What do you think is an appropriate consequence for students who refuse to do work during allotted classtime?

Question

This is for students at the high school level. I am looking for opinions on both immediate and long term consequences. Do you believe students should be allowed extra time or any opportunity to complete the work?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Kate my friend, I salute you for standing your ground.  I grew up and I'm sure you did too (I think we're close to the same age?) in an environment where FAILURE was the consequence for not doing your work.  That failure was immediate but also had long-term ramifications as well.  

I think it is ridiculous for the school's administration to compromise the very integrity of the school and it's credibility by trying to coddle these children that don't accept responsibility and do their work.  That is flat out enabling them to be rewarded for a poor work ethic and I think sadly, far too many school systems are guilty of the same thing all over the country.  I think the attitude is, "We need to make sure the kids pass so our school doesn't look bad due to a higher than average failure rate, we could possibly lose funding if that happens!"  

These are the people that will be sitting on their assess one day expecting the government to dole out OUR tax money to them so they can avoid, once again, working for what they require to live.  Give it to them now and all they learn is that they can get by without having to follow any set of rules and order of conduct.  

I think far too much authority and discipline is taken from the hands of our teachers today and it is a shame.  I can still remember getting my rear end paddled at school for not doing homework and God forbid my parents found out, then I would have gotten it at home too!  Don't give in, this is an opportunity for the kids to learn a lesson far more valuable than the homework will teach them.

Answer 2

I teach 10th graders, and have an administration that doesn't believe in homewor, too and it must be an epidemic! Unless they have an IEP that states more time or fewer problems, I don't see where you did wrong. A half hour is plenty of time to do their work.  If you've got a profession organization, I'd call them.  Our administrators tend to back off when the representatives get involved.

Answer 3

If you're talking about a handful of students who did not complete work because they were not on-task, then no, I would not accept it.  If virtually no one in the class finished, then obviously my time allotment was insufficient.  The exception would be students with IEPs that require me to allow extra time.

Answer 4

Extra time? Heck no! Not when they refuse to use class time to do it to begin with.

Answer 5

I think if they were given a reasonable amount of class time and refused to do the work blah blah blah...  Just give them each a McDonald's application and tell them "enjoy flipping burgers the rest of your life".

Answer 6

If you grade on a sliding scale, give them the lowest grade from the scale or a failing mark.  However, if the students have a learning problem, then extra time should be allowed.  If you know that these students are continuous offenders...explain to them the consequences - a failing mark.  These students are pushing your buttons to see just how far you'll go.  A couple of failing grades just might wake them up to reality of life.  Nothing is going to come easier for them in the future, so wake up.  Stand your ground with adminstration.

Answer 7

a hard punch in the face

Answer 8

Your superintendent sounds insane--no homework? What does he think they're going to do when (or rather if) they get to college? You should absolutely stand your ground, but perhaps an alternative is an automatic drop in grade when work is turned in late e.g. Best grade they could get is a C (if it's A quality work)

Answer 9

If there is no reason other than the fact they just did not do it, they should not get extra time to complete it.  By high school, they understand time management and should be able to complete it.

Answer 10

They just shouldn't get any credit for the work.

Answer 11

I think that unless there is a good reason for the student not to do the work during allotted class time (the teacher gave them something else to do, rather than their refusing to work), they should get absolutely no credit for the work, and they should be required to complete it anyway, without credit, or they will fail the class.  The reason for that is that if they don't do the work at all, they won't learn what you want them to learn, so you have to make it essential that they do the work anyway, even if you don't give them credit for it.

Certainly they should not be given extra time or other opportunities to complete the work for credit, or they will learn that your requirements mean nothing.  Doing classwork is not a choice, if they want to pass the class, and they need to learn this early on.

Answer 12

These are high school students, not five year olds. They have been in school for many years and know the routine: An assignment is given, and they are expected to complete it, or at least try. If they choose not to do it , then they should be prepared to accept the consequences; it's as simple as that!

If a conference was necessary ,it should only have been to discuss what to do about these insubordinate underachievers (i.e.,brats).

Sounds like you were "ganged up on" during the conference.

"More structured parameters" sounds like Ed. 101 bullcrap.

If they are allowed to submit the assignment late, this undermines your authority in the classroom. If the principal

"recommends" that you do this, he/she is an idiot.

When I hear situations like this I can understand the downward spiral of public school teacher retention.

Look at the bright side; Summer vacation is almost here.