Spring Break homework rant...

[Tubby]

I am a principal, and I have some problems with this situation, as I think any principal would.
1) Grades must reflect the work. Late work is accepted but at a reduced grade - never a 0.
2) Assignments are to be made during class time only. Email is for clarification or reminders.
3) Incomplete work gets a reduced grade, not a 0.

If this issue was brought to me by a parent, my first action would be to clarify when the assignment was given. You said the kids got out of school a little early on Friday. Did the school release early, or did you take them out on your own? Is it possible the assignment was given Friday and your child missed it? Is it possible this assignment was given even earlier and your child overlooked it or just forgot, or decided he didn't want to do school work during Spring Break? I cant tell you what the end result would be, but I know I would have lots of questions for everyone before I drew any conclusions whether the teacher acted fairly and in accordance with policy. If the teacher was in the wrong, the child would not be "punished" for the teacher's mistake, and then I would have a closed-door conference with the teacher regarding my expectations. Good luck to you and your child.

The school let out early. He didn't miss any classes as they shortened each period to allow for a school wide early release.

He "said" the teacher never mentioned the assignment during class. He "said" the first time he saw or heard about it was in the email.

I quote "said" because I don't know if he's telling the truth or not. As I stated in an earlier reply, if in fact it was assigned during class, then the fault is on him. If so, why did the teacher wait until Sunday to send the email? I saw the date and time stamp on the received email.

Even with a late and incomplete assignment (regardless of exactly when it was assigned), I have a problem with the zero. He did the 2 page worksheet but could not do the online bracket because it was too late to start as the NCAA tournament had already started.


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[Dudley]

Yes, you definitely have some questions to ask. I strongly encourage you to call the school and ask for a conference with the teacher in attempt to clarify the timing of the assignment and why a 0 was given for work that was done, even though turned in late. If the teacher sticks to her guns and you feel her answers aren't adequate for you, ask to see the principal and express your concerns. If the teacher didn't do right, things will get corrected. Be professional and ask all the questions first and you will be seen as a caring parent who simply wants clarification, and your concerns will carry more weight.

[Dudley]

Let's just say for grins that the assignment was made in class, and because of Spring Break, she sent out the video on Sunday night so the kids could watch and re-watch in order to make sure they did it correctly. That would explain why she sent it on Sunday. I'm not saying that happened, but it would explain the timing of the email. Or, maybe the teacher messed this thing up. You need to hear both sides.
0 for the grade, however, is most likely going to be against policy, regardless of when the assignment was made.

[ByronB]

My son had a bunch of homework over spring break for his classes at A&M. He also received an email from one of his teachers on a Sunday. I just do not remember being assigned ANY homework during spring break when I was in college. I think it is really crappy of the teachers to do this but oh well.....

[Goldeneagle]

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.

That is what we have going on now. We can't let Alexis join any after school activities either due to them interfering with the school work. We have neighbors half my age that are struggling as bad as we are. My old brain ain't been in school in 41yrs.

[ladybluearm]

Spring break should be just that. A break. I am a school employee and my principal told us he expected all of us to leave school at school and take a break. Relax and spend time with family. No teacher assigned any homework over spring break. That's just crazy.

[WItoTX]

The school let out early. He didn't miss any classes as they shortened each period to allow for a school wide early release.

He "said" the teacher never mentioned the assignment during class. He "said" the first time he saw or heard about it was in the email.

I quote "said" because I don't know if he's telling the truth or not. As I stated in an earlier reply, if in fact it was assigned during class, then the fault is on him. If so, why did the teacher wait until Sunday to send the email? I saw the date and time stamp on the received email.

Even with a late and incomplete assignment (regardless of exactly when it was assigned), I have a problem with the zero. He did the 2 page worksheet but could not do the online bracket because it was too late to start as the NCAA tournament had already started.


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So what did you actually do about it? Curious what the explanation given was...

[Marco]

Homework assignment sent on sunday is wrong. Homework over spring break, holidays or summer isnt wrong.

[WItoTX]

My son had a bunch of homework over spring break for his classes at A&M. He also received an email from one of his teachers on a Sunday. I just do not remember being assigned ANY homework during spring break when I was in college. I think it is really crappy of the teachers to do this but oh well.....

We typically were never assigned homework over spring break. It was assigned the Thursday before. You had Friday to get it done. Most just didn't do it til the following Sunday, after having cold sweats trying to get all the beverages out of their system from the previous week haha

[N.DaWoods]

Interested to see how this turned out. Any updates?

[the marshall]

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 hope those employees aren't paid hourly?

[Shane77624]

I'm going to take the opportunity to throw this on folks who use it with regards to a deer lease. " Her classroom, her rules."

Man it felt good to say that. I hate the phrase, "His land, his rules.", but it sure gets thrown around freely.

Question is: How much will this zero impact the overall grade? It may not be worth the fight.


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[Dale Moser]

I'm going to take the opportunity to throw this on folks who use it with regards to a deer lease. " Her classroom, her rules."

Man it felt good to say that. I hate the phrase, "His land, his rules.", but it sure gets thrown around freely.

Really bad analogy. It's not her classroom, it's the school's classroom, and she has rules to follow too....and I'm not saying she didn't.



I hate school now almost as bad as I did when I was enrolled.

[systemnt]

I'm going to take the opportunity to throw this on folks who use it with regards to a deer lease. " Her classroom, her rules."

Man it felt good to say that. I hate the phrase, "His land, his rules.", but it sure gets thrown around freely.

Question is: How much will this zero impact the overall grade? It may not be worth the fight.


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Swing and a miss.

[WItoTX]

Question is: How much will this zero impact the overall grade? It may not be worth the fight.


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This is exactly what I thought initially. The old phase that comes to mind though is give a man an inch...

However, I am interested in how this turned out, looking forward to OP's response as to how he, or his son, resolved it.