I Don't Take Late Work

As I gear up for school I feel the need to remind myself WHY I don't like to take late work. I wrote this a long time ago, but pull it out each year. I'm thinking of putting this on the back of my syllabus. What do you think? Would it make the parentals mad?

I Don't Take Late Work

*As a teacher, the bane of my existence is late work; students request it, parents expect it......

I don't take late work

I take nothing late

Because in life the only instance

Lateness is acceptable

Is a baby who arrives past her due date

I don't take late work

I take nothing late

Because then I must chase you, my student,

With a leash in my hand

Chase you around like a new puppy who brushed past my legs when I opened the door

I abhor begging, for when I beg I take on the responsibility

Of your laziness or apathy or even teenage dementia

Lateness is not acceptable

I don't take late work and I

Wonder how it makes my students feel

The never ending excuses are left at the door

Where they die a slow painful death of malignant neglect

My students know I sound like Dr. Seuss:

            That I will not take it !

                        I do not like it!

Accepting lateness is a training tool

Which educates so many to

Be late in many things they must do

Not just projects or essays work and deadlines but also,

As Alice's rabbit says, very important dates

It trains them to spend more time

Concocting a justification

Than the assignment would have taken

To begin with

I don't take late work

I take nothing late

Because in life the only instance

Lateness is acceptable

Is a baby who arrives past her due date

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