DR. WALLACE: I got my grade lowered from a B to a C because I was tardy to class about 6 times. It was my first class of the day and it started at 8:00 a.m. I admit that I should have been punished, but not by having my grade lowered. Do you agree? — Nameless, Rome, Ga.

NAMELESS: This question was answered in a column written several years ago. I still agree today with my answer to Dr. Van Meer:

DR. WALLACE: I read your column regularly and usually agree with your advice. However, I must disagree with your advice and sincerely hope that you change your mind, at least if I am interpreting your answer correctly.

Darlene from Houston, Texas, complained that her grade in English was lowered because she was late to class too many times. Your answer is, "If you earned an A, you should have received an A."

It appeared to me from her letter that the policy on tardiness was clearly stated at the beginning of the term. Clearly she did not earn an A under the terms of the course, since she was tardy multiple times and the penalty was a lowered grade. However, the implication of your answer is that you agree with her assertion that tardiness shouldn't affect one's grade.

You acknowledge that tardiness is a chronic problem, yet you feel, or at least imply, that her grade should have reflected her work in English. You know that life is not so compartmentalized and that people who are chronically late to work get themselves fired. What would you recommend she do in that situation? Claim protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act on the grounds that she is punctuality challenged - or something equally ridiculous?

I think it would have been better to point out that she knew the rules and shouldn't complain about the consequences when she was late so often. I think you should further have admonished her to grow up and take responsibility for getting places on time.

And now for a few words in defense of the teacher: So you think teachers should have to put up with chronic tardiness? It appears that in Darlene's case it didn't affect her ability to do the work, but how much damage did she do to the other students' education by constantly disturbing the class by coming in late?

I remember, when I was a junior high school math teacher, how the kids complained when I took points off exams for misspelled words: "This is math class, not English!" But when I told them that one can't do math without being able to read or write, they accepted it — at least in part because my principal always defended his teachers. — Gretchen L. Van Meer, Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical engineering, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill.

DR. VAN MEER: I received many letters (mainly from educators) who echo your sentiment. I agree that it is very important to have students at their desks ready to learn and that tardiness is disruptive to the learning process, not only to those who are tardy, but to the instructor and the entire class. Tardiness should be discouraged and those who are frequent violators should be disciplined.

But a student who earns an A in a subject should receive an A. Give her an F in citizenship or have the dean of students dole out an appropriate "challenge" to rectify the problem. But don't lower her academic grade! I'd enjoy debating you on this subject, knowing quite well that I might come out second best.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.