Teacher asking for Yankee candles/test.....Update Pg 12 #168

[N.Bailey]

I don't care what good cause she might give these candles to. If she wants to donate, then she's free to donate. If she wants to ask students to donate, that too is another thing. She is not free however to mandate a child donate (assuming she's not keeping them for herself - I am trying to go with the best case scenario), anything to a cause she believes in for a grade. Grades should NEVER be for sale.

I would be absolutely livid if my child came home and told me this. I would definitely recommend you make sure your child didn't misunderstand, but if he's accurate, I wouldn't hesitate 1 second before going above this teacher's head. I certainly would not ask my child to deal with it himself either. I'm not trying to pick on anyone's post, but this is just beyond the pale.

 

[dawson5]

Have you contacted any other parents who had an absent child? I had an issue with a parent calling my son, in 2nd grade, an idiot. Before I called the school I confirmed with all children present. He said this infront of four children and he was supposed to be a parent leader in a math activity. I spoke with the teacher and principal, he was no longer allowed to participate in these activities. (He was also the guy who thumbed his nose at the healthy eating initiatives and brought in Krispy Kremes three times a week.)

 

[MushyMushy]

I wouldn't ask my 10th grade son to handle this himself. Some teachers do not appreciate being confronted and questioned by a student, and could reprimand him for being disrespectful. When the teacher calls, I would just ask if your son understood her correctly about bringing in a candle for test credit. If she said yes, I would ask if that is customary in high school now. An excused absence should warrant making up anything missed on the day of the absence. If she says no, just thank her for clarifying.

Maybe she should bring all the kids a candle since she was out when they were supposed to give their presentation.

Marsha

Same here. I wouldn't ask either of my kids to handle it. For one thing, they wouldn't be working in the 10th grade and just plain wouldn't have their own money to spend on that.

 

[DVC Sadie]

I agree!

I second your agree!

 

[spaceacewannabe]

Maybe she was just joking?

That's what I'm hoping, too! Although since the OP's son is in 10th grade, he'd likely pick up on it.
I know sometimes I joke with 7th graders and they don't get it...but I make it pretty obvious that I'm kidding when I tell them to bring me presents

 

[brittanyherndon]

OK - I'm kind of in shock about this one but here it goes.....

My son (10th grade) was out sick on Friday with 101 temp, headache and stomach ache. I took him to the Dr and he tested positive for Mono. He rested up friday, sat and sunday. He felt fine monday morning and had no fever for 24 hours so he went to school with his Dr note for his excused absent on friday. I pick him up today and ask him if he received all of his make up work and he said yes. Then he preceeds to tell me that he missed a group presentation in his French class on friday that was worth 2 test grades. The French teacher told all the kids who missed friday ( I guess there were a few who were absent) that they would need to bring a Yankee candle for test credit - if they bring a large Yankee candle they will get the 2 test grades, if they bring a medium they will get 1 test grade and if they bring a small she will drop their lowest grade. Here is the kicker this presentation is something that the group has worked on for two weeks and they were suppose to do their presentations on Wednesday BUT the teacher was absent - so my son did work on the presentation with his group and he was in class Wednesday prepared to do the presentation but the teacher was out that day. So now that he was out sick on friday he will not get credit unless he brings his teacher a $25 Yankee Candle..... I have had teachers ask for paper, pencils, tissues and hand sanitizer for extra credit but never ever has anyone asked for expensive candles for a test grade.

I called the school to talk to the teacher and of course she was out for the day so I left a message for her to call me back. I was so tempted to call the principal first however I do know that I need to talk to her to clarify that she is indeed asking for Yankee candles for grades. I really hope that my son misunderstood this but he insists that she told everyone who was absent on friday that they would need to bring in a Yankee candle for credit.

My son is in 10th grade and I am a teacher...No way would I expect him to handle this himself. We talk about this all the time...how this is the time when parents step away and let kids handle things themselves and sometimes, the kids just aren't ready or the situation calls for parental involvement.

This is a situation that calls for parental involvement. What I would do...I would clarify it "calmly" with the teacher to make sure exactly what she is asking, preferably in email so you have something you can show, and then I would go to administration. This is grades, and these count for college, so I wouldn't fool around.

I would consider this to be black mail

 

[IHeartTink04]

She has GOT to be kidding!

 

[TLHB70]

Maybe she should bring all the kids a candle since she was out when they were supposed to give their presentation.

Marsha

Yes! I agree.

