you're just not that special

For some reason, all of my students seem to think that the rules don't apply to them.

I announced on Monday of this week that all make-up and late work needed to be in by Friday, since it is the end of the grading period on Monday the 27th, and I need time to grade things. Despite the fact that I posted this on the board and reminded them every day this week, I had at least a dozen students today ask me if they could turn in x-assignment on Monday.

This baffles me. What part of "all work must be in by Friday, October 24th to receive credit" is confusing? There was no fine print that said, "I'll accept it later if you ask nicely!" Or, "Flash you're 'I'm special' card to receive a weekend extension on assignments!"

Equally baffling are the kids that turn in an assignment at the beginning of class, and then ask me at some point later in the same class period what their updated grade in the class is. Apparently they think the papers grade themselves and are cooperative enough to enter their scores into the computer for me. I'll admit, there are some kids smart enough to preface their question with "If I get full credit for that," before they ask what their grade will be. I still want to laugh at them though.

A: if you're turning in late, you're not getting full credit.
B: Your idea of done completely and my idea of done completely are in all likelihood completely different.
C: Even if I could somehow predict how well you had done on the assignment without actually looking at it (which actually for some of them I probably could, because they probably did a shitty job of it), why do you think that your English teacher is so good at math that she could calculate the change in grade in her head. Or hell, remember what your grade was to begin with. Sorry there, bright one, but I have over 90 students, and I'd be flat out lying if I told you I knew your grades by heart. Even if I could remember all those numbers, I wouldn't want to take up all that space in my brain. Why memorize something that the computer can keep track of for me?

I get endless chuckles (in my head, at least...I try not to laugh in their face) from seniors that seem to think they can raise their grade from a C to an A in one day, or with one extra credit assignment. They desperately want an A so they don't have to take the final exam, but they're not willing to work for it consistently, and think it's reasonable to try do it all last second. Some of these kids need a quick reality check, if they think that's the way the world works. Granted, there are exceptions to all rules, but in general, if you want to be exempt from the final, you have to work consistently. Sorry 20 missing assignments boy, there's nothing you can do at this point to get exempt.

Added bonus stupid for today: several of my students told me point blank that Obama was the anti-christ. When I asked them their source, they told me their minister told them it was in the Bible, but couldn't give any details. It's beliefs like this that scare me. What's worse is that they don't teach their children to question what they're told, they just absorb it, and cling to it with all their might. Ahh, those crazy fundies...