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Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this problem. - 8/26/2008 10:01:50 PM
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garsyt
Posts: 2235
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I have a problem and I'm not exactly sure how to handle it.
My kids have all started school and when Ty, my eldest, brought home his supply list from high school last Wednesday I went out the next morning and bought what the teachers wanted him to have. Then he comes home on Friday and tells me that his Geometry teacher wants the kids to each bring in a box of tissues as well. Okay, no problem - I'll pick some up over the weekend. But Saturday was nuts and I simply forgot. I didn't pick up a box of tissues for him to bring to school and there was nothing to send with him on Monday.
So today I'm checking his grades on-line and noticed that he got 10 out of 15 on one "assignment" that consisted of having the parent letter signed, his work binder organized, and a box of tissues to hand in. And he got docked 5 points - because I, his mother forgot to buy tissues over a VERY chaotic weekend. And there was NO mention anywhere on this teacher's supply list that she required the kids to even bring in a box of tissues and NOTHING ANYWHERE that the kids would be docked points if they didn't. He got a D because I forgot the Kleenex.
I guess I just don't think it's fair to take points away from a child simply because their mother forgot to buy something. AND it's not like I live just around the corner from a 24 hour WalMart or even within 5 miles of decent shopping and could just run by the store on a whim. I disagree with taking points away for something as silly as tissues, especially when it wasn't his decision to not to have them. He had everything that was absolutely necessary for him to do his work and participate in class. I just didn't see tissues as an absolute must have.
So what do I do? Do I just drop it as Ty is managing to get all A+'s on everything BUT this? Or do I send an e-mail to the teacher to explain that it wasn't that my son forgot the tissues it was that I, his parent, simply didn't have the tissues in the house and I can't just make a special trip to the store everyday and that I was the one that forgot?
What would you do?
Blessings,
Garsy
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My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/26/2008 11:22:31 PM
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csl7037
Posts: 1762
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Remind me what grade he's in? Was the kleenex mentioned on this letter you were to sign or anywhere at all besides his verbal reminder to you? If it wasn't written out as an assignment, just something she threw out there, I'd be pretty upset.
Also, I wouldn't let it slide just based on the fact that he normally gets very good grades - if she keeps pulling weird stunts like that and docking him for absurd things, you can't bank on him getting good grades from her!
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/26/2008 11:23:36 PM
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garsyt
Posts: 2235
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I posted the same thing on another board I frequent and one of the teachers over there stated
quote:
I would email the teacher and tell her that if your son was going to be docked points for not bringing in the tissues you would have appreciated knowing that ahead of time. I'd also ask how she can justify taking points away from his academic grade for something that has absolutely NOTHING to do with academics. (I'm a teacher and it just infuriates me how idiotic some people in my profession are!!!)
And it's not like I'm trying to get out of sending supplies for the classroom. I would have much rather that the points for things like tissues and a signed parent letter be extra credit points and NOT tied to an academic grade.
I NEVER make excuses for ACTUAL school work. My children, unless they are in the hospital, or so sick that they can't do anything but hangout with a vomit bucket, don't get out of doing actual academic work.
Hubby swung by WalMart on his way home from work tonight and bought a box of the things. I am going to send an e-mail to the teacher stating that I want his 5 points reinstated and that it was my fault not his that he didn't have the tissues. I am also going to mention that I do think that it is wrong to dock academic points for something not academic and that she may want to consider putting the request for Kleenex on that supply list that she sent home on Wednesday, the first day of classes. I'm going to ask that she forgive Ty, for my forgetfulness, my oversight, and that she consider the fact that not all of her students and their parents have the time, energy or resources to make special trips, into town for something as non-important as a box of tissues.
Blessings,
Garsy
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My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/26/2008 11:25:52 PM
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csl7037
Posts: 1762
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OK, and I'd also be pretty irritated that you're given the supply list and expected to run right out that evening and then, when the teacher realizes THEY left something off, you're again expected to run right out and have it the next school day!?!? Um, no. If homework is a math paper, sure, due the next day - if homework involves mom dropping everything and going to the store - twice in one week, I have a big issue with that.
If he was docking kids points for not having something like a calculator I could kinda understand...but kleenex!? Give me a break!
