It's my least favorite time of year; students haven't made up work or turned in work, and now they're panicking with only a few weeks left in the semester. I've recently had several emails from kids, wanting to make up missed work. It's hard to say no, but if I don't, I'll suffer more than they will. Sadly, their poor choices become my problem rather than their problem. Saying "no" means their anger and frustration will show in my class.
The irony of it all is how much advance notice students are given about the policies and coursework in the class. I begin the first day, telling them of my policies. I have them fill out a sheet regarding my policies, which they and their parents sign. Nearly half my classes didn't do the worksheet, so I had to give them another chance to complete it. I still had a half dozen or so who never did it. I review policies throughout a semester as a reminder of what is expected. Assignments are given in advance, posted on a homework board and my website, and time is given in class to complete them. And yet, many students don't take responsibility for themselves and don't do the work.
Now they're failing. And it's my fault. I'm unfair, unreasonable. Seriously? I'm unclear how much more I have to do for my students. They have access to their grades on a daily basis, not only through a program called Parent Portal, but they can also pick up their papers and keep track of their grades. Do they? No. I have bins loaded with unclaimed papers.
Sometimes I wonder how different it is for our male teachers. Do students play a 'sympathy' card with them or do they think female teachers are more lenient about deadlines? I've been told before that I need to be more nurturing toward our students, but how much more nurturing should I be when they don't take responsibility for themselves?
Thankfully, most of my students are responsible people and don't waste time asking to turn in work that's months old. But the ones who are irresponsible leave a bad taste. They overshadow those who do what's asked. They cause problems, they act out when they don't get their ways, and the rest of us...responsible students and myself...have to deal with them.
What will happen to the irresponsible students once the safety nets of high school are removed? Where will they go? What will they do? Will they be able to hold down jobs in the future if they can barely turn in classwork now? Will they eventually see the need to complete work on time and to take responsibility for themselves? How will their negative attitudes help or hurt them in their futures?
All questions teachers routinely ask themselves. However, quite possibly a failure now, when there is less risk, will help a student forge a better path, a path of responsibility. Growing up in a 'me' generation, a generation where ribbons are awarded to any child capable of breathing, has created a generation of people who expect everything to be handed to them. Failure demonstrates the need to apply oneself; failure demonstrates the need for responsibility and action.
Ultimately, failure is an option. We've all failed at something, and it's made us more aware and stronger. We've learned to rise above it and move forward. And therefore, when students want another chance to do something that was due ages ago, I feel comfortable telling them no. They will be better people for learning a lesson in duty and responsibility, a far better lesson than if I accept their work.
