To Whom it May Concern

Way back in February I gave my high school seniors an assignment. They were to find a senior citizen to partner with and interview them. My kids are going to create a portfolio with a variety of written and visual pieces that showcases the life of their senior partner. They are only able to do it if they have information, hence the interview assignment. This is the "culminating" project for the English department, so it's a really big deal. If they don't pass this project, they don't pass fourth quarter. If they don't pass fourth quarter, they don't pass second semester. If they don't pass second semester of English, they don't graduate.

Pretty important, right?

That's why I introduced the project right after we got back from Winter Break. Way back in January. It's not due until May. Plus, we are spending most of fourth quarter on it. I have incredibly high expectations on this project, and I don't let kids slide. I make them work their tails off for the entire quarter. I help them through it, for sure, but I make them work hard.

Periodically between January and the last week of March, I reminded kids about the interview assignment. They knew the interview was due on Monday, April 6, when we came back from Spring Break. Every day at the beginning of the hour for the entire two weeks before break I reminded kids their interviews would be due. Every day at the end of the hour for the entire two weeks before break I asked kids when their interviews were due, and they answered in chorus, "Monday, April 6. The day we come back from Spring Break!"

So, since we've talked about it for a million years, and they knew when it was due, wouldn't you think they would have had it ready to turn in?

Yeah, I thought so, too. Unfortunately, though, a rather high number of them didn't.

But life continues on and I don't wait for slackers. So I gave the kids the following assignment.


Assignment: Work on your first planning sheet for Senior to Senior. If you were a senior *slacker and did not do your interview, you are behind and need to get caught up, like yesterday. Today, instead of the planning sheet, you need to write me a note explaining why you didn’t complete your interview and what your plan for completing it is. Be specific, *slackers.

*I start off on the first day of school telling my kids that they can't be slackers. Then I tease them all year long. In my room, "slacker" is a term of endearment. It's a way to remind them their choices are important without lecturing them. One word says it all. Don't think it's mean, though. They know I love them. If I am calling them slacker I am still amused by them. It's when the joking stops and I get quiet and serious and tell them I am disappointed in them that they know it's beyond the time to get serious.*

I got some actual notes with some viable excuses. Then one was hand delivered to me by a charming young man on behalf of his good friend. It was folded in thirds and addressed "To Whom it May Concern." The boys pretended to work while surreptitiously looking at me to see if I read it yet. Curiosity got the best of me and I opened the handwritten letter.


Dear Mrs. Hocking,
Unfortunately last Friday after school my hand got caught in a wood chipper. It just so happened to be my right hand, the one I use to write. Due to some legal issues the reconstructive surgery couldn’t take place until this morning. I’m recovering quickly, though. Nothing should be due the first day back after break!

Sincerely,

K

P.S. I'll interview my grandmother tonight.



After I finished laughing, I told K that if he would just spend a fraction of the time on his work that he spends coming up with excuses for not completing the assignments, he would be acing my class hands down.

I love my kids.

I love my job.