Is "nice" enough?

By Melanie Ann Wahlberg

Usually when I announce an upcoming mathematics test, there is a chorus of groans from my students, followed by a plea from one brave soul—"Be nice!" The student means, "Write an easy test so that we won't have to study hard."

Students who have had me before know not to expect an easy exam. So, maybe I'm not so nice. I do want the best for them, though, and a semester of easy tests wouldn't benefit them in the long run.

I understand their reaction. As a student, I often wanted to get a break from studying. But the teachers I remember with the most respect and gratitude are the ones who maintained high expectations of me and the rest of the class, ultimately helping us perform better than we thought we could. The challenging professors actually did me the most good.

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