Why Students Flung Out

¶ … discouraging situation for any aspiring student to be faced with is the possibility of "flunking out" of school. The self-esteem of the "flunky" suffers, and the probability of someday returning to school and obtaining a degree often becomes an improbability. Academic dismissal is not an entity that hides in the foliage, ambushing students on their way to class. Instead, there are telltale markers that a student might be on the road to flunking out. Improper preparation, non-participation, and not asking for help with difficult academic situations, are issues that must be identified and overcome to avoid the dreaded F- word.

The first step on the journey to flunking out is improper preparation for class. The materials needed to successfully navigate a course are outlined at the beginning of the term. If a student chooses not to do the required reading, or purchase (borrow) the supplemental materials suggested by the instructor then how could that student expect to have a complete understanding of the curriculum? Not studying for quizzes or examinations is another way that improper preparation can win a student a ticket to flunking out. Receiving consistently sub-par marks on major assignments will place a student in academic jeopardy. If this behavior is sustained the school has no choice but to flunk the student out. If a student attends class but does not have the necessary tools to gain the most from the instruction, the pupil's interest in the subject matter often wanes. This disinterest leads to the second rung on the ladder to dismissal, non-participation.

Non-participation is an attache to improper preparation, but what exactly does non-participation encompass? Non-participation can mean failing to complete assignments on time, or simply not doing them at all. Non-participation can also entail showing up for class late or the failure to attend class altogether. Another factor that can be identified as non-participatory is a failure by the student to engage in group discussions. If a student has taken the time to enroll in a class it would be in the pupil's favor to get the most out of the instruction given. Perhaps the desire to not engage oneself in the class is due to a lack of understanding of the subject matter. If this is the scenario, approaching the teacher and explaining the situation is in the student's best interest. The failure to ask for help could be the final nail in destroying your academic career.

Most teachers are in the profession of teaching because they want to help others to learn. (Not because of the stellar compensation) The idiom "Ignorance can not be justified as innocence" is a good refrain to keep in mind when thinking about approaching a teacher for help or not. If a student were to have a problem with comprehending the material taught, most teachers are available before or after class to answer questions and address concerns. Many teachers also provide tutorial referrals, or suggest extra credit as a way to improve academic standings. Instructors are human and personal situations (eg. A death in the family) can also be discussed and taken into consideration. Not asking for help is often tied into "saving face" or ego. But which is worse, asking for help, getting it and staying in school, or not asking for aid and flunking out? The help is there if the student cares enough about schooling enough to ask for it.