Should students who come to class on time be rewarded, or should tardy students be penalized?

[thriftylefty]

It seems like when I taught college (over 10 years ago) I gave student points for attendance (on time). It would amount to about 5 points per week that would be added to their weekly assignments and test totals. Its part of the education experience to teach students the benefits of "soft skills" For a good student it was quite a boost. For the mediocre students they learn how they benefited from getting to class on time. I think a pay check is a reward for dong what you are supposed to do

[Osito]

Originally Posted by thriftylefty

It seems like when I taught college (over 10 years ago) I gave student points for attendance (on time). It would amount to about 5 points per week that would be added to their weekly assignments and test totals.

That's a good idea! It leaves out the annoyance of people walking into class late and even worse awkwardness of teachers confronting or getting mad about it.

I know I was complaining about late classmates. I can understand emergencies or bad weather. But at least half my classmates walk in late on any given day. Well this semester teachers have been telling them they'll get marked absent if it continues because they can't keep stopping everything to add to the attendance. About time.

[Lew_B]

Originally Posted by TKramar

What's a minute? Take a poll of 20 different people--all at the same time. Ask them to check the time. I have no doubts that you'll find them to have as much as a five minute variation among them.

Five minutes late? Might be right on time.

Absolutely, that is why i was taught to be 10 minutes early to appointments.

You are given the expectations when you receive your class schedule, or are hired at your job. These expectations include a start time, be there on time. It is that easy.

Respect and pride are being replaced with excuses and what ifs.

[nimchimpsky]

I plan to arrive early so that if I am "running late", I'm either still early or on time. Being on time is just about planning and caring enough to plan well 95% of the time.

Kids make you late? People have always had kids and yet people were more respectful about showing up on time. Car/bus/other transportation? People have always had to physically get from Point A to Point B. Etc. Most of the time latecomers are late because they just don't care that much. When people care enough, it's amazing how much "easier" it is to be on time most of the time.

[TKramar]

Yeah, we got a couple of people at work that still have jobs, even though they're chronically late. If you're consistently 15 minutes late, wouldn't you think to leave 15 minutes earlier? So what if you're early sometimes? I've sat around for more than an hour before, waiting to start work.