This term I’m a co-teacher.
Okay, this is no big deal.  I’ve been a co-teacher before for this particular college.  What it’s supposed to amount to is a third of the pay at half of the work.   The theory is that, since this is a beginning class of new online learners, that two teachers is better than one.  I would be able to shield and do half of the work while the main teacher interacts with the students more, able to grade assignments quickly, and to model that teamwork is supposedly a valuable commodity at the workplace.

Yes, I said — supposedly.–

Here’s the list of offenses.
*  We’re in Week 3 and ready to start Week 4 on Saturday.  (This is a 7 week course, so we’re about half way through.)   She has JUST completed grading Week 1 assignments which brought her overall total from 70 to 59.
*  She is supposed to virtually interact with students on the discussion board – which she hasn’t to date.  I mean, she might respond to about 5 of the 20+ students in a week leaving the rest to me – which shouldn’t be happening, but I’m contract bound to pick up the bones.
*  Once a week she is supposed to email failing students.  You know, the “why are you failing my class and how can I bend over backwards to bring you back into the fold” sort of email.  I checked.   This hasn’t been done.
—  And the thing is that coaches (supervisors) are supposed to check in weekly… and she’s getting away with all this.  If it was me, I’d get nailed on all this.  The main teacher either knows someone, has a free pass, or there’s some sort of agreement I don’t know about.

Personally, I don’t know where she gets off.   These are first years.  Sure, they’re adults, but they’re students.  Some are scared of online, all of them are busy, and they have lives.  Per college guidelines, assignments — must — be graded and returned by a certain time.  I feel that she just flaunts this.

Of course, I’ve not-so gently inquired why she is so far behind.  Response?
“Oh, I teach 4 classes for 3 different colleges and my husband works full time.  I’m battling anxiety, but I’ll be better soon!”

Okay –  Look, I understand the anxiety thing… Lord, do I understand it.  At one point, I was regularly having panic attacks three to four times a week.  I fully understand feeling overburdened…  But — just — four classes?

She HAS to be kidding me.   If I only had to manage four classes, which is (supposedly) 40 to 60 hours a week per the government, I would never had to be locked away at the House for three months.

Not to boast or anything, but my workload was regularly 8 to 12 courses from 5 different colleges.  There’s no break.  When one ends, another begins, and one is in midterm.  I handled this.  Maybe I didn’t handle it well providing what happened to me, but I did and still would have if fate hadn’t intervened.  And you know what, I can handle it now.

So, oddly enough, I have zero sympathy for this person.
Her husband works, which is a source of income I didn’t have.
She bends the rules, somehow, to her favor and I just could never, ever, never, do such a thing.

Yes, okay, handling 12 classes isn’t fun.  The whole teaching part is just thrown out the window but I — respected — the students.  That’s why I never left the laptop.  If someone needed something, I was there.  I mean, right there.  Like I could leave for all the fracking grading, but I’d stop to help someone.

Adult students are, typically, sold on a dream.  Once they gain their associates, life will be better.  They’ll make more money.  Be respected.  Their children will be happy.  It’s the American Dream.

It’s a pipe dream.
They never think about how many people are in the same position they are in.  Two year degrees?  Ha, that’s the new GED, especially if (so called) free college is provided. – That’s a whole other topic.

Sure, some may make it and set a golden example, but that’s what our society focuses on.  The dream that few obtain, but everyone tries and ultimately fails.   It’s like people who spend money on the lottery.  If they’d put the money in a savings account instead of buying loosing pieces of paper, they’d probably be happier at the end of the year.

But this isn’t about the end of the year.   This is about seeking gratification today, or at least in a couple of years.  It’s the eternal hope that dies with every lottery pull and springs again in a gas station.

I like to think that the adult learners know this.  They’ve been around the proverbial block a couple of times.  Mostly single parents, they know.   And if they don’t know, they’re going to find out soon.

People focus on what they want, not what they need.
They want to win the lottery.  They want to be successfully employed by earning an associates in the quickest way possible…  It’s an illusion.

But, it makes them happy.  It does take a certain amount of courage to enroll into college.  No doubt..  but…

Anyways, I’m rattling.

All I see are assignments not graded and discussions ignored from this “main” teacher.  It’s disrespectful to the adult students, to the college, and to her supposed devotion to helping the students become better.

And it bothers me.  A lot.

It’s not my place.
I can’t curb this abuse, no matter how much I would like to.
The supervisor safeguards have failed.

It’s disgusting and the students don’t even know.

I just can’t seem to let it go.

Well, 4.5 more weeks to go.
Wish me luck.