Teachers... why?

[miss missy]

7th grade!

Would a teacher NOT let a kid go to the office to call home??? My DD told me one of the "cool kids" (not that it matters just to point out he isn't a cry baby) asked to go to the office to call home, she said he begged and the teacher never let him go, he tried to hide the tears but kids saw. I guess he went a couple other times that day too from different classes.

Sounds to me like something was bugging him and he was trying to reach home for that reason, whether it was a home problem or him I dunno, but I was sooooo mad!! I told DD if that ever happens to walk out and go to the office!!

What the heck was that teacher thinking???

edit to add Oh and he was absent the following day

 

[Karel]

You're kidding, right? If one kid was allowed to call home during class, could you imagine the mass exodus of kids running to make calls home?

Did he say what the call was about? Just because something was bugging him? I'm sure it could have waited till school was out.

 

[Katie]

IDK..but let me tell you ...if my son asked to call home and was visiable upset..then he better be allowed too!

I agree, the child should have walked down to the office.
or...used his cell phone in his locker!

Last week, my DS was trying out for MS Basketball...42 kids for 12 spots...This was a 7th grade team..and he is only a 6th grader. Every day, they cut ...the final morning the list was going to be posted...I told him..If you didn't make it...and can't concentrate..call me..I'll come pick you up( He is a STRAIGHT A Middle School STudent..and I didn't want this to mess him up)....luckily, he was one of lucky 12....(and as a 6th grader, that was amazing)...and guess what...HE Called me anyway..just to let me know..!
but the teacher, let him call me even for HAPPY calls!

 

[Keli]

I don't know, how old are these children? I can see where there could be legitimate reasons to say no and a lot of times when the answer should be yes. It's just too hard to know the right or wrong of this without more facts.

 

[Katie]

plus..you never know what was going on with the KIDS mind...obviously he needed to call home about something...

 

[Toot Sweet]

Don't you think that if teachers let every child leave the room whenever they wanted that things might get pretty chaotic? I would have let that child leave maybe ONE time to call home...depending on the reason. Or maybe I would have called the parents for the child to let them know the child was having a difficult time. Like I said, it depends on what the reason was. But teachers can't allow kids to go to the office whenever they want. The office would get pretty upset, and the class would be disrupted.

Also, you did not mention the age level, not that that would make a huge difference.

 

[miss missy]

You're kidding, right? If one kid was allowed to call home during class, could you imagine the mass exodus of kids running to make calls home?

Did he say what the call was about? Just because something was bugging him? I'm sure it could have waited till school was out.

No I am not kidding! She should of taken him out to the hall in private and asked! I am SURE as heck he didn't want to say with everyone listening! I don't give a hoot about how many kids ask, if one is that upset, darn it let him go! As the teacher and as an adult, one should be able to determine how to deal with this stuff!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

As a teacher I have no idea why that teacher didn't let the kid leave the room. I am a sap when a kid is crying and would let them go to the office to call home. I cannot, however, let them use cell phones as they are not to have them on school property and we are supposed to confiscate them. Please don't argue that with me; I didn't make it up, as a parent I want my high schooler to have her phone, even though she has it on silent during the day.
Sometimes kids will ask to use MY classroom phone, and if it's a good reason and the bell has not rung yet, I'll let them. But some teachers won't.
Robin M.

 

[Wishing on a star]

The child was asking to leave the room to go to THE OFFICE.

The child obviously was experiencing a problem.

A teacher has no right to hold my child hostage.

My son will be instructed that if he ever has a real problem that he is to go to the office immediately. He does not need permission.

 

[miss missy]

I don't know, how old are these children? I can see where there could be legitimate reasons to say no and a lot of times when the answer should be yes. It's just too hard to know the right or wrong of this without more facts.

7th grade, boy don't cry for nothing in a classroom, that is enough of a sign!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It's been a while--I don't recall a mad rush of students trying to call home just b/c there was no written rule banning calls home during school hours.

If a child is visibly upset for any reason and requests a trip to the guidance counselor or a call home to family...then it is a reasonable request to accomodate.

I went to 3 middle schools and 3 high schools...I do know in one of the middle schools, I had access to a pay phone if needed. It was the only time I called home--but can't think of a time where a teacher ever ignored the earnest plea of a student for any reason who had a valid need to do something. And in doing so--I don't think that all of a sudden there would be a rush of students all trying to do the same thing.

It isn't like when they are pre-school when one kid has to go potty and then slowly the entire class decides they need to go as well.

 

[Karel]

! As the teacher and as an adult, one should be able to determine how to deal with this stuff!

