Too Nice?
It’s the last week of the quarter and I’m still waiting for a few students to turn in their papers, some of which are weeks, even months late. They all assure me I’ll get them right away (except for the ones who are positive they’ve already submitted them), and I’ve insisted that if the work’s not in my inbox by tomorrow, I won’t accept it—even though, with a simple excuse, I’m sure I will.
Some of my colleagues don’t stand for this; they set strict deadlines that students miss at great peril—specifically, receiving a zero for the assignment. I can’t seem to bring myself to do that, even though it would make my life—or at least the grading aspect of it—simpler.
My feeling is that things come up; students would get their papers in on time if they could; that they don’t isn’t a reflection on me, and anyway, deadlines are arbitrary; it’s not as if there’s going to be some sudden advancement in the field of philosophy that’s going to make their writing obsolete if it’s turned in a few days or weeks or even months after the original due date.
One reasonable objection to my wishy-washiness is that I’m being unfair to students who turn their papers in on time; and I suppose in some way, I am. On the other hand, those who are timely know that I wouldn’t dock them any points if they slacked off like their colleagues. And it’s certainly not easier for the stragglers; the longer they take to turn in their papers, the more time has passed since we’ve discussed the material, so the more independent work they have to do.
Another concern is that I’m not preparing students for the “real world;” their bosses aren’t going to let them turn in reports weeks late, so I’m creating false expectations by letting them do so.
But what if their bosses are too nice, like me?
Some of my colleagues don’t stand for this; they set strict deadlines that students miss at great peril—specifically, receiving a zero for the assignment. I can’t seem to bring myself to do that, even though it would make my life—or at least the grading aspect of it—simpler.
My feeling is that things come up; students would get their papers in on time if they could; that they don’t isn’t a reflection on me, and anyway, deadlines are arbitrary; it’s not as if there’s going to be some sudden advancement in the field of philosophy that’s going to make their writing obsolete if it’s turned in a few days or weeks or even months after the original due date.
One reasonable objection to my wishy-washiness is that I’m being unfair to students who turn their papers in on time; and I suppose in some way, I am. On the other hand, those who are timely know that I wouldn’t dock them any points if they slacked off like their colleagues. And it’s certainly not easier for the stragglers; the longer they take to turn in their papers, the more time has passed since we’ve discussed the material, so the more independent work they have to do.
Another concern is that I’m not preparing students for the “real world;” their bosses aren’t going to let them turn in reports weeks late, so I’m creating false expectations by letting them do so.
But what if their bosses are too nice, like me?
posted by Professor Dave at 7:08 PM
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