 

[Lanshark]

As a teacher, I would definitely call her and clarify. Something could have been lost in translation.

 

[marlynnp]

I'd call and ask her what scent she likes first, lol.

 

[pennymom]

I sincerely hope that she said it tongue-in-cheek just to get a reaction from the students. If she's for real, then it's a definite trip to the principal, superintendent, or school board.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Subscribing because I have to see how this ends! LOL My guess is that she was joking, maybe being sarcastic? Sometimes it goes over the student's heads. I can't wait to hear her explanation!

 

[agnes!]

If this is true I would consider going out and getting a CASE of the blooming things (in the nastiest scent I could find), I'd make sure I got enough so EVERYONE in the class would get an A on that stinkin' test.
If the teacher wants to make a joke of grades then I'd throw it right back in her face.
And (metaphorically speaking, of course) shove it down her throat.

But yeah, maybe some clarification before acting is needed .
agnes!

 

[LisaR]

I'd call and ask her what scent she likes first, lol.

I would actually do just that. I would say something like, "my son said you wanted a Yankee Candle. I just love those myself. I wanted to check to see what scent you like."

If she responds with ?????? or says she was just joking, you will have your answer. If she jumps in with her favorite, well.........

 

[flipturngirl]

subscribe me

I cannot believe that a teacher would ask something like this. Hopefully, OP's son completely misunderstood the teachers request.

 

[*BTMRR*]

Well this contradicts all the "Teacher Gift" threads we get on the DIS at Christmas time, where many of our DIS teachers come on and plead with parents to please, please not give any more candles!

I have a problem with teachers asking for any supplies (hand sanitizer, pencils, candles??) in exchange for grades. I don't even like it when they say "bring a canned good for the food bank and you get an automatic 'A' on the quiz." I think grades and money/donations should never be connected. So obviously I think asking for candles is far over the top! However, my kids have come home with enough crazy stories about what teachers supposedly said that I think there's a good chance the OP's son just misinterpreted a joke. At least I hope that's what happened!

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

LOL- I am kind of hoping that it was a misunderstanding but I don't know , DS said that she announced it to the class and she had it written on the dry erase board. I'm still shaking my head in disbelief.


I'll try to update as soon as I can clarify if this was a misunderstanding or not.

 

[Imzadi]

Okay, I'm on this thread. I've just got to find out what happens. I taught about a hundred years ago, and I'm just flabbergasted.

CANDLE WATCH!

If this didn't involve grades and something as serious that could really affect a kid getting into college, this would quite entertaining.

 

[C.Ann]

"Buying" grades and blackmail.. Hmm.. Teacher is setting a wonderful example for the students..

 

[Sandy321]

Have you contacted any other parents who had an absent child? I had an issue with a parent calling my son, in 2nd grade, an idiot. Before I called the school I confirmed with all children present. He said this infront of four children and he was supposed to be a parent leader in a math activity. I spoke with the teacher and principal, he was no longer allowed to participate in these activities. (He was also the guy who thumbed his nose at the healthy eating initiatives and brought in Krispy Kremes three times a week.)

I was thinking that the other parents would do the "dirty work" of calling and yelling and complaining - I'd sit back and smile and nod!!

As a teacher, I would definitely call her and clarify. Something could have been lost in translation.

Well it is French Class - maybe they do things differently in France??

I'd call and ask her what scent she likes first, lol.

LOL This and buying a whole case so the whole class gets the A made me smile!!

Well this contradicts all the "Teacher Gift" threads we get on the DIS at Christmas time, where many of our DIS teachers come on and plead with parents to please, please not give any more candles!

I have a problem with teachers asking for any supplies (hand sanitizer, pencils, candles??) in exchange for grades. I don't even like it when they say "bring a canned good for the food bank and you get an automatic 'A' on the quiz." I think grades and money/donations should never be connected. So obviously I think asking for candles is far over the top! However, my kids have come home with enough crazy stories about what teachers supposedly said that I think there's a good chance the OP's son just misinterpreted a joke. At least I hope that's what happened!

Now that is the truth!!

Many schools do have a policy on gifts - and in writing our school district does say NO GIFTS! (and everyone ignores it, parents, teachers, adminstration

and when I first started teaching (years ago!) The principal asked the parents to consider this - "to only believe half of what the kids tell them what happens at school, and we'll do the same about what goes on at home - the tales some kids tell" Every now and again, I am reminded of that advice when something is just not quite right -

but in the end - instincts run true!!

Good Luck - staying tuned for "... the rest of the story"