During my lab times this week, I pulled each student aside and gave them fairly accurate progress reports as they enter the home stretch of their summer session. I teach human physiology, and from what I can gathe from colleagues in the nursing field, if students can't succeed in my class, then they probably won't have much of a chance in an RN program. So here is my dilemma! When I sit down to deliver these reports, I have adopted the stance that if the student is failing my class, then I feel obligated to "redirect" them to an alternate field. Is that the right thing to do? I think it is! I for one do not want an underqualified nurse taking care of myself or anyone in my family!
As an instructor at a community college, I have a unique opportunity to teach and counsel people from many different life stages. Don't get me wrong, I love freely dishing out the "A"s and "B"s because if it gets to that point, they are earned grades! If I can't give a student the grade they want, I still am able to find joy in knowing that I may be able to help them find a career path that might actually be better suited for their needs! So once again, is it possible to be too honest with your students? Resoundingly no! We as educators have a responsibility to our students to prepare them for life outside of the classroom, and if a little tough love is needed to spur them on to greater things, then so be it!
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