Flatline

Posted on March 31, 2011 by David Randall

It could have been Marathon Monday +1 or Friday afternoon before spring break, based on the Engagement Factor (# students -(# absentees * number of in-class blank stares), but it was only the last Thursday in March (is Eve of April Fool’s Day Eve a mandatory party night?)  Something–another course’s exam?–cast a wind shadow across this morning’s Real Estate Law, killing all forward motion and leaving us becalmed and adrift, save for determined paddling by a few able souls.  It was brutal.  It was so brutal I sense the specter of Cold Caller, the Avenger of Apathy, the Scourge of Slackerism, the Destroyer of Distraction, lurking in the shadows, gathering his roster, yellow highlighter, and bony finger of accusation:  ”You!  What’s the issue in this case, and why did the court grant the defendant’s motion for summary judgment?”

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  • Alex Gershen

    We had one of those days with you in Spring 2009. After about 5 minutes of silence from the class, you invited a student to cancel class if they dare speak up. Sure enough our weekend started about an hour earlier. But since I was blanking out, I didn't realize what happened until you had already left the room.

    • drandall

      And I thought you wore that deeply introspective look because you were totally engaged with the material.

  • Natalie

    The equation written is quite accurate, I think that students get so overwhelmed for school that when there is that tiny glimpse of freedom (aka spring break) we just go blank. I know that for my economics class, as soon as the professor starting going into derivates of graphs, I turned back to see rows of students either asleep or completely dozed off into mid-space. I feel bad for professors sometimes, because they just have to akwardly stand infront of the classroom and force discussion.