It is important for all employees to buy into the vision that you are in it together. The outcome is to have students that are successful. If everyone that is in the enviroment and on the staff is presented this concept and encouraged, it becomes part of the fabric of the school. That overflows into how we "do business" with our students. I also belive that the message of positivity is far more powerful than people think, and this class was a reminder of how contageous it can be.

I will add that while it may seem a bit unforgiving, our class structure is unusual. Large classes, multiple subjects and no breaks during our day, if you have 35 students in 2 or 3 subjects and you start to allow late work you get burried in paperwork. we start new blocks of classes every 6 weeks and teach years round, like being on a treadmill sometimes. My policy arrose out of necessity.

I have a very firm no late work policy with my culinary arts students. They are given the assignments weeks in advance, and I even offer to proof and "pre-grade" or give feedback on how they could improve. I offer this "free of charge" as an incentive to turn in quality work on time. I explain that my boss does not accept late work and that neither will I. I always relate it to the "real world" and let them know I am doing them a dis-service if I take late work. What do you think? Too harsh?