Pressuring kids to ignore doctor's orders and come to school sick

[Anonymous]

The response from the school was totally unacceptable, however this behavior from MCPS staff seems to be rampant. The son of a good friend of mine was given the same hassle by one of his teachers who basically told him that he had better come in and take the test even if he was still recovering from the flu. When the parent asked about taking it on Tuesday, the professional day, the teacher said that he would not be in that day and planned to submit all grades before the weekend. I realize the parent could have just not had her child show up for the test, but no parent or child should be pressured that way. It is totally inexcusable and should result in some type of repercussion for the teacher or administrators who participate in this behavior.

[Anonymous]

Everyone has a boss. Don't be bullied by teachers, people. They are paid with your tax dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone has a boss. Don't be bullied by teachers, people. They are paid with your tax dollars.

+1 I guarantee every time there are exams, there are kids who are in the hospital or dealing with serious illnesses/situations preventing them from coming to school to test. There has to be some way for these kids to take their exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone has a boss. Don't be bullied by teachers, people. They are paid with your tax dollars.

+1 I guarantee every time there are exams, there are kids who are in the hospital or dealing with serious illnesses/situations preventing them from coming to school to test. There has to be some way for these kids to take their exams.

If the illness is that bad, the county is redesigning what was formerly known as home and hospital teaching. Now it's Interim Instructional Services. Google is your friend.

Furthermore, let me educate you. Teachers are NOT the ones to determine whether or not a kid is exempt from an exam or is to take the exam at a later date. Administrators are. And as far as tax money is concerned, teachers pay taxes, too.

Don't be ignorant. You're embarrassing yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unjustly punitive HOW?

Sounds like they pulled a fast one on you, OP. They simply could not decide to not allow your kid to take a make-up exam. They can't. Had you kept your kid home, they would have magically come up with a solution. You got played.

+1

[Anonymous]

I think the admin's line that it is inconvenient to make up exams is justified.

A lot of kids and their parents may be trying to gain the system and get extra time to study.

Teachers want to get everything graded and turned in on time so they can move forward with the curriculum and new grades.

If your kid is legitimately sick, stay home. But if you can take the exam, take it. Use your discretion, but if schools make it too easy to make up exams, a lot of people would just be "sick" or at a hockey tournament or on vacation...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP was my child's Assistant Principal who we were dealing with. My child is NOT taking any AP courses.

My child is an A/B student who knew the material in all of her classes but was facing serious academic repercussions if she missed the exams. I'm sure she could have performed better if she wasn't sick but she could pass even if she was taking the test with a fever. We gave the school the doctor's note but they didn't care she was contagious. The school doesn't care for the well being of others so my child did the best she could with the circumstances she was given.

It would help if MCPS had a consistent policy that school administration has to follow when children are sick and provide medical documentation, but the fact is that the school administration has broad discretion on how they handle individual situations. The result for my child would have been unjustly punitive so my child took her exams while she was sick.

Too bad your daughter doesn't attend Churchill. She would have been exempted from taking her finals.

[Anonymous]

A doctor's note explaining the situation and the affliction should be sufficient documentation for a legitimate illness.

It is inconvenient to offer makeups, however, how inconvenient will the teachers and students be when the illness is passed on from person to person? The flu this year is epidemic in Maryland so many kids were in the same boat for exam week. In MCPS, however, there is great inconsistencies in how cases of illnesses are handled.

[Anonymous]

We overpay MCPS pensions and pet programs enough. They don't need to even TRY to bully involved parents into sending their sick children to exams.
I'm sorry they forgot who they are working for and who pays their astronomical bills. Beyond unnecessary. Especially with all their freebie days off and admin days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The response from the school was totally unacceptable, however this behavior from MCPS staff seems to be rampant. The son of a good friend of mine was given the same hassle by one of his teachers who basically told him that he had better come in and take the test even if he was still recovering from the flu. When the parent asked about taking it on Tuesday, the professional day, the teacher said that he would not be in that day and planned to submit all grades before the weekend. I realize the parent could have just not had her child show up for the test, but no parent or child should be pressured that way. It is totally inexcusable and should result in some type of repercussion for the teacher or administrators who participate in this behavior.

PRESSURING parents and kids to show up for exams when ill. So parents end their contagious kids.
THREATENING parents and kids to do what they want for their convenience. So everyone is worried about getting on the "bad side" of the bully teacher.
BULLYING parents and kids that there might be "repercussions" if their threats are not followed. So everyone tippy toes around them, kissing thei @$$e$.

Wow, MoCo Public School teachers and admin sound like real gems. I for one am thankful these incidences are being disclosed. I would have gone ballistic on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP was my child's Assistant Principal who we were dealing with. My child is NOT taking any AP courses.

My child is an A/B student who knew the material in all of her classes but was facing serious academic repercussions if she missed the exams. I'm sure she could have performed better if she wasn't sick but she could pass even if she was taking the test with a fever. We gave the school the doctor's note but they didn't care she was contagious. The school doesn't care for the well being of others so my child did the best she could with the circumstances she was given.

It would help if MCPS had a consistent policy that school administration has to follow when children are sick and provide medical documentation, but the fact is that the school administration has broad discretion on how they handle individual situations. The result for my child would have been unjustly punitive so my child took her exams while she was sick.

MCPS does have a consistent policy -- Teachers are mandated to help students with excused/lawful absences make up the work. In general, you have 1 day to make up work for every day you are sick. So -- out 3 days, then you have 3 days to make up the work.

Here are some tips-- request all make up work or makeup test rescheduling via email so you have a written record of the request. Suggest a time or due date within the timeline above.

Yes, teachers and administration do what they can to pressure kids to do what is convenient for the teacher, but that doesn't mean that you or your child have to cave in. Be firm.

For documentation -- look on P.2 of the "Student Rights and Responsibliities" handbook, given to all students at the beginning of the year. Also look at various MCPS policies on attendance and grading -- which also say that teachers have to help kids make up work, particularly when the absence is excused/lawful.

Teachers can give alternatives when making up work -- assigning an alternative but equivalent task, or excusing the student from the task.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher in the county, I find this unacceptable. I teach elementary so I don't know the demands of finals, but if a student is sick with a doctors note, they should be given an extension. Admin and teacher were wrong. Sure, teacher can work from home on Tuesday and may have wanted grades in early. Doesn't mean the school building is empty. Arrangements could have been made with a counselor or front office staff. You just need someone nearby, not to teach the child the material. And it would be one test to grade later. Glad admin has the health of teachers and students in their best interest. What is worse? One kid taking a make up or days of substitutes and sick kids?

[Anonymous]

Wtf is wrong with you? You sent you sick kids to school, possibly infecting others? The principal said it was "inconvenient" not impossible. You do realize he's not the boss of you right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the admin's line that it is inconvenient to make up exams is justified.

A lot of kids and their parents may be trying to gain the system and get extra time to study.

Teachers want to get everything graded and turned in on time so they can move forward with the curriculum and new grades.

If your kid is legitimately sick, stay home. But if you can take the exam, take it. Use your discretion, but if schools make it too easy to make up exams, a lot of people would just be "sick" or at a hockey tournament or on vacation...

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We overpay MCPS pensions and pet programs enough. They don't need to even TRY to bully involved parents into sending their sick children to exams.
I'm sorry they forgot who they are working for and who pays their astronomical bills. Beyond unnecessary. Especially with all their freebie days off and admin days.

You're a moron.

We ALL pay taxes, honey bunny.

ALL of us. Teachers are not exempt.

Take it to the BOE if you're pissed.