Everyone has been in a situation where they are up late working on an assignment, rushing to get it done before 11:59 so they do not get points off. Or maybe they have gotten several points taken off because they forgot to hit the turn-in button. Deadlines are especially relevant in English or writing classes, where there is a drastically different experience in writing essays with and without a deadline.  

For many students, deadlines, especially if they are unreasonable, cause anxiety, sleep deprivation, or rushed work that is not done to their full potential. Students may say that if there is an assignment that is meant to be done mostly outside of school, and they have other time-consuming commitments, it is more difficult for them to complete assignments on time.

Teachers may see it as a way to instill discipline and time management skills. Some teachers seem to not care about deadlines and as long as it is given to them within a few days and the work is good quality. They argue that having strict deadlines will prepare students for their professional careers, where there may be due dates for projects.

However, other teachers have a more laid-back policy and are happy as long as the work gets turned in eventually, and the work is of good quality. 

 Dr. Ruland, head of the English department, does not have strict deadlines for his writing lab class. Dr. Ruland says that the reason he does not specify deadlines is because, “For most students who need more time, it’s because they’re putting additional work into the topic, or they want more time to make it better, more thorough,” and he does not mind giving a few extra days if it means students will have better quality essays. Dr. Ruland says that he sees how deadlines are important, and he recognizes how every teacher has different policies that work for them. However, he says that he thinks teachers should have flexibility depending on the student and the situation. 

 Mr. Casey, a Pentucket English teacher, has set deadlines for his assignments, although he is flexible if the student has a legitimate reason. He says, “It teaches students responsibility and it teaches students how to manage their time appropriately, and also if something comes up, which happens every assignment, and a student needs an extension, it forces them to have a conversation with their teachers, which is good.” Also, he says that he does not think the policy “get it done when you get it done” makes sense since it may cause students to do all their missing work at the end of the quarter, which is not ideal. He also says, “as an English teacher, the grading is more time-consuming. There’s more to it, so it is important for kids to get things turned in because I want to grade them in a timely manner.” 

Mrs. Ducolon, another Pentucket English teacher, also has set deadlines for assignments. When asked her reasoning, she said that there are deadlines in life, such as mortgage payments, taxes, etc, and it is important to instill the value of being responsible for accomplishing things on time. Also, she thinks that deadlines are a motivation and without them, it causes more procrastination. Although she will take points off it assignments are turned in late, but understands if kids are out sick and will not take off points in that case. In addition, as long as an assignment is turned in before the quarter, she will give some credit.  In very extreme circumstances, such as hospitalization, she also may extend past the quarter by putting in an “incomplete”.

Students have differing opinions on whether less strict deadlines would be beneficial. Many students greatly appreciate policies that give them extra time to work on assignments because it allows them to get higher grades. However, other students feel that getting extra time on assignments would not be particularly helpful. An anonymous student said that they work better under pressure, and getting additional time would only cause them to procrastinate more. Many students feel they would have improved grades if they were given a further away, or less strict deadline. Also, if someone has multiple assignments due at the same time, it can be stressful. 

There are some potential solutions that would be good compromises for teachers and students. A student could alert a teacher in advance that they will need an extension, so the teacher will know they have a legitimate reason. Additionally, teachers could grade assignments as long as they are turned in before the quarter, even if it is late. If it is completed they should at least receive some credit. 

In summary, students as well as teachers have differing opinions and policies regarding deadlines. It is important for teachers to be understanding and flexible with students, but it is also important for students to be respectful of the teacher’s time, and not take too long to get work in if they do not have an excuse.