My 9th grader got detention for lending notes..

[disneysnowflake]

Yesterday afternoon my 14 yo DS came home with a paper for me to sign. He got 2 hours of detention.

The paper said that his science teaching gave him the detention for cheating. The paper said this...

"The above student is being punished for cheating. In my class I observed this student giving his notes to another student to copy into her journal. It is the policy of my class that each student must take notes themselves. If a student is out of class due to absenteeism the notes are their responsibility to make up. Giving notes to another student to copy into their own notebook is cheating."

I asked my son what happened. He's usually an A student. He said a friend of his was sick and missed the notes from one day. She asked if she could see his notes, and he let her do it. He said he didn't know it was considered cheating to share notes. He thought cheating was copying homework or tests. He's concerned this detention will show on his permanent record.

 

[Mermaid02]

So HOW does the teacher think a sick student is going to GET the notes from the day they were absent?
I'd fight it- What a STUPID policy!

 

[Pam]

If it were me, I'd be calling the principal to ask if this is indeed school policy. And - I would be fighting that detention tooth and nail!

I have never heard of not being allowed to share your notes, especially with someone who was sick and missed school.

I don't know if this will show up on his permanent record or not, I would ask the principal.

 

[poohandwendy]

It makes sense to me, if notes are graded like homework in his class. Sounds like these notes aren't from in-class lecture, but from text book study. Like if they were assigned to read chapter 1-3 and take notes, then that is part of their homework and it counts as part of their grade (at least this is how it works in my kids HS). I would ask the teacher. If taking notes are like homework, then yes, it would be cheating just like copying any other homework.

Even if it was from class lecture, you have to consider the POV of the teacher. He says that it is the responsibility of the student to make up notes and I am sure he gives them an opportunity if the only way to get them is through him. You are not realoy absorbing/learning the material if you are copying notes, I am sure that is why he has an issue with it.

 

[Mermaid02]

Originally posted by poohandwendy
It makes sense to me, if notes are graded like homework in his class. Sounds like these notes aren't from in-class lecture, but from text book study. Like if they were assigned to read chapter 1-3 and take notes, then that is part of their homework and it counts as part of their grade (at least this is how it works in my kids HS). I would ask the teacher. If taking notes are like homework, then yes, it would be cheating just like copying any other homework.

If this is the case I can see the policy making sense... guess I figured the notes were from a lecture. Let us know what you find out!

 

[Pop Daddy]

all kids are liars, the whole class should get detentions

 

[disneysnowflake]

I'll call the school this morning just to check about this.

If what DS did is considered cheating then he should be punished.

I looked in DS's school handbook, but couldn't find anything about cheating, except it says cheating is a 4 hour detention punishment for the first offense. Second offense is the same. Third offense is 3 days in school suspension. I certainly don't condone cheating.

DS said that the notes are combination of what the teacher says in class and whatever notes from the textbook you think you'll need. DS said the teacher hasn't looked at his notebook at all so far this school year. He had no idea that sharing notes with someone who wasn't at school was considered cheating.

DS also sad that this teacher, who has been teaching for a long time, constantly reminds the kids of how important it is to come to school each day. The teacher always says too many kids miss school. Maybe this is his way of getting kids who miss school to see the consequences. Who knows. There are a lot of kids who miss too much school.

I'll call the school later this morning and find out.

 

[poohandwendy]

I would definitely talk to the teacher and bring up all of the things you just mentioned. If he is not looking over notes or counting them in any way, I don't see a reason to punish for sharing them.

Good luck with working this out. I would definitely follow up because cheating (as a reason for detention) could be an issue when he applies for college. It just doesn't look good on paper.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Certainly this warrants a conference with the principal. Good Luck!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

My DS is an 8th grader and they are encouraged to share their notes with children who have been out sick! It is expected! I would start with e-mailing/calling the teacher.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I think that teacher is an idiot!! If someone has been out sick, of course they need to borrow notes. Maybe the teacher needs to go back to college where professors don't want to be bothered at all catching you up on what you missed. It's YOUR responsibility to get notes, assignments, etc. And I've even had professors say don't bother them, make friends with a classmate and get it from them.

