zlacker

School really doesn't mimic the workplace very well. For one thing, work doesn't usually give homework! (with some exceptions like the law). Docking students for bad behavior is problematic, because it requires the teacher to be extremely honest, to avoid unequal standards. Late penalties almost certainly impede learning since they cause the give up effect, where students give up on something they can't hope to finish, instead of actually trying. The issue ultimately is that if you want grades to be a measure of student performance, they should actually measure student performance, and not other aspects of what students do in a class.

>>bodhia+(OP)
Work does give you homework, it's just the self-selected kind. The people who excel and get ahead at work are the ones who recognize this and do the extra work. Whether that's educating themselves so they can make a career move, or taking on extra tasks (which often requires self-edification) to show they are worth promoting.

I think what school fails to do is teach the difference between internal motivation and external motivation. Mandated homework is external motivation for those who don't get it, and for those who do the mandate isn't necessary.

>>bodhia+(OP)
> School really doesn't mimic the workplace very well.

That irrelevant.

The point is that in any given relationship, expectations are established and how well an expectation is met greatly determines the outcome.

If a student, employer, son, friend, mate agrees to completing a 1-hour task within a week and they fail to deliver, that's a problem. There are consequences.

The gist of the article is that the student is really the victim and should be pandered to.

That might work for a student or a someone's kid, but any other relationship is going to end badly. Friends, partners and employers get to choose their relationships. If you're irresponsible and disrespectful, they get to chose someone else.

> Late penalties almost certainly impede learning since they cause the give up effect,

You're confusing causation with correlation. Late penalties do not impede learning. Chosing not to learn by not doing the work impedes learning.

If a student isn't mature enough to meet expectations, the underlying cause should be addressed: the student's imaturity, irresponsibiltiy, home environment, learning disablity, lesson plan, whatever...

Removing consquenses for failing, making excuses, and giving the student a victim identity isn't doing the him/her any favors.