THE "IPAD KIDS" HAVE MADE IT TO COLLEGE?? Is a professor supposed to enforce discipline, or should that have been settled at home? A college engineering instructor says a student got a zero on his midterm, but she isn't failing anybody over discipline. Her view: these are adults, the discipline part should have happened a long time ago, and things like turning in assignments and showing up on time are for "other classes" to deal with. As a father, I think she's half right, and the half she's right about stings. By 18, discipline is supposed to be handled. That's on us parents, not on a college instructor, and no syllabus is going to make up for it. But here's where I get off the bus. An engineer who can't hit a deadline or show up on time is going to have a short career. Somebody's bridge, somebody's wiring, somebody's brakes depend on that guy doing his work when it's due. If a class shrugs at that, it isn't being kind. It's just pushing the lesson down the road to a boss who won't be nearly as nice. Showing up is part of the skill.