Students tirelessly work to meet concrete deadlines set by teachers. The dreaded italicized font that reads “Work cannot be turned in after the due date” has become infamously frequent on Google Classroom assignments. Make sure your dogs are fed, because homework getting eaten is no longer a viable excuse. And to pour salt on the wound, it could take weeks to receive a grade on an assignment that required an all-nighter. Considering the rush that goes into finishing quality assignments in the allotted time, it is only fair that teachers are given the same guidelines. The time has come for teachers to brave the challenge of due dates.
The Golden Rule has been ingrained in the minds of students since the first day of kindergarten. Yet, it seems that somewhere between elementary and high school, that priority has fizzled out. “Treat others the way you want to be treated” has been revised to “turn in assignments and check Infinite Campus in a week or two.” Students should feel empowered to take control of their academic journey, not fall victim to it. This is not to say teachers are grading robots who must return grades within minutes, but the same urgency students apply to assignments should be applied to grading as well.
In addition, school is meant to enrich the minds of its students and offer a nourishing educational environment that promotes engagement in classes. Without feedback on assignments, how can students be expected to improve? It is crucial to the learning process that teachers provide constructive feedback that will open the door to clarifying any confusion and amplifying understanding. Gatekeeping grades leads to more harm than good, as students are stuck when it comes to knowing what their weak spots are. This can increase anxiety and depression in teenagers, as grades hold a large influence on a student’s academic journey. Without grades, students are left to wonder where they stand in the class and how well they are managing to understand the concepts being taught.
Dear teachers: teaching is crucial to the success of your students, the leaders they look to in life, and a constructive learning environment. Grades may just be a number in the system, but they can mean the world to dedicated students. A due date is in order for teachers to prosperously meet their duties of grading work efficiently. Sincerely, students.
