Sacramento State professor abandons his class, takes TA out to breakfast because his students didn't bring snacks
The Sacramento Bee
November 14, 2011
Sacramento State professor George Parrott walked out of his Psychology 101 lab class Thursday morning because his students didn't bring any snacks.
Instead, he says, he went to breakfast with his teaching assistant.
The professor said students are told of the requirement to bring snacks on the first day of class. A handout from the teacher is clear – "Not having a snack = no Dr. Parrott or TAs. Now you are responsible for your own lab assignment."
He said the snack obligation is his way of encouraging students to work collectively. It connects students who might not otherwise interact on a commuter campus, said the professor.
"Having these goodies in the class breaks down some of the formality and some of the rigidity in the class, which is one of the most stressful for students," Parrott said.
But students are crying foul, saying the teacher left before a review for a midterm to be given Monday. The test accounts for a good portion of their grade.
"Our education isn't worth food, it's for us," said Francisco Chavez, a student in the class.
