Is it just me, or are we giving too much grace these days? I want to be empathetic. Really, I do. Kids are going through a lot, and I understand that deadlines aren’t always top priority. But I’m getting 5, sometimes 10 late assignments a week, often with vague excuses like “I forgot” or “I was tired.” It’s starting to feel less like flexibility and more like enabling. I don’t want to turn into a hardliner, but I also can’t keep chasing down work and pretending it’s okay. Where’s the line? How do you balance understanding with accountability?

We’ve swung too far into hand-holding. At some point, grace becomes a code word for “no consequences,” and it’s hurting them more than helping.

I tell my students that if they want to turn in late work, I will ask them one question from the homework that they will have to stand up and explain to me in a "minute to win it ". So those that just copy their friend's work, don't attempt to turn it in, and those that do, can demonstrate competency. I've had my late work submissions drop by 2/3rds. They will take the zero rather than be expected to know the material . Fair enough .

Physically, mentally, emotionally I don’t have time to give a lot of grace. I feel like I’m getting more and more put on my plate while resources are being cut left and right. I’m im elementary so it’s not as much about tracking down late assignments, but I’m telling you right now - you take your kid out of school for a week? They missed a week of curriculum that I will never have time to reteach. Your kid doesn’t feel like working? Fine. They can sit quietly in the back or disrupt me and get removed by admin. It’s heartbreaking to see kids digging themselves into an academic hole in elementary school, but I don’t have time to hold everyone’s hands. I send out regular communication for issues, but if the students don’t care and the parents don’t care what else can I do?

This is 100% a product of the Covid years where everyone (in every profession or school setting) decided to give enormous amounts of grace. Kids quickly learned that deadlines don't really count and even the adults in the room aren't holding themselves accountable. I'm not sure how we come back from this new cultural norm though because it's so ubiquitous. I have personally created a 3 strikes policy in my classroom to some success. Trying to show grace without being a total pushover.

I don’t give them “grace”unless there are extenuating circumstances. My deadlines are firm because I’m not going to that to myself.

Whether it’s a legit excuse or a lie, kids need to be held to account. Unless you know the student is struggling bc you have had a mtg about it w the student individually, with a parent or the team, kids should be held to your expectations. When you’re working harder than your client or student, you’re getting played.

Maybe address it with your classes and remind them or update them on your new expectations about delayed work

My calculus class in highschool graded only on test scores. I did every assignment while the teacher went over answers with the other students.

As a teacher of college courses, I did the same. Graded only on my tests/final. If they want to fail. They will. Let them.

Homework shouldn't be a huge ordeal, nor should late assignment. Let them lose say 5% each day they are late? I was Valedictorian with a 4.0 in HS and College. I can tell you i had way more on my mind then just my homework... but I did it always. I procrastinated and did everything last minute.

We give students 1 day for every excused absence they have accrued. However we also advise parents that it is up to the teacher. So if the same student is always late or absence with no excuse (illness, doctor appt, etc.), then the teacher doesn't have to allow them to make up or hand in late work for credit.

Even when my students turn in their work late or ask for an extension I say you will get late points. they use excuses but I hold them to it and I have gotten more work on time. We as a society have gotten away from accountability, from at home to courts to schools. It all (I do teach psych) has to do with each other. It does really come down to stop making excuses and have accountability.

Since I don’t want the hassle of keeping up with the amount of days absent for 115 kids, I do accept late work. I always tell the kids learning is not a one time opportunity in my room. With all that said, they can earn one quarter worth of the points for the late assignment. Extenuating circumstances such as death in a family, or the parent or child is hospitalized are the only reason I would give full points if the assignment is late. Doing this allows the child to get a couple points while learning consequences.

You have to stick to your deadlines. Kids have to understand that deadlines are there for a reason. You can give a day or 2 more for your students to complete their given assignments. I would also reach out to their parents to see what's going on at home. Oftentimes, parents aren't aw6that we give assignments or projects to be done. Students hide it from their parents. Reminder your students that these assignments are a vital part of their grades for your class.

Today in our staff meeting we were told that we need to let student have a free pass from doing work if they were at sports or any school activity then tell the other students “look little Johnny got a free pass because is was at a school activity”, then test the student to see if they could do the work they missed. Someone stated that wasn’t anything new because if a student misses for any reason they never do the work anyway. I am just over it all, kids don’t have to do any work or be held accountable.