College Professor at wits end about late arriving students!

[LauraC]

I'd go with "lateness" coming off their final grade but she would have had to state that policy on Day 1. Also, ha-ha, I would give assignments, test information during the first 5 minutes of class.

[Yojimbo Jong]

Today education is for good reason valued less on its intrinsic value and more on its promise of higher wages.
The decision as to what is valued more, arrive on time, "leaving the kids at home alone" or not at all is obviously the students responsibility and not the instructors. Although currently most colleges require payment as they are providing a service, and in this case as a customer/student "The customer is always right." to the instructor with the anger problem- stop teaching if you find tardy students to be a challenge to your authority as this is rarely the case. To attend college for knowledge alone is a privilege that is beyond the reach of the majority, this leads students to value a passing grade rather than the education. A responsible student that arrives late expects there to be consequences such as peer and student discontent, so the incentive to arrive on time is apparent to the student. Rules regulating attendance are made to protect instructor authority more so than as a teaching tool. It is not the instructors job to act punitively towards a student just because he/she feels that the student is undermining his/her authority. EX 2 min tardy once a semester is acceptable, 15 min is ridiculous common sense use it. People learn by making mistakes those students that fail to arrive at a time that serves their best interest as far as a good grade are soon to realize that they are acting against their best interest.