as spelling and grammar go, I’m not giving up! I don’t care how they talk/text to their friends and family, but they need to know how to seem presentable to adults, especially employers (many of whom don’t know all the rules either??) I told my students that, regardless of whether they like it or not, if they can’t communicate using standard English, people are going to think they’re stupid, even though I know and they know it’s not the case.

I’m wondering how your class discussion on responsibility ended up. Did any of your students understand where you were coming from?