Teacher out for an emergency family issue- grades?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a life lesson. Things will happen that will throw a wrench in your plans. You can't control everything. Your DD should not count on retakes and reassessments to get that A. At least with this class/teacher. DD should make sure to turn in her best the first go around. And if that best is a B, it is okay. It is not the end of the world to get a B or a C.

I personally disagree with this. Yes things will happen in life that you can’t control. But no, there are many employees working on a team at the school who should absolutely be responsible for picking up the slack of a colleague such that the grading policy is still followed and students aren’t disproportionately impacted. In your workplace, if this happened, wouldn’t you all figure out a way to get the client what they need, or at least communicate a contingency plan that doesn’t just say too bad so sad?

Client? This ain’t private school where you are paying $$$

Public school isn’t free. Everyone in the county pays taxes. Basic functions and basic low bar competency like grading and admin automatically stepping to when there is a teacher leave of absence is a very reasonable expectation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a life lesson. Things will happen that will throw a wrench in your plans. You can't control everything. Your DD should not count on retakes and reassessments to get that A. At least with this class/teacher. DD should make sure to turn in her best the first go around. And if that best is a B, it is okay. It is not the end of the world to get a B or a C.

I personally disagree with this. Yes things will happen in life that you can’t control. But no, there are many employees working on a team at the school who should absolutely be responsible for picking up the slack of a colleague such that the grading policy is still followed and students aren’t disproportionately impacted. In your workplace, if this happened, wouldn’t you all figure out a way to get the client what they need, or at least communicate a contingency plan that doesn’t just say too bad so sad?

I am really curious which fields have a system where people can just disappear into an emergency and no client is ever impacted, and how that connects to the other theme we hear which is that people in other fields work a million hours and can never take leave. Why is taking leave impossible in a system where people can be out for extended absences without impacting the client?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a life lesson. Things will happen that will throw a wrench in your plans. You can't control everything. Your DD should not count on retakes and reassessments to get that A. At least with this class/teacher. DD should make sure to turn in her best the first go around. And if that best is a B, it is okay. It is not the end of the world to get a B or a C.

I personally disagree with this. Yes things will happen in life that you can’t control. But no, there are many employees working on a team at the school who should absolutely be responsible for picking up the slack of a colleague such that the grading policy is still followed and students aren’t disproportionately impacted. In your workplace, if this happened, wouldn’t you all figure out a way to get the client what they need, or at least communicate a contingency plan that doesn’t just say too bad so sad?

I am really curious which fields have a system where people can just disappear into an emergency and no client is ever impacted, and how that connects to the other theme we hear which is that people in other fields work a million hours and can never take leave. Why is taking leave impossible in a system where people can be out for extended absences without impacting the client?

Of course there will be an impact but like, if your surgeon cannot perform your surgery they call you to tell you and reschedule or find a different provider. They don’t just ghost.

[Anonymous]

Retakes are absolutely not required or always given. If the entire class doesn’t get a retake because teacher is out, then it is what it is. Best practice is try your best the first time and accept your grade. Your child is not the only one affected. The principal knows they grades are due and will make sure to the best of those ability to get them in accurately.

This IS a life lesson in your own personal preparation. I bet many of the students and parents are just fine and are understanding unlike you.

Grades will be finalized and all will move on. My personal doctor was out on leave for months once. It took some time and patience but I got seen eventually. This is not an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a life lesson. Things will happen that will throw a wrench in your plans. You can't control everything. Your DD should not count on retakes and reassessments to get that A. At least with this class/teacher. DD should make sure to turn in her best the first go around. And if that best is a B, it is okay. It is not the end of the world to get a B or a C.

I personally disagree with this. Yes things will happen in life that you can’t control. But no, there are many employees working on a team at the school who should absolutely be responsible for picking up the slack of a colleague such that the grading policy is still followed and students aren’t disproportionately impacted. In your workplace, if this happened, wouldn’t you all figure out a way to get the client what they need, or at least communicate a contingency plan that doesn’t just say too bad so sad?

I am really curious which fields have a system where people can just disappear into an emergency and no client is ever impacted, and how that connects to the other theme we hear which is that people in other fields work a million hours and can never take leave. Why is taking leave impossible in a system where people can be out for extended absences without impacting the client?

Of course there will be an impact but like, if your surgeon cannot perform your surgery they call you to tell you and reschedule or find a different provider. They don’t just ghost.

Right, like the teacher or school communicated that there was an emergency and didn’t just ghost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope the teacher is okay. (That’s missing in your post, OP.)

Not OP, but this is not what OP’s post is about. Would be weird and unnecessarily performative for her to offer her best wishes to the teacher on DCUM. Stop trying to shame her. OP can actually be someone who cares about teachers but is trying to figure out how this type of issue is handled.

