On Monday, I went in to class and returned a large stack of papers to the students: a few homework assignments, a quiz, and drafts of their final projects. After everything was returned to them, I said "I spent a LOT of time grading this weekend, as you can probably tell. But as a result, there's one important thing I forgot to do."
I held up a 1040 form; they gasped.
"Yup. My taxes. They're due today, right? If you don't mind, why don't you go over the work that I just handed back to you. I'm going to sit here and do my taxes real quick." (Oddly, they seemed fine with that proposition.) I asked if anyone knew how to fill these forms out because I didn't think to print out the instructions. I received all kinds of advice (they're good kids): "Try this program online..." "File an extension..." "My sister's fiance is an accountant..."
I asked them what would happen if I didn't fill it out on time--the rest of my day was sufficiently busy and I was concerned that I might not have time to do them. One said that I had until midnight. Another assured me that, since I didn't make very much money, probably nothing would happen to me.
I summed up my predicament to them: "Well, this is a fine mess. I put this off until the last minute, I don't have the instructions, I was planning to take time during class to do it, and the penalties are severe if I turn it in late..."
A light bulb came on over one student's head: "OHHHHHH... there's a MORAL to this story..."
I assured them that my taxes were done a long time ago...
I held up a 1040 form; they gasped.
"Yup. My taxes. They're due today, right? If you don't mind, why don't you go over the work that I just handed back to you. I'm going to sit here and do my taxes real quick." (Oddly, they seemed fine with that proposition.) I asked if anyone knew how to fill these forms out because I didn't think to print out the instructions. I received all kinds of advice (they're good kids): "Try this program online..." "File an extension..." "My sister's fiance is an accountant..."
I asked them what would happen if I didn't fill it out on time--the rest of my day was sufficiently busy and I was concerned that I might not have time to do them. One said that I had until midnight. Another assured me that, since I didn't make very much money, probably nothing would happen to me.
I summed up my predicament to them: "Well, this is a fine mess. I put this off until the last minute, I don't have the instructions, I was planning to take time during class to do it, and the penalties are severe if I turn it in late..."
A light bulb came on over one student's head: "OHHHHHH... there's a MORAL to this story..."
I assured them that my taxes were done a long time ago...