EDITORIALS
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The one thing I would never want

 
 

Too many give up at midterm

The typical Georgia Highlands College student arrives on the first day of classes with new books, freshly sharpened pencils and with the intention of doing well and showing up to class every day.

As the semester passes the pencils seem to get lost, the books are never opened and the good intentions fade away.

Artwrok by Dustin Taylor. By midterm the student realizes he or she has no chance of passing in most classes. The student decides to take a �W� in every class except bowling.

Next semester the student is back with the same books that have never been used, new pencils and the same good intentions.

While some students who have taken the easy way out one semester have learned their lesson, the old faithfuls (the students that retake the same classes over and over) have not.

Colleges give these old faithfuls this option. They allow the students to be irresponsible without penalty as long as they hit the easy button BEFORE midterm.

What would happen if students had to earn their �W�? For instance, what if they had to demonstrate a real need for withdrawing from a class?

Students with legitimate problems, such as serious illness and childcare issues, would still be able to receive a �W.� However, those who sign up for an 8 a.m. class knowing they never wake up until noon will just have to suck it up and go to bed earlier. This earned �W� policy would keep the students motivated.

But it�s not all the colleges� fault. We as students have the ultimate responsibility.

Part of this responsibility is to come to class period, even if we are tired, even if a single snowflake seems to be blocking the driveway and even if we just don�t want to come. We did, after all, sign up for class.

Once we are there instead of sitting in class not asking questions and not participating, we should speak up. So what if we are not right all the time�that�s why we are here, to learn.