Spring Break homework rant...

[CoolHandLuke]

A very wise man told me once, "people who can do, people who can't teach for a living"! [emoji15]
Very true statement.

[Backwoods101]

A man told me once, "people who can do, people who can't teach for a living"! [emoji15]
Pretty dumb statement.

fify

[oktx]

A very wise man told me once, "people who can do, people who can't teach for a living"! [emoji15]
Very true statement.

The irony is priceless. LOL!

[JonBoy]

It's getting more and more common for teachers to assign work during long breaks. Many moons ago when I was in high school we had summer reading lists for the upcoming advanced classes...homework for a class you're not even in yet! The worst one I recently heard was a teacher planning semester exams the day AFTER Christmas vacation...mainly because the teacher didn't want to have to grade the exams on their break.

[Big Mike M]

There's a difference between pushing them and stupid. 3rd graders should not be messin with algebra yet. There's things that we didn't do until junior high or high school.

My 3rd grader is working on Geometry right now. Did Algebra last 9 weeks. When I was in school, we did Algebra in 8th and Geometry in 9th grade. Kids are so overwhelmed nowadays from all the extra homework. Its pretty bad when I have to hold my daughter out of after school activities (ie. sports, dance, gymnastics, etc.) because she has 2-3 hours of homework every night.

[JayB]

As a manager of my office, i expect my employees to be at home with their family after working hours. i am the only one that has access to after hours emails. I have gotten on to a few of them that took work home. I do not pay you to work at home, I pay you to work at work...by the same token, when your at work, i get all of you.

We seem to be pretty happy with that arrangement.

[topshot]

homeschool - problem solved.

[CaptainDave]

On the surface, I'd say the situation sucks and a grade of zero is crazy. Perhaps points deducted for late turn-in, but not zero.

With that said, I'd also verify the actual date assigned before I go to bat for your kid.

[Tubby]

Candidly I think this is the way it should be. We need to push our kids more instead of coddeling them through their academic life.

I've graduated 4 out of high school into college and one still there. One current college and two in grad school. I've heard the I didn't know until the last minute story for years . . . . you might be surprised when he in fact was told of the assignment.

The number one struggle for my kids was they were not prepared for the amount of work and discipline. Not a single one had a problem with the content.

I recently spoke to my ASU student about the same thing. She sent me the email and I didn't know i was supposed to check. . . . .

My answer i checked mine often during your spring break.

I agree with you but I guarantee you I don't "coddle" this youngun.... I've had the "last minute" story pitched to me many times. Whether or not anything was said in class or not, I don't know. He said she didn't say anything about it... Regardless, an email sent out on Sunday tells me the teacher wasn't prepared to assign homework and it was a last minute idea on her part. If something was said about it in class, why wait 2 days to send the homework email out? hmmmm...

Read the last response I type here to see what I'm talking about.

Did she actually not tell your son about it before that she would be sending an assignment? Believe it or not 9th grade boys have forgotten things and then lied about it once it came back around

Agreed, see above.

The last few schools my kids have been in have had on online platform that allows my wife and I to access everything almost immediately . It also shows all homework and when its due as well as when tests will be . The kids all have access to it as well and is what they use for reference of daily homework . It also allowed me to set up alerts any time my kid's grades drop below whatever i set the parameter to be and i get daily emails showing their grades also . i am not sure if you have something like that where you are , but if you don't I can't see how The Teacher could hold children responsible for an assignment made outside of school hours . There is no way The Teacher could verify that all children have access to the internet .

Yes, and we have that. When I'm on vacation, I don't check my email and work is real lucky if I answer my phone. Being "off" is just that... OFF.

Amen!

If she sent it out Sunday they had 7 days to do it.

With that being said he should be able to turn it in late and get credit -10 or -20 points.

The school issues out laptops for the students and the only way for him to access his school email is from his laptop. It's not possible to set up his school email to his phone, it's not allowed.

I had homework and tests to take over spring break

Their reasoning was they didn't want to get behind on their schedule

Lack of planning on their part does not constitute an emergency on our part!

This. All schools have this. As an educator, I get tired of parents whining and complaining their child failing or having bad grades and how come they weren't advised. All public and private schools give parents access to grades, assignments, or the teachers' conference periods. Unfortunately, the majority of parents are not involved.

