The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 883 - 852: Stern Teacher, Roll Call

Chapter 883: Chapter 852: Stern Teacher, Roll Call

He Tiantian took books, lesson materials, and a list of students’ names out of her bag.

Then she took out a tissue to wipe the lectern and placed her bag beside it.

"Now that everyone has had three minutes to discuss and get over their curiosity, let’s begin our class," He Tiantian said with a smile, surveying the large classroom, hoping her gaze would quiet the students.

Where He Tiantian’s large and bright eyes roved, indeed, quiet settled in.

"Since this is modern and contemporary literature, let’s talk about which works everyone has read," He Tiantian said with a smile, "I have the student rosters for several classes here. I’ll ask in order, which will also allow me to get to know some of you. My question is very simple: which modern and contemporary literary works have you read, and which one is your favorite? Why? Let’s start with the Department of Traditional Opera. Wang Kaidong, you go first."

As she spoke, He Tiantian wrote the just-posed questions on the blackboard.

A boy seated at the back stood up when the teacher called his name. Wang Kaidong said, "Hello, Teacher He. My name is Wang Kaidong. I’ve read literature by Lu Xun and Ba Jin’s novels such as "Home," "Spring," and "Autumn." I particularly like Ba Jin’s novels. His "Home," "Spring," and "Autumn" expose the ugliness and tragedies of modern Chinese feudal families and also convey the characters’ intense revolutionary fervor..."

He Tiantian nodded approvingly, "Well said, very good. Please sit down!"

He Tiantian then wrote Ba Jin’s name and his Torrents Trilogy – "Home," "Spring," and "Autumn" – on the blackboard behind her.

She took a pen and ticked off Wang Kaidong’s name on the student roll, a method to both keep track of students and take attendance.

"Next, Li Tang!" said He Tiantian.

Li Tang also shared his favorite readings and personal reflections.

He Tiantian worked to associate names with faces to strengthen her memory.

When she called the seventh student, there was no response.

"Is Wu Mian not present?" He Tiantian asked, "Has he asked for leave? Where is the class president?"

Wang Kaidong, the first student, stood and said, "Wu Mian mentioned he felt unwell and wanted to take a leave."

Upon hearing this, He Tiantian smiled faintly, "On your first day of school, you all received a book with a student guide, which includes the procedures for taking leave. Please tell Wu Mian to make sure to follow the necessary steps. If he is too ill to attend class, he must provide proof of consultation from the infirmary or hospital along with approval and signature from the department office. Since we have an absence, let me mention my class policy: my assessment is different from other teachers. Eighty percent of your final grade comes from test scores and the remaining twenty percent from class attendance. This semester, I have sixty-four classes, and if a student is absent from four sessions without a valid reason, they will receive zero for their attendance grade."

"What?" There was an uproar from the students.

Some were there for class, and some were not.

"Teacher, actually, actually..." Wang Kaidong started to become anxious, blaming that damned Wu Mian.

For not attending the class properly.

Wang Kaidong, please sit down. Did everyone understand my words?" Teacher He said, "Don’t skip classes and expect to earn twenty points for participation. That’s impossible, even if you get the dean to intercede, I won’t budge. As students, unless you’re too sick to get up, I don’t see any reason for missing class. If you don’t want to attend, there was no need to go through so much trouble to get into university. If you got in, then cherish the opportunity! Also, let me add that for this course, I do not accept makeup exams. If you fail, you’ll have to retake it next year."

He Tiantian asserted.

Her gaze swept over the students.

"Next, Song Qian," He Tiantian announced.

The class went on for two full periods with a ten-minute break in between.

He Tiantian had called on students from two classes to answer questions, and with five minutes remaining, she began calling the roll for the remaining two classes. In total, nine students were absent, five boys and four girls.

He Tiantian wrote all the names down in her notebook.

As the class neared its end, He Tiantian pointed to the blackboard where students had pointed out important information, and she underlined the titles of the required books for the semester: "The books marked with a triangle below are required reading for this term. Take note of them and find time to read them, as they will be covered in the exams."

Some students paid no attention and began packing up to leave.

He Tiantian, with a beaming smile, said, "Also, during each class, I’ll highlight the key points for the exam. After the exam is over, I won’t mark the range anymore. Everyone who listens carefully in class and reads diligently afterwards will do well. Alright, the bell has rung, and that’s the end of today’s class. Goodbye, everyone."

"Stand up. Goodbye, Teacher He." Wang Kaidong led, and the other students followed.

He Tiantian packed up her things, gave a slight bow, and said, "Goodbye, everyone."

Then, with her bag slung over her shoulder, she left with graceful steps.

In the office, only Teacher Liu and Teacher Da Chen were present. Seeing He Tiantian, Teacher Liu greeted her, "How was your class, Teacher He?"

"The class atmosphere was okay, but to have absentees on the first day was disheartening, and I’ve recorded all of them," He Tiantian replied with a wry smile. "At such a good time, to skip class is quite frustrating."

"Yeah, it’s true. Many students don’t value class time. They come when they’re happy and skip when they’re not. Scolding or criticizing them is useless," Teacher Liu concurred, "and the school doesn’t have a good solution either."

Teacher Da Chen chuckled bitterly, "I teach sophomores, and the absenteeism is even worse. They always have some performance or another, and who knows if it’s true or false."

He Tiantian thought for a moment and said, "This can’t go on, if we treat students who attend and those who don’t equally, it’s unfair to those who do attend seriously."

"We’ve been thinking about that too, and indeed many students have complaints," Teacher Liu said. "Today, I had seven absentees, and between the two classes, only about fifty students showed up."

He Tiantian suggested, "When I was teaching in Nan City, they made some reforms. The final exam score only accounted for eighty percent of the final grade, while attendance during the term contributed the remaining twenty percent. With this, students dared not skip class."

"But how can we determine attendance?" Teacher Liu’s eyes lit up. "Teacher He, please tell us more. Maybe we can find a solution."

Clearly, it was He Tiantian’s idea, but it became "our" idea in Teacher Liu’s words.