check this out

[dis-happy]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/topstories/story/1243275.html

 

[dis-happy]

Student sleeps, teacher clicks a picture, then dad gets mad
By Ann Doss Helms
ahelms@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Friday, Feb. 12, 2010



A teacher’s e-mailed photo of a snoozing student provides a glimpse of the latest intersection of technology, teaching and parent communication.


On Thursday, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg high school teacher used his i-Phone to photograph a student sleeping at his desk. The teacher e-mailed it to the student’s father, with a note saying the student “did not work in class today. He slept.”


The father, outraged, promptly forwarded it to the Observer. More about that to come; first, a little background.


Teachers across the country are under pressure to find ways to keep all students on the academic track.


Leaders of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and local agencies that work on dropout prevention say it’s crucial to get parents involved, especially if students are missing school, showing up late or not paying attention in class. Teachers are encouraged to make calls and use e-mail to communicate with parents.


According to the father, the student in question “has had issues in this class” all year. He commutes to a magnet school and sometimes arrives late when traffic is bad, the father says. The teacher gives “tardy quizzes” first thing, with students receiving a zero if they’re not there to answer the question on the board. The father calls that “ludicrous,” saying it discourages students who are already struggling.


The father says his son has been sick all week, and he’s outraged that the teacher would photograph him sleeping.


“Maybe if (the teacher) had taken the time to wake him up, and keep him on track, instead of using that time to snap a photo of him and send it to me, then my son may have been able to finish the assignment, and the e-mail would not have been necessary!” he wrote. “Shouldn’t (teachers) be more accountable for the education our children receive?”


Neither the father nor the teacher have responded today to queries seeking more details about the situation, such how they had been communicating before this week’s incident and how the father dealt with the son.

 

[iwrbnd]

Why is it that people want to blame others for their problems? I would have thanked the teacher and disciplined my child! Geez!

 

[hulagirl87]

Why is it that people want to blame others for their problems? I would have thanked the teacher and disciplined my child! Geez!

I agree completely!

 

[vettechick99]

Oh my gosh, what a tool that guy is. No wonder he has a kid that sleeps through class. As a teacher, I can promise you this isn't the first or 100th time that kid has slept during class.

 

[nmmom95]

I agree completely!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Why is it that people want to blame others for their problems? I would have thanked the teacher and disciplined my child! Geez!

ITA!

So many questions for the father:

1) Why not bring kiddo to class 5 minutes early rather than 5 minutes late so he can take the quiz he and you know he will miss? This is Dad's fault as it seems like he is a carpool student. Possible heavy traffic? Leave earlier.

2) If kiddo is so sick he is sleeping in class....keep him home in bed!

3) Don't like this magnet school? Go to a different one, there are quite a few kids on a list that want to go to magnet schools but don't make the cut.

4) Kiddo is struggling? See #3. Or maybe have him to school on time and awake in class.

5) Teacher is responsible and accountable for the education of children...those who are awake and in class on time.

6) Jumping to send this out to the newspaper is more embarrassing for the kid than having his teacher send a photo to Dad. Oh yeah, makes Dad look like a jerk, too.




I actually think the teacher's idea is very clever. It certainly would get my attention, and as they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words."

 

[doxdogy]

If that had been my child, I would have thanked the teacher and handled it when said sleepy child came home from school. Sleepy child would be doing homework, eating dinner and going to bed early that night. Said sleepy child would have continued going to bed early until sleepy child had proven they could stay awake in class. You know what is scary? Parents that are teaching children to accept no responsibility for their actions. These are the children we will be handing this country over to run one day.

 

[Heidict]

“Shouldn’t (teachers) be more accountable for the education our children receive?”

What? How about some accountability as a parent? You make pathetic excuses for your child instead of dealing with the problem. I can't believe he sent this to the paper. If I was his child I would be furious. Now everyone in school is going to know. I can only imagine what it's going to be like at school for him.

What are these kids going to do when they don't have mommy and daddy their fighting every little battle for them? They are doomed.

 

[kellyg403]

I have actually had a father ask me where in says in the handbook they are not allowed to sleep in class!

This is just too much for me...I just can't imagine the amount of entitlement this child will fill from now on. I mean, come on. If you are sick stay home. If there is an issue see the school nurse. I could go on and on.

Kelly

 

[kellyg403]

If that had been my child, I would have thanked the teacher and handled it when said sleepy child came home from school. Sleepy child would be doing homework, eating dinner and going to bed early that night. Said sleepy child would have continued going to bed early until sleepy child had proven they could stay awake in class. You know what is scary? Parents that are teaching children to accept no responsibility for their actions. These are the children we will be handing this country over to run one day.

And maybe no tv or video games after 8pm...which by the time homework is done, should be pretty much nil.

Scary.

Kelly

 

[Bluestars]

The father is doing a great job teaching his son that he doesn't have to be accountable for his actions and it's ok to make excuses for unacceptable behavior. Nice. I feel sorry for teachers who have to deal with people like this.

 

[Jennasis]

Give that teacher a prize! Dad needs a smackin the head. The apple doesn't fall far...

 

[Heidict]

I have actually had a father ask me where in says in the handbook they are not allowed to sleep in class!

This is just too much for me...I just can't imagine the amount of entitlement this child will fill from now on. I mean, come on. If you are sick stay home. If there is an issue see the school nurse. I could go on and on.

Kelly

Oh my goodness, it's a classroom, not a hotel.

I can't wait till snowflake falls asleep in a meeting at work.

 

[daisy2jae]

perhaps the parent should have talked to the school before going to the paper. Sounds like he went to extreme. I'm sure he wasn't happy but looks like he's not dealing with his own issues at home. Time to be a parent- get your kid to bed at night - help him with his school work if he's struggling-be a parent instead of complaining about how it's the school's fault and traffic.