The students at my school have been writing and illustrating their own original books published by Studentreasures Publishing, a division of Nationwide Learning. These books are hard bound books that parents have the opportunity to purchase. It's a wonderful opportunity for children to be published and for parents to be proud.
Since I coordinate the project I must set deadlines. Generally, the children have typed their stories in alphasmart computers (lap tops) and the stories are printed out and formatted for their books. The content has been completed since January. Then the students have six weeks to draw 8 pictures. That doesn't sound difficult, does it? Well, most students meet the deadline. Others whine that they have no watercolor markers. Even one child said, "My mama wouldn't let me illustrate until last night" (the day before the deadline; therefore, his book was not completed.
March 12 arrived. The deadline. Most books were completed. But on March 13 I had three children say, "I brought you my book."
"Sorry," I replied. "You missed the deadline." The children tucked their tails and left. This sounds horrible, doesn't it. A teacher not accepting late work. The thing is, the students were told there would be no extensions on the deadline.
Now to the teachers and parents. The adults knew the deadline. You wouldn't believe how many adults said, "Can I have until tomorrow?" Or the parents who are sending money in 3 days after the deadline. But all good things must come to an end. So after 12:00 noon today, the office is closed. Our rural parents purchased $2750.75 worth of books.
I truly believe that we're not teaching responsibility by accepting work past the deadline.This isn't very exciting, but there's something niggling at my brain. I've also written a book to be published through Studentreasures and I haven't done my pictures yet and I'm 4 days past deadline. I guess the guilt has set in.
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