She did determine how to deal with it - she said no. Maybe she said wait till lunch. Maybe she said, we're about to start a new unit...or sit down for a test...

 

[miss missy]

Don't you think that if teachers let every child leave the room whenever they wanted that things might get pretty chaotic? I would have let that child leave maybe ONE time to call home...depending on the reason. Or maybe I would have called the parents for the child to let them know the child was having a difficult time. Like I said, it depends on what the reason was. But teachers can't allow kids to go to the office whenever they want. The office would get pretty upset, and the class would be disrupted.

Also, you did not mention the age level, not that that would make a huge difference.

a 7th grade boy, trying to call home all day, different classes, that is enough to know something is up! Oh and he was absent the following day

 

[Blondy876]

What was the teacher thinking? Could be several things. Maybe it is against school policy to let a child walk to the office and call home whenever they feel like it. (I have never heard of a school in my area that allows this)Maybe there is a history of that child (or others) tending to wander around the hallways instead of going where they say they are going. Maybe administration gets on the teacher if she allows too many kids to leave the room. Plus, you said this child had already called home several times. Maybe the teacher knew this and decided that he had called enough. If the child was having some sort of emotional crisis or family emergency then maybe that child shouldn't have been in the classroom to begin with.

Could be a number of things and telling your child to just leave the room if she deems it necessary to call home is disrespectful to the teacher and the school. Why are you so quick to decide that the teacher is at fault? Granted, the teacher may be the monster you seem to think she is but then again, maybe she knows what she is doing. Sorry to be so snarky but it bothers me when parents tell their child that the rules are for everyone but them. That's exactly what you did when you told your child that she could leave. Imagine what a classroom would look like if every child in the room had been empowered by their parents to not follow the rules they didn't like.

 

[miss missy]

As a teacher I have no idea why that teacher didn't let the kid leave the room. I am a sap when a kid is crying and would let them go to the office to call home. I cannot, however, let them use cell phones as they are not to have them on school property and we are supposed to confiscate them. Please don't argue that with me; I didn't make it up, as a parent I want my high schooler to have her phone, even though she has it on silent during the day.
Sometimes kids will ask to use MY classroom phone, and if it's a good reason and the bell has not rung yet, I'll let them. But some teachers won't.
Robin M.

Thanks for being a great teacher and a smart adult.

 

[declansdad]

I think that without knowing all the facts in this situation, you really can't make a judgement.


To tell your kids to simply leave a classroom withou permission is wrong!!!!

 

[Hedy]

The child was asking to leave the room to go to THE OFFICE.

The child obviously was experiencing a problem.

A teacher has no right to hold my child hostage.

My son will be instructed that if he ever has a real problem that he is to go to the office immediately. He does not need permission.

Holding your kid hostage? Please. How long are middle school blocks? 45 minutes? It wouldn't kill your kid to wait. He may be a 7th grade boy, but god knows what's going on with his hormones. My guess is that his school has some rule about when you can/cannot leave.

 

[miss missy]

She did determine how to deal with it - she said no. Maybe she said wait till lunch. Maybe she said, we're about to start a new unit...or sit down for a test...

Come on, do a test while your in tears??? Time between classes to call home? ha

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

She did determine how to deal with it - she said no. Maybe she said wait till lunch. Maybe she said, we're about to start a new unit...or sit down for a test...

That isn't dealing with it--that is ignoring it.

 

[miss missy]

What was the teacher thinking? Could be several things. Maybe it is against school policy to let a child walk to the office and call home whenever they feel like it. (I have never heard of a school in my area that allows this)Maybe there is a history of that child (or others) tending to wander around the hallways instead of going where they say they are going. Maybe administration gets on the teacher if she allows too many kids to leave the room. Plus, you said this child had already called home several times. Maybe the teacher knew this and decided that he had called enough. If the child was having some sort of emotional crisis or family emergency then maybe that child shouldn't have been in the classroom to begin with.

Could be a number of things and telling your child to just leave the room if she deems it necessary to call home is disrespectful to the teacher and the school. Why are you so quick to decide that the teacher is at fault? Granted, the teacher may be the monster you seem to think she is but then again, maybe she knows what she is doing. Sorry to be so snarky but it bothers me when parents tell their child that the rules are for everyone but them. That's exactly what you did when you told your child that she could leave. Imagine what a classroom would look like if every child in the room had been empowered by their parents to not follow the rules they didn't like. Oh, yeah that's what most classrooms already look like.

They have thing called a pass. You get in signed by the place you went. gosh that is been around forever.