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Special Treatment

The period between the end of classes and final exams is often filled with students requesting special treatment, for the rules to be bent for them (and possibly for others, but definitely for them). There are often extenuating circumstances but the wiggle room for me as an instructor tightens up considerably at this point. If extensions are needed waiting to ask for them until after the end of classes is pushing it.

But:  our president asks for special treatment.

But:  politicians advocating on behalf of religious groups who want to be freely able to discriminate ask for special treatment.

But:  two of our supreme court justices demand special treatment for their bribes.

Our students have too many examples right now of powerful people demanding special treatment because of their power. As my students have very little power over me at this point in their careers I can freely say no but for many of them the no's will fade over the years if they persist.

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