An email I didn’t want to receive on a Sunday afternoon

This was in my inbox yesterday afternoon, sitting there like a mean, fat spider:

Hi Heather,

Just wanted to let you know that Loren did not turn in a country project
for Geography, so his only chance at passing the class is to do well on
the final exam next week.  Please make sure he studies.  Sorry, wish I had
better news.

Thanks,

Loren’s Teacher

Needless to say I was raging pissed to get this. Loren’s teacher had extended him a late pass and I had been on his back all week for him to get the paper done before finals week. At the end of the week, when still no paper had been produced, he informed me that I was wrong and the paper could indeed be turned in this week. Apparently not. I have been stewing about this throughout today and sent the following note back to his teacher.

Dear Loren’s Teacher

Thanks for the update, I really appreciate it. I also am grateful for the extra chance you gave Loren, I am only sorry he failed to follow through on his end. I hope that if his final grade ends up on some sort of line that you will grade with fairness rather than optimism. Yes, I am overstepping here but at this point I believe many of us have been too easy on Loren, and if he ends up repeating Geography then perhaps that might be a good thing.

Good luck on finals week and I hope you enjoy your summer.

Thanks again for your communication,

Heather

It’s not that I want Loren to fail. I don’t at all. But the normal course of accountability just ins’t sinking in with him. I’m thinking a summer internship at soup kitchen might be the solution for his woes.