I know this is a common discussion in this group and I have found it very interesting over the past few years

I'm going to share a different perspective

For the record I've been teaching for over 30 years and about 5 different college and University settings mostly with graduate students although not exclusively and never in a class of more than 40 students

I couldn't give a flying shit when people get their papers in. I do require them and it's very clear on my syllabus that communication matters. So they have to talk to me about it and ask for extensions and they have to do it before the papers are due. But other than that I don't care if you handed in on Friday or Saturday or Sunday or midnight or next week as long as I have time to get all my grades in before the end of the semester because I no longer do any incompletes

Right now today I have about a 100 papers to grade. I will be grading through the weekend. If a particular student hands in their paper on Sunday afternoon it's just gonna be the last paper I grade and I couldn't care less.

Although like the rest of you I can't stand reading the entire email about all their crises I actually believe their crises are real cause the crises in my life are pretty real too. In my work life again for the past nearly 40 years whenever I need an extension my colleagues give me an extension. This is true in my work life in the University and out of the universe. There are a few things including I have learned my taxes and my grades cannot be extended if necessary.

I've had numerous students with covid this semester. I had one student who had a family member die as well as an intimate partner have emergency surgery. People are trying really hard to keep their shit together and I'm one of those people. I graded my midterms really late in one of my classes this semester because it was the best I could do.

I assume everybody is doing the best they can. I treat people the way I want to be treated.

I'm not asking anybody to respond or argue or explain why you do things differently. I know some of you had very large classes. And I know much of the world is much more rigid than I am in a 1000 different ways. I'm just saying this has worked for me for decades.