Emailing teacher for homework help when missing school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone’s, I know you’re right. The thing is, now not only did she “waste time” sending the email, but on Tuesday she will “waste time” again when he asks her how to complete the assignment then. Why not just answer the kid in the time it took to send what she did?

Because she wants kids to learn responsibility. She cares about him and she knows that protecting kids from learning responsibility is not good for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone’s, I know you’re right. The thing is, now not only did she “waste time” sending the email, but on Tuesday she will “waste time” again when he asks her how to complete the assignment then. Why not just answer the kid in the time it took to send what she did?

Because apparently you and your child need to learn there are consequences for the choices you make. You can prioritize skipping traffic and leaving early, but there are consequences for that choice, including that he may miss important instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone’s, I know you’re right. The thing is, now not only did she “waste time” sending the email, but on Tuesday she will “waste time” again when he asks her how to complete the assignment then. Why not just answer the kid in the time it took to send what she did?

The assignment apparently included written instructions, which was probably her best effort at a written explanation. It is probably something easier to explain in person, which she offered to do, rather than try to re-write the instructions in am email to your kid, which will probably lead to follow up questions and a back and forth exchange on a holiday weekend instead of just taking 5 seconds to explain in class. Just like your family, she wants to get her weekend started! Agree with PPs about reaching out to other kids first with questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone’s, I know you’re right. The thing is, now not only did she “waste time” sending the email, but on Tuesday she will “waste time” again when he asks her how to complete the assignment then. Why not just answer the kid in the time it took to send what she did?

To send a message to both you and your kid to not do this again. If she had just complied, you would have been ignorant and continued to believe that it is acceptable to have unexcused absences and yet expect the teacher to give your child one on one assistance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone’s, I know you’re right. The thing is, now not only did she “waste time” sending the email, but on Tuesday she will “waste time” again when he asks her how to complete the assignment then. Why not just answer the kid in the time it took to send what she did?

To send a message to both you and your kid to not do this again. If she had just complied, you would have been ignorant and continued to believe that it is acceptable to have unexcused absences and yet expect the teacher to give your child one on one assistance.

+1. The teacher realized that this was an opportunity to teach both you and your son how to behave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone’s, I know you’re right. The thing is, now not only did she “waste time” sending the email, but on Tuesday she will “waste time” again when he asks her how to complete the assignment then. Why not just answer the kid in the time it took to send what she did?

Because she wants kids to learn responsibility. She cares about him and she knows that protecting kids from learning responsibility is not good for them.

What was irresponsible in a middle schooler taking the initiative to email the teacher during an absence caused by no fault of his own?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone’s, I know you’re right. The thing is, now not only did she “waste time” sending the email, but on Tuesday she will “waste time” again when he asks her how to complete the assignment then. Why not just answer the kid in the time it took to send what she did?

Because she wants kids to learn responsibility. She cares about him and she knows that protecting kids from learning responsibility is not good for them.

What was irresponsible in a middle schooler taking the initiative to email the teacher during an absence caused by no fault of his own?

The kid didn’t make the decision, but he is still learning. If the parents aren’t going to teach him about consequences, he’s going to learn it elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

The teacher's response was fine.
The kid is not to blame.
OP looks more entitled and whiny with every post.

YOU DID THIS TO YOUR SON, OP. THIS PROBLEM IS YOUR FAULT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teacher's response was fine.
The kid is not to blame.
OP looks more entitled and whiny with every post.

YOU DID THIS TO YOUR SON, OP. THIS PROBLEM IS YOUR FAULT.

+1. OP seems like she’s the type to do things like this a lot. Probably, the teacher knows this and responded accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone’s, I know you’re right. The thing is, now not only did she “waste time” sending the email, but on Tuesday she will “waste time” again when he asks her how to complete the assignment then. Why not just answer the kid in the time it took to send what she did?

Because she wants kids to learn responsibility. She cares about him and she knows that protecting kids from learning responsibility is not good for them.

What was irresponsible in a middle schooler taking the initiative to email the teacher during an absence caused by no fault of his own?

Making your problems someone else's problems isn't taking initiative. He missed class and didn't understand the assignment which he would have had he been present. Fine, that's not his fault. He could either make his best efforts to follow the instructions or call a friend and ask what they did. Asking the teacher to re-explain just for him on her personal time is not taking initiative, it's asking for a favor. Which is ok to ask, but was also ok for the teacher to politely respond that he could ask her when he's back in class.

I see this at the university level all the time, where students skip classes all semester and then email the professor a week before classes end asking how to make up work and think they are "being responsible" and "taking initiative" because they haven't waited until they actually failed.

[Anonymous]

The response wasn't snarky. I would say he missed verbal instructions and will find out on Tuesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone’s, I know you’re right. The thing is, now not only did she “waste time” sending the email, but on Tuesday she will “waste time” again when he asks her how to complete the assignment then. Why not just answer the kid in the time it took to send what she did?

If it’s due Tuesday, either teacher won’t have to waste time explaining on Tuesday because the time has passed. Or maybe your kid will have a few hours to complete after teacher explains but the grade will likely be negatively affected. Regardless teacher made the point by making boundaries clear.

I know a lot of people said to call your kid in sick and that’s an option. I have a kid who was an internationally competitive athlete and missed a lot of school. The school will work with you for planned absences when you give notice and make the effort in advance.

[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.

You chose to put him in this position. It’s the end of May and teachers have had more than enough of these kids asking for special accommodations for unexcused absences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone’s, I know you’re right. The thing is, now not only did she “waste time” sending the email, but on Tuesday she will “waste time” again when he asks her how to complete the assignment then. Why not just answer the kid in the time it took to send what she did?

Because it’s the end of the year and annoying when kids miss school and then want a one on one explanation. The teacher shouldn’t have replied at all. But your kid was out of line writing and expecting a response over a holiday weekend. Doesn’t your school have some type of help or remediation block in the day? This is the time to ask. Better yet, your kid could text someone in class and ask for clarification. It’s been an entire year, surely he knows someone else who has this teacher.

[Anonymous]

Just have him ask a classmate.