Emailing teacher for homework help when missing school?

[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.

[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 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.

I mean yes, but also no. I was at a gathering yesterday and stepped away for a minute to take a work-related call. It’s really no big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.[/quote

Your son could have contacted a friend from the class instead of bothering a teacher on their weekend. You know 8th grade really doesn't matter that much., right?

[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?

Teachers shouldn't have to work over the weekend. If I had been the teacher I wouldn't have responded. They don't get paid enough.

[Anonymous]

He should have reached out to a kid in his class for help. That’s what I was taught to do, that’s what I’ve taught my kids to do.

[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 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.

I mean yes, but also no. I was at a gathering yesterday and stepped away for a minute to take a work-related call. It’s really no big deal.

From a client or coworker asking you to recap a meeting that they missed because they took an early long weekend?