Help!

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You know, it's kinda rude to automatically side with the teacher...just because he's a teacher. The guy is perhaps the most hated individual in my school. He has the lowest ratings from every single student who's had him, from honors to AP. Nobody likes the guy. He's not a good teacher and never budges on his opinion.

I don't think "good for my teacher". I don't think ANYONE quite understands exactly the absurdness of what he said. He did NOT point a specific sentence lifted from sparknotes, or even a thought. He pointed out words - NOT TAKEN FROM SPARKNOTES - that he thought I couldn't have come up with on my own. Words like "Gripping" and "delude".

About college, that's resolved, beauty school for me - they don't tend to require high GPA's, which is a bonus to the fact that I love hair.

However, my own personal GPA goal is 3.0.

Tracy, honestly, you've known me a month. I've always gotten good grades. ALWAYS. Geometry and english this year are sore spots, but my other grades are the same as they always were. Honestly, you can't say "Go look in a book" when my grades have been well above average for many years. You simply don't know me well enough to say anything of the sort. Everyone has rough times in school, and it's easy for you to say different when you're done and not in school anymore.

*off soapbox*

It is rude to think you know absolutely everything when most of us adults have already graduated high school...many of us have attended college (and graduated) ...some are teachers....yet we are rude b/c we agree with the teacher?

Doesn't matter what your OTHER grades are. It is your whole GPA and your overall effort in Academics. I had a very very tough Junior year in English. I got my first C ever on a report card. But my friend--by busting my tail feathers and actually trying to learn how to analyze the literature...by the end I was making A's on my papers--all without cheating. That is how you learn in life.

Oh--and I found this on one of your college threads:

The problem is that my GPA is quite unremarkable. It's been basically like this my whole life, even before I had a GPA. My grades always average out to a GPA of 2.3-2.5, which is hardly good. I hope I can find a college who will take that.

It's weird that on findmyspot, all the places that came up are kinda ruled out. Places like Tenn and Kentucky came up, but they're not gay friendly. Luckily Florida came up too so I'm sure it's not a bad idea, as long as I save up and plan. And find a college that won't care about such an average GPA, and also, with almost no extracurriculars (thus far in high school).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I really wasn't going to fight it, and I floundered over it, but honestly, I really don't like the fact that I can spend a total of 14+ hours in something only to fail.

If I was truly cheating, I would've spent 5 minutes on the thing, pasted from Sparknotes and been done. Yes, some kids do that. Yes, I'm sure they don't get caught. Murphy's Law.

I realize I was wrong - I've said it 500 times - but given the circumstances, and being told "reading the book was irrelevant", I think the situation can be fairly argued.

Like I said, several family members read over my paper and the Sparknotes. No one noticed a correlation. So obviously, the guy is either overreacting, just plain wrong, or pulling words that he thinks I don't know, that I do know. My mom is an English major -- technically, same exact qualifications as my teacher who's young and just finished college -- and she did not see ANYTHING that made it sound like I had not written it myself. That speaks VOLUMES.

I have flunked many a quizzes b/c I can't remember off the top of my head things I read the night before while reading my lit assignments.

It happens.

Anybody can "read" a book--it takes effort to remember what you have read and to learn how to analyze it. That is why your teacher said the reading of the book was "irrelevant".

Oh--and moms and dads can sometimes wear blinders and not realize something if they are not in the teaching profession teaching the classes you are taking.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I have flunked many a quizzes b/c I can't remember off the top of my head things I read the night before while reading my lit assignments.

It happens.

Anybody can "read" a book--it takes effort to remember what you have read and to learn how to analyze it. That is why your teacher said the reading of the book was "irrelevant".

Oh--and moms and dads can sometimes wear blinders and not realize something if they are not in the teaching profession teaching the classes you are taking.

 

[poohs_hunny]

Sure--but some of us are grownups and don't expect to have the DIS solve all our problems over and over again.

Flame suit on but this kid has been on a lot recently and I am done defending this kid. He's looking for colleges that he can get into with his 2.0 GPA (or something like that--his grades are seriously lacking and yes DISSING for eternity can cause grades to suffer).

I've been nice in the past--and I am NOT trying to be mean now--but it is the perfect time for him to get serious about his studies. This DIS cannot help improve his grades by telling him that he is right all the time (when he isn't).

I am definitely not telling him he was right. In fact, just the opposite. I haven't read any of his other posts, so I don't know what other issues he may have. But I'm just pointing out that the number of DisBoard members would be MUCH smaller if this board was limited to people who only have nothing else they should be doing.

 

[kdm31091]

Well guys despite your disapproval, the meeting went exactly the oppopsite of what you thought.

