Mejor llegar Tarde que Nunca

Better late than never – Mejor llegar tarde que Nunca.  This is a HUGE sign that is on the autopista on the way through Sinaloa México if you are ever driving through the interior of México. - It is really a sign to 'slow down' but  there is an interesting cultural shift of ‘late’ from one country to another and we live in a border state.  I have had students in my classes who have defied all of my rules – no phones (they have phones), no late work (it is late), no talking over someone else (this also happens) and the list goes on.  These have mostly happened in my K-12 classroom vs. Higher Ed., but nonetheless, the rules get broken.  However, it is worth considering what kind of culture do I want – to show up late or never?  I want them to show up - late is better than never, but not late on a consistent basis.  I also want to see progress – so if it’s a consistent problem that is more problematic than a one-time occurrence, then I apply more or less leniency depending on the situation.  I will allow for such issues much more graciously if a student is honest and is trying to progress vs. simply just displaying their gift toward laziness.  As a long-time K-12 teacher, I was told to be very strict, tell students to sit up straight, eyes ahead, be civilized, and all that.  However, being fair and just are not the same.  Students do have crazy scenarios in their lives and it is more complicated than I care to know sometimes.  As teachers, we live in 2 worlds and are helping students transition into a ‘work world’ but their story cannot be denied.  There are those with legitimate reasons.  I once had a student who could NOT stop using their phone (again – high school class) and they said.. “but you do not understand – I have to answer this -  it’s my MOM and.. My Mom is MEXICAN!”  I am a Spanish teacher and though my mom is not Mexican, I do get the ‘culture’ to which they are referring.  So, in the end, what I really want from students is their respect, to know that they CAN turn to me and have a just (not always fair) person in which to share their tale of why a particular assignment is late. So, rules and boundaries do apply but there are always exceptions.