Today is May 3 and school is out May 24. 15 actual class days and 2 of those are finals in block sessions. The end is near and for some it is already here. The usual frustrations are all manifesting themselves. Students who have realized they can not pass are checked out mentally, others are getting lazy and one or two want makeup work to replace work they have not done.
All of these are hard for a teacher to deal with. Motivation can not be taught and while sometimes responsibility can be established, it is difficult.
do the assigned work to the best of your ability and any teacher who is a teacher will work with you, but make up work to replace what should have been done is a no go in my classes. Why? because extra credit and "make -up" work that is not real make-up due to absence is unfair to students who do do the work. Athletes,, debaters, ffa judges etc all miss school and most of them have the work caught up. Not doing it just to sit there does not merit the chance. Do not do the work at a job and the job will be gone, and right now school should be your job.
Okay time to climb off the broom but let me say that these habits will follow these students to the workplace and to college. No one there is going let them have breaks or keep giving a paycheck for unfinished tasks. Teaching college has really brought the habits thing to full fruition in my thinking. Students sign for a class and attend one or two classes and disappear or they come when they have nothing better to do and wonder why they are behind. Money lost. it boggles my mind to put it tritely. somewhere somehow these students and thank God it is not a majority have not been taught that you get out of a task what you put into it.

No more soap boxing. It has all been said before probably since Socrates began teaching from his stoa. but it feels good to vent. Next post will be more positive.