Should I allow my students to take the final exam late...?

I think so, sometimes a little compassion from a teacher can inspire a problem student... A college course is designed to educate students not fail them, there knowledge of the subject is tested, if they know the material they should pass. With less hostility in the educational atmosphere theres a stronger possibility students will become more interested. I see that these students were irresponsible but sometimes I think a little more sympathy in the college atmosphere would lead to more graduates, a higher education level of society in general and even a possibility of interest on the student's part. isn't that worth the extra effort to help them? America has a bad reputation for education, and less of our population is interested in school and less people are graduating, and a lot of it is the atmosphere of our current education system, although your not by any means being unfair by not allowing these kids to take the test late, I think by doing so would compensate for the general problems of the educational atmosphere, there is a teacher bullying problem in america at the lower levels that sets the stage for problem students and then is reinforced by lack of empathy from other higher educators. I've experienced this personally and I really urge you to have a little more sympathy it helped me a lot. Biology states simply that students under 25 still have growing minds. their not normal adults. environmental influences will still lead these students to either be successful and graduate or become failures and dropout. give them more chances to succeed and they will; that's simple statistics, your into math right =P, if they succeed and graduate they offer more to society, if society has more being offered to it then you benefit as well, so why not do something that overall helps everyone? And to the argument that it's unfair to other students, realistically these students are mostly good people and wouldn't care if someone else was given a small advantage as long as those same students who took the test early, succeeded as well. Think about it like this if you offered the new test to EVERYONE and not just those who missed it, how many students who did fine on the first would retake it? Probably none, they'd feel they did good they succeeded and would be happy about it. They should be busy being happy about their own success. They managed the workload well and did good, to be upset that someone else needed additional help to recieve the same level of success is imo unethical. Not everyone has the same workload either,just because student A who has workload a does so well on a test, doesnt mean that student B who did as well on a test has workload a they could have a lot harder workload to worry about... because perhaps they come from a poorer family and need to retain a high gpa in all classes to keep their scholarship or perhaps they need to work to support themselves as well as school or they have other problems to deal with. So it's not a fair playing field in the first place. I mean you have two options 1. they don't get to take it, they fail, they retake the course cost the government tax money to retake it, costs them money and they end up not learning anything for that semester in math because they already know and simply haven't been tested on it, or they drop out/ kicked out/ lose scholarship or whatever and they never make something of themself and contribute very little to society. 2. They take the test, they fail at least you know when they retake it they'll be learning stuff and not just wasting tax money, their time and the schools recourses... or they pass and pass the class then they go on to graduate and offer a lot more to society. to add: I still stand by my original claim, neone who has been through city public schools and knows what it's like to be affected by bully teachers would understand that it has an impression on you and a little empathy can lead problem students to fullfill their potential later...in addition overall it's beneficial to everyone. Also by being a more sympathetic, forgiving person and being more upbeat you yourself will be happier. Those that become uptight, unforgiving eventually become easily irritated and unpleasent snappy people ussualy.

OF COURSE!!!!! That happened to me. A student walked by where I was parked in the library, doing my usual 4-day-before-the-exam studying, and casually mentioned that the test had alreadybeen held yesterday! I was stunned! I just never realized that a test would be held at a different time than the class. I never heard of that before and it was not explicitly spelled out to me. Luckily, I immediately contacted the teacher, who noticed that I had straight A's from all the earlier tests, because i worked my butt off studying 50 hours for each statistics test. So she just said, sure, and we set a time and I showed and took the test and aced it. I cannot even imagine not being able to take a test. Some people are idiots the first time around, and I cannot imagine not giving them a break. People are in a routine where college classes are concerned. It is eminently stupid for colleges to set exam times to be different from the class time. Where this idea came from, I'll never know, but well-intended people get screwed up from time to time, I know it happened to me, and we deserve a break. I had NO IDEA to even read the syllabus about this, I just assumed the test would be where and when all the other tests had been. Give the person the benefit of the doubt. I would have gotten a B or C had my prof been hard-nosed about something like this. College classes are hard enough without something like this happening--as I said, it is unbelievable that a test would be scheduled at a different time than all the others. It only takes one time to become more aware, but certainly the unwary should not be punished! I just read the other answers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm livid!!!!!!!! And that is just ridiculous that this can be equated with a boss' directions regarding a task. Duh! You see the boss often, you have check in times with your boss. Of course you are going to know your deadlines. This is just so stupid. hardworking but ditzy students who don't know to watch out for clerical details like the day and time of a final WHICH CHANGED FROM THE USUAL CLASS TIME, in no way is similar to a job. Some people are just not as organized, and they will find a job that suits them, and they are punished enough for their disorganization without having to forgo taking a final because their lack of clerical skill got in their way. I am disgusted with the tenor of the responses so far mostly given to this answer. They never screw up? What b/s. And they would appreciate a break. This is really making me steam. I think I need to go. The gall of these people. It's called compassion and an honest mistake. These people are just awful. And YEAH, I'm a law-abiding square who would never think of extramarital affairs or getting drunk (I don't drink), nor do I watch tv or trashy movies. In other words, I'm proper and I'm straight and I try to be a good person. And still I am asking you to give these students a break. I wouldn't want to investigate the lives of the folks with the stiff upper lip advice. Wouldn't want to discover what they are no doubt hiding. My ex-sister in law cheated repeatedly on my brother, yet when she saw a kid shoplifting a candy bar in a grocery story, she went ballastic, screaming at the kid like a banshee. It's called a matter of degree. Non-clerical types have enough trouble without being denied the opportunity to take a damn final exam, and while I read a lot of stuff, I have taken so many college classes that I know I would never have read that part about the date and time of a final. I would just have assumed I would know that. It would have to be explicitly brought to my attention more than once for me to remember it by the time the final month of classes rolled around.

No, if they didn't care enough to find out when the exam was, they shouldn't be given the option to take it later. It was posted and they should have made sure they were there.

a) yes b) yes

If more people missed the final than did not, I think something was wrong with the wording, and you should let them take it again.

No, absolutely not. It's unfair to the other students that they were able to take the exam at a later time. Students often plan their schedule to balance the workload they can handle. By being able to take the final exam at a later point in time, well after the semester exam schedule, disrespects every other legitimate student out there. The only exceptions of course are documented medical situations.

My first instinct would be "no" but on second thought, if you are willing to write another final exam then sure. You can be reasonably certain that they won't do well... By giving them the opportunity to succeed or fail you give them enough rope to hang themselves. If they pull off a passing grade it will save them having to retake the course, and you look like an amazingly generous and understanding professor whatever the outcome. Edit to add: I remind and remind and remind date and times of exams or important deadlines. When there is any change in schedule I send the class an email. They are still young and learning. Perhaps nobody has clued them in. Most people have good intentions and I give them the benefit of the doubt. ***Please let us know what you decide, thanks.***

a) No, of course not. That's their fault. b) No, they should have asked. Besides, you'll have to write another exam, since they could have easily talked to other students who already took it. And it's Dec 23rd. My grades were due almost two weeks ago. It's far too late.

Ooops so sad to bad. That is what life is all about taking responsibility. If they could not even read the info given to them or to read the manual that is not your fault. I do not know whether you are high school or college but life does not give chances your employer has certain expectation and as an instructor it is your responsibility to get them ready.