That’s a common reply of children. Usually they learn to not reply like that.
That doesn’t make it wrong. The people enforcing rules that explanations aren’t allowed might be wrong. Interesting that you do not seem to consider that.
If the OP is persistently late for work and they often give shit “excuses” like “the bus was late” then I would react similarly to what the OP described. It’s an excuse, not a reason, because you can solve it but have chosen not to
I teach students who live in villages with one bus an hour. If one bus does not run, they will be late. They didn’t ‘choose not to’ fix this situation. Their parents are at work, they cannot afford a taxi, and they cannot invent a bus or wings.
I think there’s a nuance here that’s difficult for me to express. Explanations aren’t wrong - not having a good reason to break the rules is wrong. The nuance is: what makes a good reason?
Your situation isn’t a contradiction or counter to what I said. You have a different perception of persistent. If they were late for school every day because the bus never ran then you would presumably tell them to get the earlier bus so that they didn’t miss an hour of school every day? Or if that was impossible you would discuss it an agree different expectations. This alters the definition of “late”. You wouldn’t simply accept that they are late every day - that would be irresponsible and make you a poor teacher.
That doesn’t make it wrong. The people enforcing rules that explanations aren’t allowed might be wrong. Interesting that you do not seem to consider that.
I teach students who live in villages with one bus an hour. If one bus does not run, they will be late. They didn’t ‘choose not to’ fix this situation. Their parents are at work, they cannot afford a taxi, and they cannot invent a bus or wings.
I think there’s a nuance here that’s difficult for me to express. Explanations aren’t wrong - not having a good reason to break the rules is wrong. The nuance is: what makes a good reason?
Your situation isn’t a contradiction or counter to what I said. You have a different perception of persistent. If they were late for school every day because the bus never ran then you would presumably tell them to get the earlier bus so that they didn’t miss an hour of school every day? Or if that was impossible you would discuss it an agree different expectations. This alters the definition of “late”. You wouldn’t simply accept that they are late every day - that would be irresponsible and make you a poor teacher.