No, I don’t think it’s performative to actually state you care about the teacher. That teacher is an actual human, not merely a grading machine.

And OP, of course you care more about your child. It’s possible the teacher is also caring more about her family at this time, and one may argue that’s exactly where her focus should be, too.

It is performative to state it to DCUM.

I guess you’re right. It’s performative if you don’t actually care. And this is DCUM, where many parents expect teachers to sacrifice all for their students. I mean, how dare this teacher have a personal emergency during the school year. She should have planned that for the summer. So selfish of her.

[Anonymous]

If a teacher was on out last week, they are not ghosting anyone. They are on leave. When they are on leave, they do not have to do any grading or respond to emails from parents. This is not ghosting. Yes, it is bad timing for the student, but it is what it is. Having a B on a report card will not be the end of the world. But, I am sure you will go to admin and complain and the teacher will change the grade to an A.

This is why I quit teaching at the end of last year. The job is impossible to do, especially with parents who complain about everything. I couldn't grade students based on their actual performance, because it was a constant cycle of reteaching/reassessment. I guess it is asking too much for students to do their best the first time around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes- be patient. Have empathy. And enjoy your weekend while this teacher may not be able to.

With literally any other teacher that would be my impulse. I am Team Teacher all the way in most cases. This teacher is a HORRIBLE grader though- so slow. The assignment that isn’t graded yet is from early, early September. The kids have to hound her to please grade.

She might not have graded since September because her child has cancer or similar. Give the poor woman some grace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a teacher was on out last week, they are not ghosting anyone. They are on leave. When they are on leave, they do not have to do any grading or respond to emails from parents. This is not ghosting. Yes, it is bad timing for the student, but it is what it is. Having a B on a report card will not be the end of the world. But, I am sure you will go to admin and complain and the teacher will change the grade to an A.

This is why I quit teaching at the end of last year. The job is impossible to do, especially with parents who complain about everything. I couldn't grade students based on their actual performance, because it was a constant cycle of reteaching/reassessment. I guess it is asking too much for students to do their best the first time around.

Most admin don't respond to parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes- be patient. Have empathy. And enjoy your weekend while this teacher may not be able to.

With literally any other teacher that would be my impulse. I am Team Teacher all the way in most cases. This teacher is a HORRIBLE grader though- so slow. The assignment that isn’t graded yet is from early, early September. The kids have to hound her to please grade.

She might not have graded since September because her child has cancer or similar. Give the poor woman some grace.

Thank you. When my child was hospitalized multiple times one year unexpectantly my department head took over my grading and not one parent complained. And they had no idea why I was gone. I think this parent should relax.

[Anonymous]

Here’s the thing…if any missing grade shakes out at a disadvantage to the student, the school can retroactively submit a grade correction. The primary concern is allowing the teacher the opportunity to deal with the family emergency.

Family will always come before work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the thing…if any missing grade shakes out at a disadvantage to the student, the school can retroactively submit a grade correction. The primary concern is allowing the teacher the opportunity to deal with the family emergency.

Family will always come before work.

Oh, wow. This comment is such a rare find on this site. Grace being extended to a teacher! And, on top of that, a reasonable response that illustrates a lower grade can be reconciled later, once the teacher is back on his/her feet.

Thank you. Wow. There’s hope after all.

[Anonymous]

No one is suggesting that the teacher come back to finish her grading from September. Everyone is suggesting that it is the school administrators who are responsible for having a continuity plan when a teacher takes emergency leave. A continuity plan supports a teacher being able to leave and supports students getting their work graded, retakes available as articulated in the beginning of the quarter and material covered etc.

The school needs to do its job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes- be patient. Have empathy. And enjoy your weekend while this teacher may not be able to.

With literally any other teacher that would be my impulse. I am Team Teacher all the way in most cases. This teacher is a HORRIBLE grader though- so slow. The assignment that isn’t graded yet is from early, early September. The kids have to hound her to please grade.

She might not have graded since September because her child has cancer or similar. Give the poor woman some grace.

Thank you. When my child was hospitalized multiple times one year unexpectantly my department head took over my grading and not one parent complained. And they had no idea why I was gone. I think this parent should relax.

Your department head took over grading which is a fine solution. In this situation , the department and MCPS is doing nothing,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one is suggesting that the teacher come back to finish her grading from September. Everyone is suggesting that it is the school administrators who are responsible for having a continuity plan when a teacher takes emergency leave. A continuity plan supports a teacher being able to leave and supports students getting their work graded, retakes available as articulated in the beginning of the quarter and material covered etc.

The school needs to do its job.

+1 exactly this.