Advising Daughter about Professor Issue

[younghoss]

to HarvestMoon(post 105): Actually No, the Op did not. The Op did not ask for opinions on the fairness of the prof's position. The Op sought answers on what to advise the student to do.
Although I sure can see that the degree of fairness one sees in the prof's rules can affect how one might advise the student.

To post 114- I don't see what a "grey area" being late is, in this case..... The Op said the quiz was to be submitted by 7. It wasn't submitted by 7. "Technically" not late? Of course it's late. The Op told us it was late. It seems some feel it was late due to a reason beyond the student's control, so the lateness should be excused. That is a reasonable position, but it doesn't mean the quiz isn't late. Of course, the OP also explained why it was late, and given the reason why, wants the prof to grant an exception to the deadline.

Not all college (and life) lessons are learned in the classroom.
Even if the student now feels some people are butt-heads and adhere really strictly to the rules, that is a good lesson to learn.
Sometimes Dad fixing the broken window isn't the best lesson for a kid. (an Andy Griffith show reference) p.m. me if you don't remember it.

[EPTR]

Younghoss,
It wasn't late. It was never submitted becasause the program broke down at 6:45 before she had a chance to complete it. She called IT immediately, got an explanation and emailed the professor by 6:50.

And yes, you are right. Not all lessons are learned in the classroom. Children need to learn to plan for the unexpected. They also need to understand that some people have a black and white view of the world with little understanding of gray area.

[younghoss]

I understand the system broke, I understand she emailed prof at 6:50. You've said that, and I believe that.
The rule was that it must be submitted by 7. it wasn't. Explaining why it wasn't submitted on time doesn't change that it wasn't submitted on time.

I see a grey area here, but I think I see a different grey area than etpr. The grey area, as I see it, is not if it was late. Clearly, it was not submitted on time. No uncertainty about that. The grey area is- will the prof make an exception given the computer glitch? That is at the moment, unknown. But the very definition of making an exception to accept the quiz now documents that it was not on time.

[somemom]

If your DD took most of the,quiz, did the system save those answers?

Usually systems save the answers from question to question, could that unsubmitted quiz be provided for grading?
I don't know the limits of black board, but if most of the answers are saved, it would seem fair for DD to be allowed to have the completed portion graded.
No new quiz to create, no do over, just grade what she did complete.
That not only seems fair, but any extra work would likely be on tech support not the prof

[EPTR]

I believe that you believe it, Younghoss. It still wasn't late. It was not submitted at all. And I am not trying to "fix the broken window". I asked for suggestions on how to advise her, not how to fix this.

Somemom, thank you. I will suggest that she look into that and see if it's possible to get partial credit although she just emailed me saying that she has accepted that she this is not going to work out in her favor and will just have to work her a$$ off for the rest of the semester to get back to an A in the class.

Sounds good to me.

[tom1944]

Were there many other students impacted?

[EPTR]

I asked her and she doesn't know. She is frustrated but taking her lumps.

[Amesie]

Usually systems save the answers from question to question, could that unsubmitted quiz be provided for grading?
I don't know the limits of black board, but if most of the answers are saved, it would seem fair for DD to be allowed to have the completed portion graded.

This seems to me like a promising approach. If IT can get back the answers, I can't see that the prof would have a problem accepting them.

[EPTR]

I will have her check. Thanks Amesie!

[younghoss]

Well, at least we agree it wasn't submitted on time.

My compliments on her attitude, and best wishes to her!

[oldfort]

It wasn't submitted on time. It was NEVER submitted due the system malfunction. I wouldn't encourage my kid to just take the lump when it wasn't her fault. It is not necessary the kind of attitude I would want my kids to have.

I think I may use this as an interview question and see what kind of response I get.

[EPTR]

Thank you, Younghoss

[EPTR]

Oldfort, she is going to follow up with the prof but if the prof doesn't budge she is inclined to let it go. I am usually a very determined advocate and I agree that I don't want her to be a pushover but I'm glad that she has learned from this. I will post back if anything changes.

[oldfort]

My response was more to Younghoss. I think you are giving your D sound advice.

[lookingforward]

I think this thread is swirling now. Late. Not submitted. Fault. Lessons. Rights.

But, for fun: in the old days, if you were to submit by 7pm and at 645 the campus bus broke down- and the driver said, yeah, 3rd time this week- would it be the campus transpo's fault? For not fixing that bus 100% or not letting you know there was a risk of failure? (Or not letting you know, on every bus, that problems could occur?)

Say the teacher knew every student was dependent on the shuttle to get to the submission point. Would she now owe consideration because she didn't account for- or tell kids to consider- the bus failing?

If the driver said, hey, let your teacher know this is a bum shuttle, give her my name, what would folks expect? "Deep pockets" might say one thing. Some might say another. Some might even say, since the teacher "knew" kids would rely on a shuttle, from the dorms or library to the submission point, she set up unfair and imperfect conditions and....

Anyway, best of luck. She sounds like a good kid and I'd remind everyone that OP seems to be trying to be fair and balanced about this.