The entire story was laid out to my parents (who both went), and they are still livid. They are going to superintendent. The teacher and principal both basically are textbook people who did not look at the CONTEXT here. They just said "anything resembling plagarism = 0".

My parents may have been clouded in the beginning by wanting to stick up for me, but not anymore. They know the entire story front to back and are going to keep pushing this. Obviously, I didn't "cheat", otherwise they would've just stopped the fight now.

My teacher read the exact sentences he thinks I copied. He was stammering and scanning the Sparknotes half the time. He couldn't find more than 2 sentences that he thinks i "copied", and even those were OBJECTIVE sentences -- IT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BOOK, and he cannot prove the source.

I'm going to ignore the whole DIS/GPA comments, because I know full well the DIS is not the cause.

 

[lindalinda]

Well, congrats I guess. So are you saying that you no longer have a zero? Or that you have made an enemy of a teacher who will let the other teachers now know that you're trouble to deal with? Sorry, I dont think you exactly took the high road here. You know you used the notes against the instructions of your teacher. You may get your grade raised. I'm not sure you did yourself any favors though in the long run. The lesson might be to not ask advice on a message board then!

 

[poohandwendy]

I think your parents are fighting the wrong battle. JMHO

 

[kdm31091]

Well, congrats I guess. So are you saying that you no longer have a zero? Or that you have made an enemy of a teacher who will let the other teachers now know that you're trouble to deal with? Sorry, I dont think you exactly took the high road here. You know you used the notes against the instructions of your teacher. You may get your grade raised. I'm not sure you did yourself any favors though in the long run. The lesson might be to not ask advice on a message board then!

I still have a 0, that's why my parents are angry.

Maybe my PARENTS are his enemies now, but I barely spoke at the meeting. They were the ones doing the talking.

Well technically, according to law, he cannot tell me what I can't READ (ie Sparknotes) -- freedom of press. Sure he can tell me what I can USE for assignments, but when the reports are read side by side they really do NOT sound alike. If I go back and think, I really didn't lift much of anything, despite what I said. I probably said I "lifted" due to a loss of confidence in my defense.

Alas I'm confident again. I deserve some points and honestly, I'm proud of my parents. Most would sit back and let this go on.

I don't know if any of you really understand. Why is it that NOBODY else but the TEACHER thinks there is a problem? Even the principal was silent when the teacher read the so-called "correlations" between my report and the Sparknotes. The guidance counselor also did not say anything.

This teacher has BY FAR the worst reputation in the school. He does not seem to like his job. He said he cannot grade papers quickly because he has a life, so he can't do 2 hours of work after school. Sorry, that's a teachers job. So maybe the fact that this teacher SUCKS and has over 30+ complaints so far in his 6 years or so (documented complaints on teacher ratings sites, he has the worst in my school!), speaks volumes!

My father knows some former teachers at my school. They all agreed this should be pursued. They also vouched that my teacher does not have the best record.

 

[kdm31091]

Well, anyone have anything to say about that? I do think if you look at all the evidence this is not truly the "wrong battle".

 

[poohandwendy]

Well, anyone have anything to say about that? I do think if you look at all the evidence this is not truly the "wrong battle".

Nope, still definitely the wrong battle. You were wrong. You didn't just read the material, you used it. You admitted that and now want to back-track.

If you get your grade changed, IMHO, you parents are doing you a disservice. There is a lesson here and it isn't fight until you get what you want.

 

[lindalinda]

I think you may as well let your parents pursue it now. Youve burned all your other bridges.
Might as well continue to let them do all the talking. Eventually you do need to learn to solve your own problems, but maybe its too soon for that.

 

[kdm31091]

You know what, you guys were right. A message board is not the right place, because you guys do know:

a) the teacher
b) the situation in its entirety

Also -- I did admit it -- WE KNOW I USED IT. That's not the argument. The argument is HOW i used it. I DID NOT COPY.

My parents are not idiots. If they knew there was no battle to fight here, they wouldn't be fighting it. how do you explain the utter silence when my teacher read the "correlations"? NOBODY said a thing about it. Nobody said "they sound alike", or whatever. If you truly read them, they do not. He argued that the sequence is the same as Sparknotes, but it goes in the same order as the book, so that's a stupid argument.

My teacher is a cocky butthole. I'm sorry, but he is. The number of complaints reinforces this. Not one positive comment about the guy on any school ratings website. Most teachers have at least one or two fans, but not this guy. Like I said, he's apparently lazy too -- and don't give me stuff about "You haven't had a career, blah blah", because I know for a fact that teachers can expect to have to go home and grade things -- that's just they're job!

