Here's a letter I received from a fifth grade student:
Dear Mr. Thal,
I overheard my parents arguing Friday night after I went to
bed. You see, I’m a 5th grade student at the Pressman Academy on La
Cienega Blvd in Los Angeles and we live in North Hollywood. Mom told Dad she
drove back home, after dropping me off at school, to get the English homework I
had forgotten. Dad said, “Becky needs to face the consequences of her actions.”
Mom didn’t want me to start school with a red blemish on my record. Who’s
right?

Forgetful Student

Dear Forgetful Student,

That was very sweet of your mom to take the time away from
her busy day to race 20 miles back to your San Fernando Valley home to retrieve
your forgotten homework. My question to you is, “Did you learn anything from
this experience?”

From past experience with forgetful children, I think your
honest answer would be, “no.”

When I taught sixth grade in Glendale at the John Muir
Elementary School I had a strict policy about homework. If students forgot an
assignment, they could turn it in the next day. However, if they pulled the
same stunt again that semester, they would get an automatic ‘F’. My students learned real fast not to forget their homework.

As a dad, I always asked my daughters if they had their
homework before heading out the door in the morning, so I can’t recall a time
they forgot their work.

So to be honest with you, though I think your mother is a
sweetheart, your dad is 100% right.

Best wishes,

Mr. Thal

Michael Thal is the author of Goodbye Tchaikovsky and The Legend of Koolura. Both books provide insight into school life.