STUDENTS' ACCOUNTABILITY

I wrote the article below months ago which I decided not to post yet due to lack of meat in its content...here goes...

https://ethicsandsociety.org/2016/01/19/recommendations-and-resources-exploring-faculty-responsibilities-toward-students-in-distress/

One student approached me in panic about not being able go take his midterm exam.  The first reason he presented was due to being late during the exam so he did  not push through in entering the classroom.  I told him about valid reasons that are being considered.  And he added " oh i brought my sibling to the hospital".  That part i thought he was already lying.  And I said, "the answer is No".  

In the afternoon, he visited me at the office and brought a copy of the student handbook of the university.  He must have thought I did not know the policy.  Truly, I felt insulted by that but still, I got his copy and showed it to my colleague.  I felt his panic though, I still said "no".  Policies are there to guide, yet in the  end, it will always be the teacher or instructor's discretion to allow the student to take or not.  What was not tolerable if I may stress my point on my resistance is the obvious lies being piled up to make it appear convincing.

Another incident yesterday during my first period class was with another student who came inside my class who I hardly knew to belong to my class.  I immediately blurted upon her entry " are you my student?  you don't look familiar",  She stated that she was only absent for a week before the midterm.  But I could not be wrong.  My class is relatively small.  There are less that 40 of them and some are absent.  Since she did not take the midterm exam,  I could not allow her to join that session so I told her to meet me after the class at the office.  

When we talked, the best and striking part was seeing her reaction when I showed her the attendance. She gave me that pale face with a look of disbelief and embarrassment.  She only showed up during the prelim.  From that she blurted " i thought ma'am you are not checking the attendance".  Since I caught her in that lie,  She still asked to take the midterm exam.  And I finally ended our discussion with the statement "my decision is final, you are dropped in my class".  Though she uttered reasons such as she worked up to 12 midnight and that it was difficult to come by as early as 7:30 am, I had to be firm with my decision.  She piled up her lies until she was plainly caught with he facts I presented.

The above are only few of those challenging cases I have encountered, apart from forging of signatures during signing of attendance, enumerated excuses and reasons why not certain things are done.  It would all boil down to taking responsibilities and facing the many challenges of student life.  Excuses and explaining loses the strength and chance of growth.  What these students are afraid of actually is the pain when not being admitted in classes or when teacher says NO to their requests.  They just want to get what they want at the fastest, easiest and most convenient instance.  They just want to get things their way not adhering or submitting to process of the arduous discipline of education.

What can I do then?  I will just have to say it plainly...there are times when I would have to say NO no matter how painful it is to tell my students...THERE ARE RESPONSIBILITIES TO FACE...AND THEY NEED TO LEARN FROM THEM...

PS...the first student I shared...still I gave him his chance for the exam...we discussed...and told him..he did not have tell stories to convince me...the TRUTH is more than enough ...:-)