Spring Break homework rant...

[txdukklr]

So, spring break was last week from Monday the 13th thru Friday the 17th. The kids got out of school a little early on Friday the 10th. Knothead (9th grade) goes to class on Monday after spring break and finds out there was homework assigned during spring break and due that day. (Everything they do these days is on computer which I still think is a crock but whatever...) The math teacher sent an email out on Sunday the 12th for homework. A two page worksheet and she required the students to research NCAA teams in the tournament and figure their win/loss ratios, etc AND to pick a bracket of their own.

Well, Monday night, the 20th (after spring break) we helped him with the worksheet and attempted to research and build a bracket. The tournament had already started so there was no way to build and register a bracket.

He did the worksheet, we checked it over and he turned it in on Tuesday.

Yup, he got a big fat ZERO! He received no credit for the worksheet because he didn't do the complete assignment. There were students that went to New York for a school trip during spring break and they also received a zero.


Someone help me wrap my brain around this?? A teacher expects a student to check their email during spring break? Can they set kids up for failure any worse? We haven't contacted the teacher or the school yet...

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.

[Goldeneagle]

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.

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.

[Etxbuckman]

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.

While I don't disagree with your statement about not coddling them through academia, I also believe there's more to life than school. Hell I learned more in my college years by networking than I ever did in a classroom. I had a lot of fun and my degree is the same as everyone else that's graduated before and since.

[TMC50]

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 get this... I really do and I am far from a coddler. I tell my athletes all the time to expect the unexpected but not during spring break over an email. IF it was told to them before, in person, yeah do it but not in a school email on a sunday.

Our kids at the school I am at have email, but it is a pita to set up on their personal devices and as a high schooler, the last thing they are thinking of is a school email. Let them be kids during breaks where their families can actually go on a vacation. College is a whole different level that is a CHOICE.

I am a teacher and I would get that zero dropped how ever you can. That is ridiculous. Do as DHILLIS said and claim discrimination. I have several kids that if I have to get ahold of them, I have to call their parents. No internet at home and one phone. How is this student supposed to go and do a research assignment over a holiday break?

[hooligan]

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

[marceco]

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 .

[meltingfeather]

Someone help me wrap my brain around this??

Cool down and write a polite and level headed note to the principal.
It sounds ridiculous, but flying off the handle always discredits your position.

[JHT]

Tell them you don't want your child to be involved with something that's related to gambling. It could lead to drinking and drugs. They wouldn't want that in their school.

I like this. Maybe toss in that the women have brackets too and why can't they go that route. Schedule a march/protest. Make some signs.

[Bowhuntamistad]

I had a "spring break", not!

Sure, we don't go to class but they give us theory papers to do due this Monday and exams scheduled Monday and Wednesday. In reality, even though I didn't go to class I worked harder than a normal week. Plus, we moved last week.


I feel your kids pain! .

[bowhuntertex]

I would tell the teacher to get bent. It is kinda like the boss that expects you to answer work phone calls and check work email on your off time when you are an hourly employee. And even if my kid knew about the assigned spring break homework I would allow them to chose if they wanted to do it or not. Spring Break is my kids time, not the schools.

[gingib]

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.

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.

[bowhuntercoach]

Please contact the teacher first. I am sure they aren't nearly as bad of a person as some may think. Sounds to me like a cool way to learn math, but maybe could have been communicated differently.

[Jerry H]

Cool down and write a polite and level headed note to the principal.
It sounds ridiculous, but flying off the handle always discredits your position.

Tell them to kiss your *** and your are going to the school board

[kd350]

I had homework and tests to take over spring break

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

[doublearrow]

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.

My kids were without internet, phone, and TV access during spring break while they were in the mountains. It's a break not coddling. If it were my kid and even if he knew about the assignment beforehand it wouldn't have gotten done. I graduated top of my class in both high school and college, not taking more time to enjoy life while in school one of my life's biggest regrets.