A parent's gotta vent sometimes...

[peapod1980]

Feel free to skip this if a) you're not a parent or b) you don't want to hear me rant and rave.
Long story short, when Little Pea #1 returned to school after being sick, he had a teacher ask for an assignment and then immediately mark the grade 50% off for it being late when LP #1 didn't produce it. He was already anticipting this from her because she's very hard on the kids, so he had asked me to send a note with him to school explaining that he'd be turning it in the following day.
She totally ignored the note, gave him the deduction and didn't even bother to contact me.
So, I talk to her today, and she claims this is the policy in junior high and that all the kids are well aware of it. If the kids are out "on vacation or home sick," they are expected to return to school with their completed assignments. I said, "One of these circumstances is anticipated and planned for, one is not--they're not even in the same category!" She doesn't care, claims this is the policy, all the junior high teachers abide by it "for consistency."
So, am I wrong in thinking this sets up a situation where a student might potentially incur an additional absence in order to stay home to finish homework? Better to miss another day of school and return with completed assignments than return and receive low grades...?
I'm now waiting to hear from the principal.

 

[audie]

sounds like a cop out from a non-caring teacher to me.

 

[Cil]

Sorry you're dealing with this, Peapod.
It does indeed sound like a cop-out, and I would be interested to hear with the principal says. I hope you work something out that is fair.

When my kids were in middle school, it seemed like their teachers were extra-specially good, or wretched. There was never a happy medium.
I think there is a special place in heaven for good teachers, but there is a golden chair with a silk pillow for good *middle* school teachers.

 

[Rudyjohn]

Sorry you're dealing with this, Peapod.
It does indeed sound like a cop-out, and I would be interested to hear with the principal says. I hope you work something out that is fair.

When my kids were in middle school, it seemed like their teachers were extra-specially good, or wretched. There was never a happy medium.
I think there is a special place in heaven for good teachers, but there is a golden chair with a silk pillow for good *middle* school teachers.

Ditto here too. You tried with her 1st, now wait to hear from the principal. I'd be upset too.
But, have you read this "policy?" Is it somewhere in the tons of booklets, pamphlets, etc., we all receive at the 1st of the year? If you missed that somehow, they may have you.

 

[peapod1980]

sounds like a cop out from a non-caring teacher to me.

You're right. Interesting way of looking at it, audie.
I can't tell you how many times she stressed that "all the junior high" teachers do the same thing. So, you know what? I just went and got out the folder I put together at the beginning of every school year that has all kinds of school information in it, and I found her syllabus for the school year, and this supposed hard and fast rule isn't in there. What's there is that she expects students who are absent to find out what work was assigned while they were gone. And the syllabi from other teachers pretty much state the same thing--work is expected to be made up. Nowhere is there any mention that a student is expected to return to school completely caught up on assignments. This makes me so mad.

 

[peapod1980]

When my kids were in middle school, it seemed like their teachers were extra-specially good, or wretched. There was never a happy medium.
I think there is a special place in heaven for good teachers, but there is a golden chair with a silk pillow for good *middle* school teachers.

Here, here! I agree with that--teachers really make their mark on kids this age, and good ones are a treasure.

 

[kathydwells]

You're right. Interesting way of looking at it, audie.
I can't tell you how many times she stressed that "all the junior high" teachers do the same thing. So, you know what? I just went and got out the folder I put together at the beginning of every school year that has all kinds of school information in it, and I found her syllabus for the school year, and this supposed hard and fast rule isn't in there. What's there is that she expects students who are absent to find out what work was assigned while they were gone. And the syllabi from other teachers pretty much state the same thing--work is expected to be made up. Nowhere is there any mention that a student is expected to return to school completely caught up on assignments. This makes me so mad.

If you do not anywhere with the principal take it all the way to the school board. I would!!!!

 

[peapod1980]

But, have you read this "policy?" Is it somewhere in the tons of booklets, pamphlets, etc., we all receive at the 1st of the year? If you missed that somehow, they may have you.

JR, I bet you were asking this question at the very moment I was typing that I'd just done this very thing--went through all the paperwork! Nope, it's not in any of the paperwork, most importantly, it's not in the syllabus from the very teacher who's enforcing this supposed rule.
Another thing to note is that this is not school policy--the Pupil/Parent Handbook says work must be made up within a reasonable amount of time. Again, no mention that it should be turned in upon return to school.
And I agree with you--I was completely willing to cry "mea culpa!" if I had somehow overlooked this, or if Little Pea #1 had done so. I'd already prepared myself to have to eat crow--fair is fair.

 

[seagrovelover]

Peapod, I have to admit that I have let my children at one time or another stay home that extra day to get caught up, I know many of you may disagree , but my kids are so freaked out if "everything" is not done before they reaturn to school. Good Luck, sounds like you have a battle to fight!!! ;-)

 

[Rita]

..............So, am I wrong in thinking this sets up a situation where a student might potentially incur an additional absence in order to stay home to finish homework? Better to miss another day of school and return with completed assignments than return and receive low grades...?
I'm now waiting to hear from the principal.

I think this is exactly what likely happens with a policy like this. I would let my daughter stay out another day to catch up. Then the school would lose the $ for an extra day - doesn't make sense!

Fortunately, the policy at her school is that assignments are due the 2nd day after coming back from an illness.