You Missed Your Plane, Kiddo.

I sent this out today:

Dear Parent,

Dusty and I spoke today about his assignment. I've given this a great deal of thought.

Dusty had a deadline. He had twenty-two days to meet it; the deadline date and the consequences of missing it were printed on his calendar. I reminded the class two weeks before, then the week of, the deadline. I even spoke directly to him. He didn't meet the deadline.

What's troubling to me is that if I go against my word, and allow Dusty to complete the book report, Dusty learns that his grades don't really depend on his actions, but his teachers; he no longer has any ownership of his work. The situation becomes about me (whether I'm the 'nice' teacher or the 'mean' teacher), rather than about Dusty's actions and their consequences. In turn, I become a teacher who, because she breaks a standing and well-publicized policy for one person, loses the credibility for holding students to a standard of responsibility.

I think Dusty is a tremendous kid; he's bright, funny, and works well with people. I understand your concern for his continued academic and personal success. I think that if he wants to go to Prestigious University, he will not allow anything to stop him from achieving that goal; he will therefore complete the necessary classes, participate in extracurricular activities, and meet the required deadlines.

Dusty will not be presenting his assignment to the class; he will not earn credit for it. If you have further questions or concerns, please email or call me.

Sincerely,

OKP

I guess it's because I'm in the position of power here that I still feel squidgy* about the situation. I think Dusty should present his report so he can have the practice of doing so. But there's no way to do it that doesn't compromise the work I've done preparing, or the standards I've set. And I teach in a community where carpool gossip delivers swift and deadly plagues upon those who make exceptions.

I know there's the other school of thought that, distilled, argues this: we should grade on work, not responsibility. Grade the product. He's prepared to go; he should present. I'm doing him and myself a disservice, since this lowers his grade not because of the quality of the work, but because he didn't complete the process.

But if you're late, you miss your plane. The restaurant is gives your reservation away. You don't get the job.

Bleah. I don't know how I feel right now. Oh wait, yes I do: squidgy.

*Unsure, ambivalent, with emphasis on the feelings in the gut. Not a dictionary-sanctioned word.