Was the teacher wrong?

[kaytieeldr]

The teacher can care without "yelling" at students in writing, which is what that note does. Just say what you mean and mean what you say. No rant needed. That letter was the teacher throwing a fit.

"...in which case history tells me..." indicates this is an experienced teacher. Not yelling, not snarky, just stating exactly what she means.

 

[Minnesota!]

I don't disagree with much of what you're saying. But tough love doesn't require a letter like that. Nor does it require laughing in his face. There are already consequences built into not accepting extra credit.

I believe differently. If you are going to choose to be a slacker, you deserve to be called out on it. And, I definitely laugh at him when he is "bored" because he has lost all privileges due to being grounded, and has lost the ability to play his high school sports because his grade goes below a 75%. I do NOT negotiate with laziness. If you want to be lazy, I will call you on it and I will punish accordingly. Work hard, do the job assigned to you, and reap your benefits. If you decide to not, I do not want to hear the complaints of what you miss out on. And, teachers/parents/spouses/supervisors are well within their rights to call you out on it, too.

 

[PollyannaMom]

My oldest...ugh. He does ALL the work, but NEVER turns it in. His gradebooks are littered with 4/5, 24/30, 40/50, etc. All would be PERFECT grades, but he turns them in late. So, it is an automatic 20% drop in grade . Then, he is not a good test taker, so his grades falter there.

I’m a little off topic, but will suggest quickly - if they are allowed to have their phones with them on silent, have him set a haptic alarm for the beginning of class to remind him to turn in his homework. The transition between classes can get chaotic, and kids who rely on routines to remember stuff often miss that and struggle.

 

[ronandannette]

But would you really have done that if your kid hadn't turned in all of his/her work? I sure would not.

I'm referring to high-school (he wasn't quite so bad in jr. high) but yes, we demanded our DS deal with his teachers himself when his grades were in the tank due to missing assignments, although we were in constant communication with them in the background. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he asked some of them for extra-credit assignments at the 11th hour, although I don't know exactly what was said between them in every instance.

 

[mom2rtk]

I believe differently. If you are going to choose to be a slacker, you deserve to be called out on it. And, I definitely laugh at him when he is "bored" because he has lost all privileges due to being grounded, and has lost the ability to play his high school sports because his grade goes below a 75%. I do NOT negotiate with laziness. If you want to be lazy, I will call you on it and I will punish accordingly. Work hard, do the job assigned to you, and reap your benefits. If you decide to not, I do not want to hear the complaints of what you miss out on. And, teachers/parents/spouses/supervisors are well within their rights to call you out on it, too.

I just don't think that accomplishes anything. YMMV.

 

[Hikergirl]

No problem with it at all. It's a shame that calling out students who don't do their work is considered demeaning.
What is the point of education these days? Is it just to make sure students "feel" like they are good students?

 

[ronandannette]

I just don't think that accomplishes anything. YMMV.

You're not wrong; it probably wouldn't have accomplished much in our case. But then again neither did any other approach and we left no stone unturned. It's taken several years and some much, much more adult-type consequences for him to get his act together. I stand by everything we and his educators did and/or did not do under the circumstances.

 

[buzzrelly]

I thought it was a very rudely worded letter. If she wanted to get her point across, there are better ways to say what she said.

 

[ronandannette]

I thought it was a very rudely worded letter. If she wanted to get her point across, there are better ways to say what she said.

Please suggest some. I understand how taken aback you might be but I have to assume you've never dealt with a slacker kid. I can promise you many more moderate efforts would have been made previous to that letter.

 

[Scifidiner]

Personal responsibility is so 20th century.

 

[dish rag]

I thought it was a very rudely worded letter. If she wanted to get her point across, there are better ways to say what she said.

What would that be? My guess is that already happened. I just don't see what was so rude about that letter.

 

[EveDallas]

For the majority of students, I understand the frustration behind this letter. I would hope, though, that she would have a different policy for students with documented learning disabilities. I know for my son, sometimes extra credit was all that stood between passing a class and failing. And yes, he turned in every assignment.

