My school runs into similar situations. Our students have more personal issues than most people I have ever met. Part of my goal as their instructor is to see that their education is foremost and priority. If I believe the student is being honest, I trust their intergrity--perhaps after several classes together, then certainly I can stretch the rules. However, the stretching often comes with additional work and/or consequences. For example: a three page research paper make be bumped up to 4 or 5, instead of 2 sources I may require 3 or 4. If I am making the effort then they are required to play by my rules. Maybe I offer to work independently with the student who can't make Tuesday classes but is here all day on Mondays. Maybe I can set up an internet version of discussion in order for them to work at home. Basically, I see each student as individual and as long as they are producing the work they need then I try to be flexible.
Hi Richard,
What an awesome response! Rules are made to be followed not broken. What is good for one is good for all. I like your sense of fairness. I am sure your administation appreciates you enforcing the rules.
Patricia
As an instructor I feel that if we bend the rules we would be treading on a slippery slope that may be difficult if not impossible for us to recover from. If you bend the rules of the class for one student you risk losing the respect of the rest of the class. I would rather my students perceive me as rigid and fair as opposed to subjective enforcement of the rules. Administration has given us a set of standards to adhere to and any deviation from that has to come from them. Although I am understanding of these circumstances and attempt to provide the guidance to the appropriate resources to help alleviate the issues, I also have an obligation to the rest of my students, a professional obligation to provide them a structured and consistent learning environment.
Rich