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/26/2008 11:33:01 PM
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garsyt
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Ty's a freshman. This is a Geometry class. Ty told me that she mentioned that she wanted the kids to bring in the kleenxes as almost an after thought Thursday at the end of class. It was not mentioned in the letter at all and not in writing ANYWHERE that I am aware of.
Garsy
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My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/26/2008 11:53:22 PM
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nicole6598
Posts: 4080
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Exactly, not bringing in tissues can't be an "assingment" for academic grades unless the teacher wrote something about it being an essential part in examining how tissues are made up or something... its so silly!
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/27/2008 12:22:03 AM
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OneOfHisJewels
Posts: 2682
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That's weird.
I went through the same scenario in 9th grade Spanish class. We were supposed to bring in an assignment notebook. I told my mom, she didn't get around to it (she had four kids, one of whom was disabled, we lived an hour and a half from the school, and she was working in order to pay the christian school tuition)..so of course[size=4] Igot reamed for it, even though I tried to explain it. I dropped the class about a day after that. But at least a notebook is more important than kleenex. Hello, kids can get toilet paper from the bathroom if they need to blow their nose.
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Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices, what wondrous things He's done, in whom the world rejoices.
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/27/2008 8:06:33 AM
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lexie
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Wow, I just find it silly that the students are required to bring a box of tissues...I would think that in high school that wouldn't be an issue (my high school teaching husband feels the same way.)
That is ridiculous, Garsy I hope things are worked out for the better. If the teacher doesn't give him back the points, I would discuss it with the head of the department at the school. While it may seem trivial now and only 5 points, you have to wonder what else the teacher might dock points for throughout the school year.
I can understand that the teacher might do things out of frustration because I've heard some stories from my husband about what kids try to get away with so maybe this is a way of laying down the law at the beginning, but I'm sure the school doesn't believe in docking assignment marks for non-academic things.
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I want to be more than an ordinary servant.
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/27/2008 9:50:05 AM
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garsyt
Posts: 2235
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quote:
Hello, kids can get toilet paper from the bathroom if they need to blow their nose.
That's what we use around here at home. I could have sent a roll of that.
But since hubby stopped and got some last night we sent a box in with Ty today with a note asking that his 5 points be reinstated as it was NOT his fault he didn't have the tissues. That it was our choice not to go to the store twice in one weekend, not Ty's choice not to bring them.
We'll see what comes of it. He has that class in a couple hours.
Blessings,
Garsy
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My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/27/2008 10:04:09 AM
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Kerryannism
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Good for you garsyt - you are right to expect more notice for supplies they forgot. If this supply is so important and valued by points for a student and HAD to be brought in the very next day ... why was it forgotten on the list? What a goof. You may want to ask if this teacher has any other individual policies in his/her classroom that you should know about in advance.
I do hope your student gets his points back!
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/27/2008 10:33:32 AM
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csl7037
Posts: 1762
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quote:
ORIGINAL: lexie
I can understand that the teacher might do things out of frustration because I've heard some stories from my husband about what kids try to get away with so maybe this is a way of laying down the law at the beginning...
By the same token, I bet your dh would agree that he has bigger things to worry about than Kleenex!
quote:
ORIGINAL: garsyt
quote:
Hello, kids can get toilet paper from the bathroom if they need to blow their nose.
That's what we use around here at home. I could have sent a roll of that.
That's so funny!
quote:
ORIGINAL: garsyt
But since hubby stopped and got some last night we sent a box in with Ty today with a note asking that his 5 points be reinstated as it was NOT his fault he didn't have the tissues. That it was our choice not to go to the store twice in one weekend, not Ty's choice not to bring them.
We'll see what comes of it. He has that class in a couple hours.
Blessings,
Garsy
I'll be interested to hear what happens!
Backing up even before the kleenex issue - is it normal for your kids to get supply lists the first day of school? And how quickly do they expect them to have all that stuff? My kids' school posts the supply lists online about a month or more before school starts (I found out at VBS that it had been posted). My kids' backpacks were packed about three weeks before school starts.
