4 ms·

While I agree with a lot of what you are saying, I would suggest (beginning by) asking the professor why he/she is disallowing global vars. In the follow-up ema

While I agree with a lot of what you are saying, I would suggest (beginning by) asking the professor why he/she is disallowing global vars. In the follow-up email, perhaps explain to the professor the difficulties that you and your tutoree encountered because of their inexperience and suggest that students be allowed to use global vars (and their aesthetic code layout of choice). Either in this email or the 3rd email, if there's still no success, you can probably outline your position without turning them off. In spite of the difficulty, it sounds like you are offering a good resource for your student by fostering and supporting their passion for programming.

alnayyir 18y ago
I've had people tutor/apprentice under me from time to time. I usually find them sincerely grasping for help in IRC, and I rescue them from the denizens of #C if they cannot get help. What'll usually pique my interest is that they did try to google/research something before they asked the question. I've got only one student under me right now. Frankly, part of what makes me do it is unemployment. It keeps my mind off of bills and the need to find a software gig. The above email is already sent to the professor. I'm fully aware that there was a more diplomatic way of approaching the matter, but experience tells me that nothing I could've said would've changed anything. Instead I'm opting for a direct and forceful approach in the hopes I shock them out of ignorance of what they're doing to their students. I don't expect them to change the project requirements, but I hope this makes the professor realize how much their students are struggling and perhaps start explaining the language before slapping code on the projector. Thanks for the advice and note of agreement.
- joshwprinceton 18y ago
  I hope so too, goodluck!

alnayyir 18y ago

I've had people tutor/apprentice under me from time to time. I usually find them sincerely grasping for help in IRC, and I rescue them from the denizens of #C if they cannot get help. What'll usually pique my interest is that they did try to google/research something before they asked the question. I've got only one student under me right now. Frankly, part of what makes me do it is unemployment. It keeps my mind off of bills and the need to find a software gig. The above email is already sent to the professor. I'm fully aware that there was a more diplomatic way of approaching the matter, but experience tells me that nothing I could've said would've changed anything. Instead I'm opting for a direct and forceful approach in the hopes I shock them out of ignorance of what they're doing to their students. I don't expect them to change the project requirements, but I hope this makes the professor realize how much their students are struggling and perhaps start explaining the language before slapping code on the projector. Thanks for the advice and note of agreement.

joshwprinceton 18y ago
I hope so too, goodluck!