[Teachldsseminary] Encouraging Class Punctuality (long)

[Marji]

I've thought about tardies a lot.  It seems to me that the most fair way to
treat tardies IF the problem is chronic and disruptive to the class and the
student themselves is to keep track of the actual minutes the student is
late, and add it up.  Ten minutes a day for a week is an entire class
period.  Keep track of the minutes, not just the number of times a student
is late, and establish a policy that the time will need to be made up for
attendance purposes (within the 80% rule).  That way, if the student's
tardies are endangering their credit for the class, it is an accountability
based on their actual requirement for make up.

I lived way out in the country when I went to seminary.  I came from a
recent convert family and my dad was a non-member who used to drive me in to
early morning seminary.  I don't remember how many times I was late - I'm
sure there were more than a few.  But I do NOT remember EVER being chastised
or reprimanded for being late to class.  Sometimes we need to consider the
situation, and just be glad the student is there - not put any stumbling
blocks in their way.  Welcome them to the feast of the Lord with open arms
and make the best use of your time while you have them in your presence.

DO NOT HAVE your students come to seminary only to hear you "trifle with
words," as the scripture says.  Do not ever trifle with your words or their
time!  You are on a sacred stewardship to raise the bar.  Make it worthwhile
to get up in the mornings and commune with the Lord prior to going out into
the world.

Teaching with love sometimes means making allowances for tardies.  Much as
we would like them to go away, they are not going to go away.  Our challenge
is to encourage attendance - moreso, to encourage ATTENTION while in the
classroom by having something worthy and challenging to say to our very
bright and promising students.  Work on eliminating tardies by having
something of the fruit of the tree of life for their nourishment every
single day.

Fun and games are all fun and games, but they are not all seminary.  Let us
focus on the things of the Lord.  Remember prayer as a true force to
enlighten the mind and bring to pass much good in the hearts of our
students.  Teach them the true power of prayer - do not let them go from
your classroom still saying rote, primary level prayers.  As we bring them
to the feast of the Lord, and through his love and influence we touch their
minds and hearts, their own motivation will swell within them to get out of
bed and get to the "house of the Lord" together with their companions in
faith.

We call it in our class "overcoming the gravitational pull of Jupiter" - the
gravitational pull of the mattress.  Motivation them through personal
conversion, not tally marks, and not concussive, recursive confrontations.
This will prove to be less than optimal.

Love the Lord and show forth his love unto them.  They will love one
another, and their association will become a joy unto them that will
enlighten their understandings and begin to be delicious unto them.  Your
tardies wil decrease dramatically.  Your children (yes, they are our
children) will grow to love you, and you will be unto them a blessed
messenger of the power of God unto salvation.

Sometimes, too, it is the PARENTS who need the additional motivation to help
their daughters and sons reach for the Son that early in the morning.  I
have an article here http://www.lds-nha.org/mattress.php that I wrote on
that very topic.  You might find it interesting and helpful.  The
subheadings, you will note are:  Winning the Battle of the Mattress, Of
infinite worth, Motivation, Imagine for a moment.  These are some of the
things that we need truly consider if we are to truly help our students and
their families to grow in the gospel.

The gospel net gathers of every kind, and we need to be sensitive to that.
Help them all to reach their fullest potential.  I have one student (a
junior) who likes to close his eyes during class.  I've taught him for three
years now.  He is my "cave dweller".  Sometimes he puts his head down, too.
Know what?  He is always listening, and I've come to peace with that, and I
allow him that personal space.  His home life is not ideal, and he has some
personal struggles.  But he is there in seminary every morning, even if
sometimes he comes in late.  My duty to this child (and our duty to one
another) is to bring him to the table of the Lord.  Yesterday I asked my
class which of them had felt the prompting of the Holy Ghost at some time in
their spiritual growth.  Yes, my 'cave dweller son' (for I do call them all
my sons [or daughters]) raised his hand high at that question.  The Lord is
working with this young man, my son, and I will work with him also.  All
growth is progressive, and some students are more ready for the feast of the
Lord than are others.

Let us make sure they all know they are invited, nurture their talent to
know and recognize the truth as it is known to us today, and light the way
for them.  The Lord will help us with the rest of the details.  They are his
children to walk in the light, too.  We are all partners in this holy walk.

May the Lord bless us all in our classrooms and in our homes and in our
closets, I pray, as do we all.