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 “The teaching relationship involves trust,” Faculty Focus states on their view of late homework excuses. “We can only trust our students, and if they lie to us, then it says something about them, not us.” Teachers can only trust students excuses as far as they can trust the student alone. When a student constantly has excuses for late homework the trust is broken.

 

UME’s Mr. Trubitt has said “the best excuse was last year when Sarah Hall said her dog peed on her computer.” Mr Trubitt looks back on this excuse now and laughs, but at the time it was given he had no trust in Sarah and her excuse.

 

“He did not believe me at all,” Sarah Hall said in response to her excuse, “I had to get a note from my dad to prove to him I was telling the truth.”

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According to many teachers, a student having proof, such as a note from the parent, is the best way to verify an excuse and makes their job much easier. When a student has proof, the teachers know it is a valid excuse and the teaching relationship can keep that trust.

 

Mr. Trubitt has said that “I forgot,” and “I didn’t feel like doing it,” are the worst excuses he hears. Excuses like those break the trust between student and teacher in a snap.

 

The line between truth and lie in an excuse can be blurry for teachers and they must often make the decision based on the trust they have in the student. Instead of thinking of a good excuse the best thing to do is turn in homework on time. It keeps the trust between the teacher and student alive and makes the teacher’s job easier. If there is late homework the best thing for a student is to have a note to prove the excuse valid. 10/5/16

 

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