I didn't burn any bridges -- I STARTED to say "I'm sorry..." to the teacher, and HE CUT ME OFF! That's not my fault. I'm not apologizing again to someone who cut me off!

 

[poohandwendy]

A message board is not the right place

Probably would be best just sticking with that thought.

I wish you luck with your future endeavors.

 

[kdm31091]

Thank you. At least I know nobody truly hates me.

Most situations are easier to understand in real life, rather than being described online. It's easier to see the context and whatnot.

Also, my mood somewhat affects what I write. If I was having a bad, defeated day I may have made myself look more like a cheater.

Also -- I DID TRY TO SOLVE IT MYSELF. It was too late. Nobody was going to cancel the meeting. Like I said, he cut me off when I tried to apologize.

 

[lindalinda]

I'm at a loss as to what you expect us to say. Seems like you want a pat on the back or something. I just dont see anything particularly positive about anything here. Everyone gets a teacher that isnt the greatest or that they dont like at one time or another. Thats life. Here's your pat on the head. Hope it all works out for you.

 

[kdm31091]

I think "that I don't like" is an understatement. Nobody defended his opinions not even the principal. The principal was just reading the Code of Conduct, not nessacarily defending my teacher's statements.

Alas, a message board is best for lighthearted chatting - NOT advice.

I don't want a pat on the back -- but I want you guys to understand EXACTLY where my parents are coming from in continuing the battle. It's easy to defend the authority when you're not involved but if it were your son you may have given it a second thought. And don't come in with "nope, I'd be hard as rock, I wouldn't argue", because you're not in the situation and you can write anything without being honest.

Why do you not listen to me though? I SAID I TRIED TO SOLVE IT ON MY OWN. I refuse to apologize to someone who wouldn't let me apologize for the first time.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Hi there. Just want to give you a little friendly advice as you're fairly new to these boards. Expect to run into quite a few "holier than thous" here, people find it quite uplifting apparently to make a teen who already feels badly feel even worse, and forget trying to find any support or encouragement, as the majority of people who reply to your type of "advice-seeking" posts are only out to judge, IMHO. Just stick to the fluff topics and silly polls unless you enjoy getting raked over the coals.

 

[kdm31091]

Thanks Teresa. It does seem like a lot of people just say "you were wrong; we're right" just because I'm a teen.

If I were my mother (aka another ADULT), posting this, I bet SOME people would have agreed in pursuing it.

I'm going to stick to fluff...

 

[Feralpeg]

I'm sorry, but I think you will be sorry in the long run that you pushed this one. If you use the basic content of a source without giving credit, you are guilty of plagiarism. This is true even if you don't use a single word from the original source. I teach high school English. Many students find this a hard concept to understand. We take plagiarism very seriously. If a student were to do what you just admitted to doing in college, they could be kicked out.

By taking this to another level, instead of just accepting that you made a mistake and trying to learn from it, you've put yourself in an unfavorable light at the school. If you don't think teachers discuss this sort of things amongst themselves, you are mistaken.

I don't know your teacher. He may be the worst teacher in the world, but it doesn't matter. You made a mistake. I commend your parents for caring, but I don't believe they are doing you any favors. You need to learn to pick your battles and to admit it when you've made a mistake.

There is no doubt in my mind, based on your prior responses, that you will think I am picking on you. It has nothing to do with the fact that you are a teen. It does have to do with my being a teacher. I teach because I want the best for my students. I would be doing my students an injustice if I didn't point out their mistakes. Wise people learn from their mistakes. I have and will continue to fail students who plagiarize.

 

[lesroi]

I'm going to ignore the whole DIS/GPA comments, because I know full well the DIS is not the cause.

No one said the DIS was the cause. Your lack of time spent studying and your reliance on other people's work is the cause. Too much time online instead of with your head in your schoolbooks is the cause. Too little parental involvement and supervision is the cause. You must be really proud of how you "got one over" on your Teacher by letting Mommy and Daddy fight for you.

By the way, does this look familiar? (From the site you were banned from...)

kdm31091
Banned Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 88
Reputation: 26

I kinda knew he wasn't gonna leave yay!

Being a teenager I still do know that internet addiction is very real and it's something I struggle with. Being on forums for hours upon hours is fun but not healthy and yes, it does encourage slacking. If I didn't have study hall, and was forced to do ALL homework at home, I'd be getting majorly bad grades because I'm not motivated at home - because of the Internet!

Internet addiction can be very very ugly, but you can balance yourself too, which I'm trying to do more and more. If I'm not leaving the house, I'm at least trying not to sit here all day long. I try to play DDR (dancing game) or something other then type and read, type and read all day long.

Thanks for staying SWB.

I think you made my point for me, thanks! You just gotta love google, lol.




Tracy