What is on time and what is late?

[FrustratedEarlyBird]

I've changed username due to being linked back to my normal account but I'm a term user - Korean granny/penis beaker etc.

Anyway! I work in a 6th form college. Today I had 16 out of 23 students late to my 9am class. All sauntered in with no apology and honestly no reasons.

I shut my classroom door at 9.03 and expect them to be in their seats by then, otherwise they're late and in trouble - with the exceptions of genuine reasons who notified in advance obviously.

Anyway one such child who sauntered in at 9.06 and was suitably told that it was not acceptable has gotten a parent to complain to me by email that I'm being overzealous and lateness is not a big deal.

So. I put it to you the mumsnet jury! What is late? What is on time? Hit me with your anonymous opinions as to whether I need rectify my totalitarian ways or not 😂

(PS this is lighthearted venting of frustrations!)

Like to see them catch a 9am train if they rocked up to the platform at 9.06.

9.01 is late. The class is how long,maybe 40 minutes? So at 9.06 she’s missed15% of it.

If I had a 09:00 class I'd be there at 08:55. I'm 34 now but would have done the same at 16! I absolutely hate lateness and think it is intolerably rude and disrespectful.

Hmm i’d allow 5 mins but once the door was shut they are late. However if that is the parents attitude the child doesn’t stand a chance

9.01 is late. I have a child just started 6th Form, and I’d be having string conversations about respect if I heard she was not on time for lessons.

If a class starts at 9am anytime after that is late, regardless of if its 3 or 20 minutes past.

Can’t belive a sixth form student went moaning to mummy over this 🙄 life is going to be full of harsh shocks for that one......

Agree 9.01 is late! IT starts at 9, get there at 8.55 ready to start at 9.

Well, I know when I was in sixth form, it would have taken at least 6 minutes to get from registration to first class.

Having said that, there was never any leeway given at uni, so maybe you're preparing them for the big bad world

*strong obvs!

If they're not sat down with their pen
& paper / laptop out at 9am then they are late.

Haha. I have been to schools where being even 1 minute late would get you detention. These parents can't complain. Late is late.

pinkheart5914 that was my thought, running to mummy/daddy.....i would have said good im glad you were told off and dont do it again LOL
Im always ten minutes early for everything and hav been teaching my kids that much to their disgust sometimes!!!

Teaching starts at 9am. You need to be there, sat down, ears ready, pen in hand by 9am. If you saunter in after that you're late and rude. If you then get mummy to complain you're late, rude, and a pathetic little mummy's boy/girl.

I am an obsessive NEVER late person. To me, walking in at 9 is late. You've then got to waste five minutes of everyone's time with kids settling in and taking coats off.

I think 5 to 9 is on time.

To be early is to be on time
To be on time is to be late
And to be late is unacceptable.

I HATE lateness. Can’t believe their parents wrote in, what a precious flower.

You are not being unreasonable.

Its your class, its up to you to define what is late, and communicate it clearly to your students. Then its up to them to deal with that. Life lessons - if they think its no big deal, and regularly turn up to a job late, they are likely to have trouble in years to come!

I hope the student who doesn't see lateness as a big deal is not aiming for a career where reliable timekeeping is vital; can't think of many that don't.
I would reply sympathetically to the parent about the need to instil a vital life skill. (Don't say it to them, but I bet they'd be cross if student caused them to miss their holiday plane......) Employment law protects people from unfair dismissal, but poor timekeeping is still considered a perfectly good reason for sanctions.
I offended a few mummies in my time with the response to "Sorry we're late...." with the response "So am I, he's missed registration and the start of the lesson." One even tried to blame the traffic, not knowing that I followed the same route and had no problems......
Obviously, there can be valid reasons, but your students are old enough for the "life skill" mantra.

On time is in

On time is in their seat ready to take notes or participate at 9:00. Even walking into the room at 9 on the dot is late because they aren’t ready to start.

To be early is to be on time
To be on time is to be late
And to be late is unacceptable.

I'm going to print that out and frame it. I can't stand lateness unless there's an extremely good excuse.

I’m one of those always late people. I am sorry though! Still won’t stop me being late.

I recently appalled strangers in a pub during a light hearted conversation about lateness, suggesting that one minute per year of age was acceptable lateness when collecting a child

TBH if they sauntered through the door on the dot of 9 am I would still class that as slightly late as how long will it take them to sit down, take their coat off, get out their book and pen etc.?

They should be in their place and ready for you to start teaching them at 9am.

If it starts at 9 they should arrive before 9 and be in their seats ready to start at 9. Ridiculous that their mummy/daddy emailed to complain. At 6th form college they should be taking responsibility for themselves.

Reply with what Sod said Like to see them catch a 9am train if they rocked up to the platform at 9.06.

I am another obsessively early person, I would genuinely feel late if I wasn’t sat down with my stuff out by 8:55.

Love the train analogy!

Your class starts at 9am.

Anything past 9am is late.

PP point about catching a train is a good one. If they were catching a train at 9am, they wouldn't get there later than that!