“You are paid to answer my questions!”

Actually, you are paid to do something rather more subtle than that. You see, contrary to common belief, the students are not your customers. Or at least they are not your only customers.

You are paid to help students to learn and to evaluate that learning and certify it as acceptable only if it meets certain standards (which are set by the expectations of people who will be looking at the credential that the school does issue and are enforced by the accreditation agencies).

So answering their questions is a part of your job, but so is knowing which question are meaningful or helpful.

None of which really illuminates what you should do when confronted by this student, but it does provide a better framework for understanding your job than the one suggested by the student.

“You are paid to answer my questions!”

Actually, you are paid to do something rather more subtle than that. You see, contrary to common belief, the students are not your customers. Or at least they are not your only customers.

You are paid to help students to learn and to evaluate that learning and certify it as acceptable only if it meets certain standards (which are set by the customs of your discipline and the expectations of people who will be looking at the credentials that the school does issue and are enforced by the accreditation agencies).

So answering their questions is a part of your job, but so is knowing which question are meaningful or helpful.

None of which really illuminates what you should do when confronted by this student, but it does provide a better framework for understanding your job than the one suggested by the student.