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Barbara M Stout said: >The only thing I find a bit overboard about locking a student out of a >class is many times people do have a legitimate reason for being late. And then Jeanne Higbee said: >On the one hand, I agree with many of the points you made. However, locking >students out is not always the answer. <snip> > When we lock students out, I think we are making a judgment before >hearing the facts. I agree with you both. Perhaps a little context is in order, here. This college is 85-90% residential, rural setting, and the professor mentioned always teaches at 8:30 a.m. Locking the door on late students works in this case. The lists of excuses for being late in this situation is overslept and what else? Couldn't find my other sock? I do not think that locking the door is practical in all cases but it works here. The point I wanted to stress before was that I do not think expected behavior such as being on time and being polite and respectful of others should be rewarded to be encouraged. I am not calling for a return to 'sit straight, face front, feet flat' but I am not going to give points to someone who does nothing more than act mature. Yes, I agree that there are circumstances which are unavoidable. Hopefully they are few and far between. But they can be dealt with as they happen. I myself have always had the fortunate experience to teach small classes (<30) of students so I have gotten to know them, at least a bit. (Yes, at the 8 a.m. time slot.) I have always tried to give individuals the benefit of the doubt. But at the same time, I do not have 30 separate policy statements for each student. I don't think I have ever been thought of as overbearing either. Appearing fair may not be easy but being consistent is. Andrea Motyka