Here are some of the best true anecdotes from teachers and students who were late due to extraordinary circumstances. Should we excuse their tardiness?
She Needed To Check Her Mom into Rehab
One student had to escort her mom to a rehabilitation facility, so she was often late for class.
Her mother’s probation stipulated that she would risk returning to prison if she failed to show up on time.
Thus, the teacher chose not to mark the student for tardiness and instead allowed her extra time to catch up after school or during lunch.
Her Mother Was Shot
When the teacher of a preschool in West Philadelphia had one of his teaching assistants (TA) miss a day, he was surprised to hear the reason why.
Shockingly, he found out that the TA’s mother had been shot by her friend.
The TA at the time told him, “‘Oh no, it’s ok, he was aiming for someone else.'”
The School Bus Blew Up
The students were late to school, and when questioned, they explained that their school bus had exploded in flames.
When the teachers considered it an embellished story, one of the administrators confirmed it by opening a news website with an image of the bus engulfed in flames and a group of kids in their school uniforms in front.
The late slip for the class read, “School bus blew up.”
Caught Drunk Cycling
A student was pulled over by the police for wobbling on his bike. The officers assumed he had been drinking, but it turned out he was trying to avoid all the slugs on the road.
Grain Train
In one commenter’s hometown, if someone ran late for an appointment and said, “Sorry, grain train,” they were never challenged.
It was common for long trains with more than fifty carriages to pass through the middle of town, causing people to be delayed.
Backpack Filled With Cement
A student entered the classroom late, citing a rather unusual excuse. He explained to his teacher that MTV had paid him $50 to fill his backpack with cement and carry it around for the day.
The teacher accepted this excuse, and the student later regretted the decision when he realized how much more expensive replacement textbooks were than his pay.
However, he still got to have his moment of fame without risking a penalty for tardiness. The teacher later found the news article to prove she was right for believing him.
Had to Help a Goat
A student was running late for school when their neighbor’s goat followed them to the bus stop. The student couldn’t board the bus with the goat in tow, so they had to get off and bring it home before calling their dad to take them to school.
Forgot Their Shoes
Two students were late for school because they had failed to put their shoes in their backpacks after rollerskating to school.
They decided to skate to the vice-principal’s office, where they were granted permission to go home and retrieve them.
Apartment Burned Down
“A kid’s apartment burned down overnight. He was a little late but still came,” one teacher wrote.
The Cow Was Calving
Farmers know all about this one.
One student missed their first-period class one morning due to a cow in their care giving birth. They had chosen to be present at the birthing over attending English class.
“Made sense to me. His essays weren’t going to win any ribbons at the county fair, but his calf could,” the person wrote.
A Funeral Procession
One student arrived late to their lesson due to a lengthy funeral procession they encountered while on their way.
The service had been well-attended, as evidenced by the length of the procession that was preventing them from reaching their destination.
The student was telling the truth, and the teacher knew this, having played the organ at the service earlier that morning.
Took a Detour
When Brendan entered the classroom at the end of a German lesson, everyone was shocked.
It had been raining heavily outside, and he was soaked from head to toe, his blazer dripping and mud caked into his trousers.
His hair was plastered to his forehead, and he was breathing heavily. The teacher exclaimed in surprise, asking what had happened.
Brendan simply sighed and said, “I took a shortcut.” This line became an iconic phrase in the school for years afterwards. Everyone was amazed at the courage of this quiet, unassuming boy.
The story of Brendan taking a shortcut has since become legendary among alumni of that strict and intimidating Catholic school.
Death of a Family Member
One user recalled an awkward conversation between a professor and a student who had missed two classes and submitted work late.
The professor looked at him and said, “I hope somebody died for you to be this late,” and the student replied, “Does my dad count?”
The atmosphere suddenly became very quiet and tense as this student seemed to be telling the truth.
Car Got Hit By Lightning
One day, a student’s car was struck by lightning while in the school parking lot. The car tires had melted to the pavement, and she needed to go out and deal with the tow truck and call her parents, leaving her very late for school.
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Conclusion
Sometimes life just doesn’t go to plan, and we have to face problems that prevent us from being on time for school or work.
We hope you enjoyed this list of best excuses for arriving late to class, according to Reddit. What was your best excuse?
This article Best Excuses For Being Late was produced and syndicated by TPR Teaching. Reddit source.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and founder of TPR Teaching, crafting inspiring pieces that promote the importance of developing new skills. For 7 years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.