 

[Chocolate Cake]

I will first say that I agree 100% with this teacher's sentiment. I have many near and dear to me that are teachers, and the stories get worse with each passing year. I don't know how college students still major in education. It's a thankless job that is greatly underpaid.

With that being said, this letter is extremely unprofessional, aggressive, and accusatory. If I ever sent this out at my office, HR would be calling me down for a nice little meeting. The teacher lacks tact. There is a way to get your point across, while remaining professional. This would not fly at my place of employment.

 

[dish rag]

My dad who is now in his mid 80's mentioned that when he was in school the students were assigned seats with the best grades up front and in order back according to grades. Wouldn't bother me any but I'm guessing that would no longer work, too offensive. Someones feelings might get hurt. Thing is athletic achievements are posted in the school for all to see. The best get their names mentioned over and over. My niece gratuated as an above grade student in a city of Orlando high school a few years ago. She knows nothing, it's sad. In fact she graduated early. Had she been in the city private school with my daughter she would not have made it past grade 9. So many schools are too easy and are graduating dummy's.

 

[ronandannette]

For the majority of students, I understand the frustration behind this letter. I would hope, though, that she would have a different policy for students with documented learning disabilities. I know for my son, sometimes extra credit was all that stood between passing a class and failing. And yes, he turned in every assignment.

I'd bet you $1,000 (CAD ) there was all kinds of support available for those students. Are there any schools anymore that don't have programs and services to respond to special needs? Also the vast majority of kids have had their learning issues identified well prior to jr. high.

The way I read that letter, it was NOT sent home to every student and was not intended to be a nebulous threat. The article didn't make it 100% clear but I'm going on the assumption it was received by those students to whom it applied.

 

[Chocolate Cake]

I thought it was a very rudely worded letter. If she wanted to get her point across, there are better ways to say what she said.

I agree.

A simple: "I do not offer extra credit in this class. Please do not inquire about this at anytime during the school year, as it will not be granted" written on the syllabus would have been professional and up front about expectations. The syllabus is handed out on the first day of class. Have the students take it home and require a signature from the parents that they have read what will be covered in class, and the rules of the class (including no extra credit).

Any students (or parents) that ask about extra credit throughout the year could be answered with a calm and factual tone. "Please check your syllabus. I do not offer extra credit."

Professional and to the point.

 

[piccolopat]

Although I think the teacher meant well, I think it would have been better to send a letter home at the start of the school year telling parents and students that late assignments would not be accepted and the only extra credit would be the assignment at the beginning.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

"OK, I'll say it.....those complaining about the note are too sensitive."

 

[kdonnel]

My son's history teacher sent out an email last week in a similar but different vein.

The email read like the teacher was at his breaking point of disappointment in the students and parents.

He mentioned how he had tried to reach out to the students in person, through e-class, and remind that they were failing and to let them know what they could do to pass his class. He mentioned how he tried to reach out to the parents of the students that were failing through the phone, remind, and e-class to let them know what their child could do to pass his class. How he had been trying for two months and was getting no response what so ever from the students or parents. The email was his last effort to notify both the students and parents that there was a path to passing if either the student or parent would respond.

I felt bad for him.

 

[Hikergirl]

"OK, I'll say it.....those complaining about the note are too sensitive."

LOL, I have to agree. Sensitive people see directness as being rude.
These kids are in middle school, by then they know how it works- if you don't do your work you get a bad grade.
I'm going to assume this teacher has reached the point where she has already tried other options to get these kids to do their assigned work. I'm also going to assume that she is not directing this note to those students who are struggling academically for reasons other than blowing off their assignments.
At some point these kids need to hear the truth, they don't need to be coddled and made to feel good about their choices to not to their schoolwork, and IMO middle school is the age where a teacher shouldn't have to sugar coat the truth to spare their feelings. Be direct, get to the point.