Had to give a 0 to a few students - Am I a prick or what?
 

Any teaching/training I give is to professionals. Either engineers or sales reps or maint technicians. When someone doesn't have an assignement they just get made fun of in front of everybody and that is about it. They don't get fired or even really yelled at. These guys have all sorts of things going on and frankly sometimes it really isn't concieveable that they can get it done. So some slack is given.

I teach a few classes at a university. A few (3 out of 40) of my students spaced and didn't have thier assignments. The thing is I know for a fact that 2 of the students had the assignments done last week - they were gonna hand it in early but I said to hold on to it and hand it in next week (Sylibus error). They told me they forgot them in their dorm rooms but it would take at least 30 to 40 minutes total to go back and get them and bring them back. Not good.

I had to be a hardarse and say "No good guys, if this was a job and you were working on a proposal or RFQ or report your butts would be on the line. My job is to prepare you for reality and this is reality."

I really felt bad for them but I didn't have a choice, I had to give them a 0 for that assignment. The third kid who didn't hand in his assignment just looked at me with a blank stare and said "oh, ya. I don't have it."

That one was easy to give a goose egg.

The assignment is worth 10% of the grade - so if they do perfect on all the rest including exams the best they will do is an 90.

So am I a prick or what?

No, you're not a prick at all, actually, you're a good teacher. I wish more of today's educators upheld the standards. I'd consider half-credit for the guys who had the papers done, but didn't bring them in, maybe. The idiot who just blew it off seems to have earned no credit, though -- not even sympathy credit for him.

I probably would have let them go get it and then I would ask to have some of whatever they're smoking.

Sounds pretty fishy to me. I've never myself and I've never heard of anyone else leaving an assignment that's due in their dorm room!?!?

If it was a matter of getting their assignments and returning, I would have let them get them and turn them in. If it was a matter of needing any more time than that, I wouldn't have let it fly.

In the real world, people do sometimes forget things. Sometimes it matters, and sometimes it doesn't. It's your class, so it's your rules and your call.

I did have one professor give me a 0 on the mid-term (30% of my grade) for showing up late. I had studied and was prepared, but I set my alarm for 6:00 p.m. instead of 6:00 a.m. I was getting a 100% up to that point. My grade ended up being a C (70%). It was the only C I ever got in college. At the end of college, I ended up being .01 of a grade point from graduating with honors...

I'd be inclined to give the 2 who had completed it early some slack. They offered to hand the assignment in, but you asked (told) them to hold onto it for a week because you weren't ready for it. Not sure who is responsible for the syllabus, but its not the students. Giving them a 0 when you know the assignment was done (and early) seems harsh to me.

As for the 3rd student -- he gets a zero.

My .02

Re: Had to give a 0 to a few students - Am I a prick or what?
 

I would of let them turn it in ASAP, but not the last person.

I'm a softie though and was teaching at Community College - a different world.

Wait 3 or 4 weeks, get the 2 that had it done after class and give them exactly 45 minutes to have it in your hand for say a max grade of a 75. Give them a chance - and let them learn the lesson of never throwing away hard work. Heck, Wayne already learned that one - he kept an archive of the Grid Girls Thread.

Steve 911 - Theysaid they had it but I never actually saw it. Also, the sylibus error was the Sr. Profs fault. I will see how they react this Friday. The other thing is that both these kids are always late coming to class (by about 5 minutes - that is also questionable).

If they do have the assignment and try to hand it in I may show weakness - that is if I get some good luv'n Thursday nite. I will have to see.

I've had two instances where I almost failed students. (I teach Unix, Unix Admin and Security classes at Sac State's extension program)

The first was a guy who missed a lot of classes and a lot of lab work. He shows up on the day of the final - late - with his hat in his hand and a sad story. I told him if he could pass the final, I'd pass him. Somehow he did.

Had another girl in a similar situation, and she came up to me after class one day; she tells me she really needs to pass the class, and she'd do anything for a passing grade:
"Anything?" I asked.
She says "Yes, anything!"
I asked again "No, I mean any-thing?"
She smiles and says "Yes, ANYTHING!"
"What are you doing tonight?"
"No plans"
"Are you going to be alone?"
"Yes - my roomate is out of town"
"Well, then I suggest you go home and study your ass off."

Be careful. If they were white, you're OK, but if they weren't, you could be in for a rough ride. How's your tenure?

That's reality nowadays.

Re: Had to give a 0 to a few students - Am I a prick or what?
 

Yes.

It was your error. You say you "know for a fact" these two students had the assignment and were prepared to turn it in ACCORDING TO THE SYLIBUS. You should have accepted it then. The students relied upon the representation presented in the sylibus (which is your responsibility to ensure is correct - regardless of the Sr Prof.) and were prepared to comply.

FWIW, I am all for giving the big "0" when students fail to complete an assignment. They deserve it. But not these two.

Mike,
You said you knew for a fact the two had their assignments done a week ahead & told them to wait. If you knew for a fact, you should give them credit with maybe a small penalty for being dunderheads on the day they should have turned it in. The third guy is out of the picture.

Thom - was she hot???

pbs911 - very good point. I did tell the class the week before last the the assignment was actually due next week (which was last week) and that anyone who had it should just hang on to it and anyone who didn't consider this a gift. The two gave a bunch of "aw man! I worked real hard on that too". To which I said "just hang on to it and hand it in next week."

Zoanas - they are not anglo nor asian nor indian...hmmm.......

Helloooooooooo - we're talking about a Unix class - you figure it out...

silly me...no wonder she was gonna be alone Friday night.

You've got a point. I've seen less than 5 hot technology chicks in the last 8 years. Not impossible, but very, very unlikely.

You should have required extra-credit from her, assigning her to go talk to and interview a prostitute...or a member of the the left-wing press. :D

PS Yes, if you are 100% that they had their reports and they tried to turn them in, but you wouldn't let them, yes, I'd definitely cut them some slack. Maybe an auto letter grade off so the most they can get on that assignment is a B. The third guy is easy as you said.

Much of what is taught in college is not technical or even relevant specifically to any classes specific discipline; it is how to meet deadlines, planning, budgeting (time/money), how to work in groups or work alone, etc.

If 37 of the 40 students could jump through this particular deadline-hoop, the ones that could not, regardless of the circumstances, have to be penalized and that means a goose-egg. Now if the assignment was particularly relevant to the course of study, if they can produce it RIGHT NOW, then maybe give them some slack and they get a percentage of the total value. But that is only if Thursday night is particularly pleasant.

I applaud you holding people accountable for their actions. This is what America needs right now. In this case, the 2 who you knew had it done should be allowed to submit it with the understanding that the score will drop one full letter grade.

Good job, David