This goes along with my son getting a demerit for not having a piece of paper in class. HELLO!!! All through school and college we've been encouraged to share with people that forget something. So what's the lesson here besides the old "be prepared"...heaven forbid you are human and forget something. These teachers are NOT sending the message I want my son to learn. So I've now told him to keep paper in his textbooks in case he forgets.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

That is a ridiculous policy!

When I was in school, the teacher used to ASK one of us to take notes for students who were out sick. It was called, oh, maybe... learning to think about and help out others! It was encouraged.

I think you should fight it. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

 

[disneysnowflake]

Well, I just spoke to the principal about this over the phone.
He told me that I'm to have a conference with him, the teacher and my son this afternoon.

For now my son is scheduled to serve his detention in the second week of October.

I've never heard of having a student serve his detention 2 weeks after it's issued. That's so odd. Apparently that's the way it's run at that school. Maybe they are backlogged with too many note sharing students.

I'll let you know what they say this afternoon. I just thought it was odd that detention for an offense given on Sept 28th wouldn't be started until October 11.

 

[Pin Wizard]

That is strange. Good luck!

 

[Lachesis00]

Good luck! I hope it's resolved quickly and easily!

 

[shortbun]

If the students who miss school are responsible for making up
for their missed notes-how does the teacher want them to do
this? Sharing class notes is NOT cheating. It is not dishonest,
it is not even close to a punishable offense. Your son should fight
for his record to be cleansed. This teacher is wrong. It's not bad
to be wrong, only bad to fail to change your errors when they
are pointed out. Go to the teacher, then the principal if necessary.
If this doesn't work-go to the president of the school board and
then the Superintendent-then the newspaper. Don't let them get
away with this. Cheating is clear cut-this was not cheating and
to be accused of cheating for this is unacceptable.

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

If the teacher thinks this is cheating, then she is really living in a bubble. I'd estimate that about 90% of HS students are cheating on homework, and quizzes. And probably 70% cheat on everything including tests and exams.

Allowing someone to copy your notes is NOT cheating, what the teacher did is outrageous.

 

[KarenC]

It's never too early to learn that what your child may consider cooperation, a teacher may consider cheating.

When my DH was in his 2nd to last semester in college (and I was on bedrest for pre-eclampsia with DD) he got in trouble for cheating on a test. It was in an upper level electrical engineering class. The professor had given a test and the high grade for the class was 13%. He allowed the students to re-take the test as a take home, open book, open note test. DH worked on that test for 13 hours at my parent's kitchen table while I was in the hospital trying not to have a stroke. He and a friend talked about one particular problem. While they came up with different answers--they both started from the same wrong assumption.

The professor took this as evidence that they cheated and gave my husband a 0% on the test. He had to work very hard to pass the class. It never occurred to my husband that having a conversation about an open book/open note take home test would be considered cheating but it was. I think the whole deal makes me madder than it does DH!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I agree, this is absolutely ridiculous!

Maybe they are backlogged with too many note sharing students.

That statement made me laugh... it shows how silly this is, when schools have more pressing problems.

 

[Lynda Silk]

I agree that this is ridiculous! At least the student who missed class was interested enough to ask someone for the notes. And certainly your DS should be commended on trying to help someone catch up on their learning!

I would ask the teacher how they expected your DS's friend to make their own notes. Is the teacher going to deliver the lecture all over again? Also, obviously (at least to me!) the intent here was not to cheat, but to catch up and help! In this day and age where there are so many problems such as bullying, family issues, poor attitudes towards education, laziness and lack of motivation re school, surely the teacher should have realized the nature of this incident and acted accordingly.

Good luck on your conference! Let us know how it turns out!