I had thought I had a smarter bunch this time.
Not so.
A smarter bunch wouldn't have tried to turn in papers late without having first asked for an extension. This bunch? Two Muslims and a theater student have all tried it.
I do not take late papers. Not even turned in one class day late, before I've really managed to get much grading done. I've offered them three ways to turn papers in on time: in person in hard copy, through the class site directly to the grade book, and by email attachment. Electronic copy is due by midnight of the due date, which gives an extra thirteen or fourteen hours, depending on which class it is.
Still. Three zeroes.
Yeah, I'm irritated. REALLY irritated. Because two of those papers? Will be C papers at best, and aren't worth my time and effort due to outside issues preventing them from being capable of better.
The other one is an A student who "forgot," because she's the stage manager for both one of the university theater department's plays, and one of the local city little theater plays. At the same time.
Yes, they have a chance to do better--I have a policy that late papers can be turned in during the two hour block of time set aside during finals week for our class. That means, however, that they cannot revise that particular paper.
I cannot bring myself to care that that means that two of them will likely lose their scholarships and be sent home.
I cannot bring myself to care that that means that the other will likely lose a potential letter grade from her potential final grade.
They're supposed to be adults. I cannot let myself care about whether they succeed or not. They have to learn to do this on their own.
Or not.
2 hours ago
Yep. That's part of going to College/University. You follow the rules, or face the consequences.
ReplyDeleteHypothetical....what if someone had a genuine, verifiable emergency, like being taken to the hospital?
I missed turning in a term paper due to being in the hospital, and the teacher was flexible enough to allow me to tuen it in late.
That's a little different, not a "I forgot to turn it in."
DeleteTo a point, and it depends on circumstances--I do take things submitted by email and through the course site. I also grant extensions when asked, even on the day a paper's due, so long as it's asked for before midnight.
And that only goes so far: I posted an announcement for my class from the hospital, switching the class from traditional to online, because I'd gone into labor early. And I kept up with teaching and grading, despite my son spending five weeks in the NICU, with me spending all of my time with him.
I'd say you're a very fair and reasonable teacher, and the kids got what they deserved!
ReplyDeleteI try very hard to be reasonable, to the point of doing things late (on my schedule) rather than being mean and unfair because something hurts (like the sinus headache I had all weekend).
DeleteAnd I tend to make sure that they don't get penalized if they don't deserve it, but have to deal with the consequences otherwise. That way, they may not wind up fired from every job they try to do, later in life.
Reasonable action... Problem is, YOU will be blamed for their lapses... Sigh
ReplyDeleteNah. I teach college, not public school.
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