Out of my 19 students in my third period English class, only 4 handed in their project today. We went over it for a whole class period, and even started it in class so I could help them. Seriously, WTF.
So glad that pretty soon my employment will be based on whether they "feel like" doing something or not. 

Re: vent (NTR)
Ugh, I'm so sorry.
It sounded like your sub this year was pretty lax. I'd chalk this up to her not holding them accountable. Luckily the year is almost over and next year you can lay down the law right from the start.
BFP #2 5/27/12. EDD 2/1/13. m/c and D&C 6/21/12.
Ugh. I'm sorry. This is why I went back to teaching first grade...they are little more afraid of the consequences. I think middle/high school teachers are saints. I threatened to quit if I ever had the "big kids" again!
I hope so! Ugh
Ugh!
I teach 7th grade Science. A few weeks ago I assigned a project for our Animal Kingdom unit and gave them SIX PROJECT options. They could choose the one they found most interesting to complete. Similarly to your story I was amazed at how many kids didn't turn anything in on the due date. Two weeks later I had parents emailing me that their children didn't have a grade online for the project. Multiple parents emailed to tell me that I HAD MADE A MISTAKE or forgot to enter their grades.... Seriously,...
that's so frustrating!
do any of them seem freaked out by it? or they really dont care?
Wow. That's pretty abysmal.I'm sorry.
Is it pretty late in the term there? Maybe that's why they're checked out.
Teach to the four, insofar as you're able. Even the crappiest classes have a few gems.
This happend to me almost exactly with my 8th grade science students. Plus they had a week to work on it in the library in school!!! And sadly, if I were to fail all of those students my administration would pressure me to pass them because it must somehow be my fault that so many of them didn't do it.
That's not even addressing how scary the new eval system is where my pay is tied to their scores. Please just give me the AP kids...
It always surprises me how little they seem to care. When I taught the high level course, kids NEVER handed things in late. So I have faith that those will be our future leaders. I'm not sure what will happen to these kids! If I can't hold grades over their heads (i.e. if they don't care about grades) I don't have much else. I cannot make them sit down and do assigned work at home...only in class. And we don't have the time to do every single thing as an in class assignment. I already have to teach reading, writing, vocabulary and test prep in one course.
Anyway, people say that teachers are whiners. Well count me in, lol!
Uh... vent away, my friend, vent away!
The first semester this year, out of 64 of students, 29 of them failed. They didn't care. Who cares? Not them.
Yep, vent away...