As far as homework, I think it's a waste of time, but some teachers in tested subjects are ordered to give out homework during spring break by their deans.

jmho

Yes, I agree with you. I'm not one to whine and complain about grades when I know students are responsible for their grades. And yes, I stay on his *** about it too. He's grounded from things every time we turn around. The point I was trying to make in my OP was I didn't agree with her sending out an email the beginning Sunday of spring break. What about kids that don't have internet access at home? It wasn't until this past summer that we finally got internet. As far as I know, if that assignment wasn't done, or partially done, the student got a zero.

If the teacher didn't mention it before break, I could see docking points for not having it done, but not a zero. If the teacher did mention it, I'd say it's fair.

That being said, I'm really glad I'm not a teacher. Parents breathing down your neck all the time about their golden child and dealing with the entitled children would drive me up the wall.

I agree with you. He "said" she didn't say anything about it before they got out for spring break... If he was told, then yes I agree with him getting a zero on it.

I agree that the teacher seems to be ill prepared and launching the email after the fact is really pretty chicken.

However, I respectfully disagree. My 8th grader is on his phone all the time anyway, how would he not see the email? If you guys were in a location with absolutely zero cell coverage then possibly he has an out. As an owner of a company, I do expect employees to monitor their emails and phone calls, if not to answer, at least forward so that they get handled. I would expect my child to do the same. My wife and I disagree on this and have had this same discussion. She often wants to side with my child and complain to the school about whatever issue arises. While we have to be our children's advocates, our children need to learn to handle their responsibilities. How many times did my parents get involved with my school to complain about assignments or load? ZERO! We must make our kids own their issues. My two cents..

The assignment for the NCAA bracket was a video of her talking about it. I could tell she just dreamed this up by the way she looked (unprofessional) and made several comments about her favorite team. I guarantee you she was sitting at home, filling out her bracket and thought "you know what, I'm going to assign homework for the kids to research all 64 teams, figure out their win/loss ratio, etc., etc..." She was just blabbing on and on... I started listening to the 6 minute video and thought ***?! I replayed it again then looked at his email to see when it was sent (assigned). That's when I thought she dreamed it up on the spot...

[bowhuntertex]

I agree that the teacher seems to be ill prepared and launching the email after the fact is really pretty chicken.

However, I respectfully disagree. My 8th grader is on his phone all the time anyway, how would he not see the email? If you guys were in a location with absolutely zero cell coverage then possibly he has an out. As an owner of a company, I do expect employees to monitor their emails and phone calls, if not to answer, at least forward so that they get handled. I would expect my child to do the same. My wife and I disagree on this and have had this same discussion. She often wants to side with my child and complain to the school about whatever issue arises. While we have to be our children's advocates, our children need to learn to handle their responsibilities. How many times did my parents get involved with my school to complain about assignments or load? ZERO! We must make our kids own their issues. My two cents..

Unless you are paying your employee to do so I would tell you to kiss my rear. I give a 100% when I am work, but when I am home, that is just where I am at. Home is to recharge and spend time with my family, not worrying about what is going on at work. If someone can't get to me during normal business hours then it wasn't that important and can wait until tomorrow. I have a personal phone and a work phone and the work phone gets turned off as soon as I get home. If it is a true emergency a few people have my personal cell number and contact me that way, but it dang well better be an emergency. I have never understood employers that expect employees to be at the companies every becking call. I work 12-14 hours days. That's more than enough time for my employer.

[systemnt]

The way i see it.. you have a few weapons to fight this fight with:
a) the late notice of an assignment and the method in which it was dispersed to the students.
b) the fact your child ATTEMPTED to complete the assigned regardless of this late notice and method in which it was dispersed.

At the very least, it doesnt deserve a zero or failing grade.

Good luck Tubby.
If any good can come of this , at least know your kid gets to see you have their back.

[tex4k]

Just another step to separate you and your children. Your children shouldn't belong to you, you don't know what's best for them, only "the state" has that ability.

[rladner]

We took our kids on a cruise for Spring break. Left Sunday and didn't get back til Sunday. I did not buy the internet package so we had zero internet for 7 days, the entire Spring Break. If one of my boys' teachers tried that move I would be in their classroom having choice words.

[Rglass2323]

Emailed an assignment on a Sunday? I would be in the superintendent's office. Then at the next school board meeting. No!

[sog45]

what school?