I am NOT one who deals well last-minute. And if I got the list Wednesday and made the point to get the supplies for school Thursday and THEN they added something - I'd tell her too bad! If it's such a big deal and she's going to dock 1/3 of an assignment points for it, if she's supposedly trying to teach responsibility, seems to me she should've had her act together a little better when she made the list!
This kind of stuff gripes me - that's not teaching responsibility, it's teaching them how to put up with persecution. And I think it sends a message that this teacher is just really out to get the students more than is concerned with their learning and growth.
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/27/2008 10:47:52 AM
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garsyt
Posts: 2235
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: the bottom of the laundry basket
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quote:
Backing up even before the kleenex issue - is it normal for your kids to get supply lists the first day of school? And how quickly do they expect them to have all that stuff? My kids' school posts the supply lists online about a month or more before school starts (I found out at VBS that it had been posted). My kids' backpacks were packed about three weeks before school starts.
I am NOT one who deals well last-minute. And if I got the list Wednesday and made the point to get the supplies for school Thursday and THEN they added something - I'd tell her too bad! If it's such a big deal and she's going to dock 1/3 of an assignment points for it, if she's supposedly trying to teach responsibility, seems to me she should've had her act together a little better when she made the list!
This kind of stuff gripes me - that's not teaching responsibility, it's teaching them how to put up with persecution. And I think it sends a message that this teacher is just really out to get the students more than is concerned with their learning and growth.
Typically at the elementary and middle school levels we had the supply list way back last spring. I had EVERYTHING purchased for my younger three kids long before school started (and for a lot less then those back to school kits the PTC was trying to sell last spring mind you) and a good majority of extras as well and stuff that I thought Ty might need.
At the high school level though I had heard that the teachers hand out supply lists on that first day back, typically a Wednesday for us, and want all the supplies in by the following Monday. I went out to buy Ty's on Thursday simply because it was payday and if I didn't do it right away I'd be up late Sunday night trying to get things all organized and figured out for him. I also liked the idea of him having as many of his supplies as possible as soon as possible. This being our first year of high school I wasn't really sure of what to expect, but now that we've been through the supply buying once, I'll be better prepared for next year.
Blessings,
Garsy
_____________________________
My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/27/2008 12:36:57 PM
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csl7037
Posts: 1762
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quote:
ORIGINAL: stampinlady
quote:
He got a D because I forgot the Kleenex.
That'a wrong. Ds(8th) got extra point for bringing in things, but nothing taken away. I'd send in a note on a roll of TP saying you didn't have time to shop for Kleenex  It's high school for goodness sakes.
The note written on the TP - that would be classic.
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/27/2008 4:37:47 PM
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stellaluna
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I'd throw a big fat fit until his grade was changed. First, it wasn't your kid's fault. Second, kleenex is irrelevant to his classwork, which is what one is learning and being graded on.
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/27/2008 4:49:44 PM
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JuliaHop
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I'm still in shock that a high school teacher asked parents to send in Kleenex.
I'm also trying to remember how we blew our noses 30+ years ago when I was in high school. I do believe that it was expected that we would have our own tissues.
Now that ds is in Jr. High we were not requested to send in any cleaning or hygeine supplies.
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For God so loved the World, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/27/2008 5:07:48 PM
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garsyt
Posts: 2235
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From: the bottom of the laundry basket
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quote:
Garsy-- I think you did the right thing by not just letting this go and contacting the teacher, but I would suggest that next time you call or e-mail instead of sending a note. Ty has to put up with this teacher for the rest of the year and if she does end up being a pain about things like this, you'd rather her be annoyed with you for your phone call or e-mail than mad at him for handing her the note. Just a thought
That was hubby's decision this morning. He did include his e-mail address and our phone number in the note. He handed the tissues and note in today but I haven't heard anything back yet.
Blessings,
Garsy
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My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
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RE: Teachers and parents - please weigh in on this prob... - 8/27/2008 8:05:02 PM
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OHmom3
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I just don't get why high schoolers need to bring tissues. Boys can put a small purse sized package in their pockets if they need to. Girls can put them in a purse or pocket.
And why would the teacher need a box from all the students? What, with 25 or so kids per class, who has room to store all these boxes?
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. 
I was so embarrassed by the whole thing. 