Emailing teacher for homework help when missing school?

[Anonymous]

DS (8th grade) missed school today (half-day) because we had left for a trip to visit family. He was working on assignments and was confused about the directions for one writing assignment (there were none) so he emailed the teacher and politely asked if she could briefly explain. He received back a really snarky response about how he would know how to do the assignment if he had been in class, and he can find out on Tuesday. The assignment is due on Tuesday, so he’s going to try to wing it. But I’m curious if his sending the email was out of line, or if the response was.

[Anonymous]

Meh. It's the end of the school year, everyone is tired, and cranky. It's okay for your kid to learn that when he is not in class (or later, at work), the world doesn't stop for him. And you did pull him out for fun stuff, not illness.

Was it the finest form on the part of the teacher? No. But having to backtrack and explain things to a kid whose Mom took him out for the day to do fun stuff is annoying when there is already so much to do.

Take the blowback, and move on.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious about your polite and snarky descriptions. When was the assignment released to him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meh. It's the end of the school year, everyone is tired, and cranky. It's okay for your kid to learn that when he is not in class (or later, at work), the world doesn't stop for him. And you did pull him out for fun stuff, not illness.

Was it the finest form on the part of the teacher? No. But having to backtrack and explain things to a kid whose Mom took him out for the day to do fun stuff is annoying when there is already so much to do.

Take the blowback, and move on.

I totally get that, but our decisions aren’t his fault. That would be like me emailing her upset about decisions she is forced to implement by her administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious about your polite and snarky descriptions. When was the assignment released to him?

His email was brief, he apologized for missing class and asked if she would mind briefly explaining, if possible. Her response was literally what I wrote in the OP.

[Anonymous]

For how long has he had the assignment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For how long has he had the assignment?

It was assigned today.

[Anonymous]

She is an adult. He is a child. There’s no need for her to unload on him.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think any of this was out of line. It’s fine that he asked, it’s also fine that she said, sorry you’ll have to wait until Tuesday. I’m sure it’s a slippery slope if teachers start accommodating stuff like this. Maybe your kid will push back next time you want to beat traffic and make him miss school.

[Anonymous]

If its an unexcused absence the teacher is not required to spend additional time to explain things they explained in class that was missed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If its an unexcused absence the teacher is not required to spend additional time to explain things they explained in class that was missed.

THIS.

[Anonymous]

A rude response is never justified. You are right to be frustrated by that.

At the same time, the teacher should not waste an ounce of effort explaining something for an unexcused absence. This is the consequence for missing school. I know it's not the kid's fault, but it is the fallout. You have no leg to stand on there.

[Anonymous]

If the response said what you said it did, you're reading fact as snark.

Take the L.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious about your polite and snarky descriptions. When was the assignment released to him?

His email was brief, he apologized for missing class and asked if she would mind briefly explaining, if possible. Her response was literally what I wrote in the OP.

Her response was fine and hopefully you both learned something.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with her response. She didn’t insult anyone or say what she was really thinking, just stated facts as a reason she’s not wasting her time when she already has too much to do.