The Storm and HS Homework/Tests - No Excuses (Vent)!

[Anonymous]

After reading the entire thread, I don't get it. The OPs child has an assignment due on Wed that has to be turned in on Wed? Was the assignment only provided on Friday--in which case, he would have 4 days to complete it, 2 of which would have been the weekend and that doesn't seem so bad. Now he has 4 "days off" to do the work. Or was the assignment provided a few weeks ago and procrastination occurred? In any case, I don't understand why the child shouldn't have to spend Monday and Tuesday doing school work. Sure, if you're family is one that has been hit hard by the storm, you've evacuated, you're in a temp shelter, that makes sense. But if he just wanted to sleep in and veg out with some screen time, then nope, no excuse.

[Anonymous]

Hi. This is the OP. Well, we have made it so far with power, for which I feel very fortunate.

I just want to clarify that I have no beef with kids having to turn in their papers, projects and take tests upon returning to school on Wednesday. What I primarily objected to was that the teachers' emails said no exceptions would be given if power went out and work requiring internet therefore couldn't be completed. It's a moot point for us now -- DC has completed everything required for wednesday. I was very worried we would lose power today, though. In the last storm in July (which occurred about 1 week after we moved here, btw) we did lose power like many others for several days. That was my fear. At this point I don't care. If power goes we are ready for it.

My basic point remains that the school/county/whomever it is that makes up the rules, could have had a uniform policy about how to handle the work if power outages occurred. I just feel that is the right thing to do so that kids don't have to stress unnecessarily about getting their assignments in on time.

Wishing everyone a safe night in the storm.

[Anonymous]

Were these things originally due on Monday? If so, your child should have had them done and ready to roll for Monday morning, long before there were any power outages.

[Anonymous]

So my DC has had several emails last night and this morning from his high school teachers stating that various projects and tests are still due on Wednesday before the marking period ends, even if we all lose power. WTH? I think this is a bit ridiculous. I don't care if these are AP or Honors classes, and I know the marking period ends, which increases the sense of urgency to get the grades in. These kids aren't emergency personnel and they aren't brain surgeons. Would it kill MCPS to extend these deadlines if in fact this storm is as bad a expected and we all lose power?

Honestly, the pressures on kids these days has gotten out of control! (VENT OVER)

Alternatively, the teachers could have instructed this family not to wait to after the storm on Wednesday to hand in the assignments but simply to email them in promptly on the due date, Monday.

[Anonymous]

Op, I have younger kids and hate the semi-hysterical culture in this area surrounding achievement, advancement, and academic pressure.... So I sympathized with your post. I teach a grad school class, for which a midterm was due on Momday, and I emailed my students on Sunday to let them know that I would not penalize any papers that came in late, so long as it was a reasonable time frame (2 or 3 days maxx.)

But I have to admit it made an impression on me that all the students who turned their assignment in as per the original deadline were either military or mid-career students. Several of these have families, or commute long distance to class, but they did what they had to do. I'd like my kids to absorb this sense of responsibility. So while I don't think rigid rule enforcement is the best approach to teaching, I do think it's important for kids to appreciate the importance of just doing what has been asked of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. To those of you with the hardline approach, I don't get it. I work at a college and we are completely shut down today and tomorrow. Even the law school is shut down and has canceled classes. Don't most of the adults get off work when there's a storm like this? Sure, there are certain obligations that must be met in life, and I certainly agree we must prepare our kids to face that. All I'm asking for is some reason and balance. Sadly, this isn't easy to come by in many schools these days.

For those who are suggesting I've pressured my DC to be in these AP classes, you would be incorrect. He puts the pressure on himself to do well. I know he'll do what he needs to do to be successful. I don't think that's the point. This isn't necessary. It's pressure for pressure's sake, and who really needs that?

I know not eveyone will agree with me, but I know there are plenty of parents out there who understand.

But these are assignments made some time ago, not assigned to fill the days off, right?

I really don't get it. This is homework, and your kid has MORE time at home to complete it than he normally would. Plus, the power didn't go out. It seems like you are just irked because your kid doesn't get to screw around for two days. But if there was school, he would have had to complete the assignments at night anyway, right? So have him screw around during the day and then do the work at night, like he was going to have to do anyway. What's the problem?

[Anonymous]

Still OP you have not answered my question- was this stuff originally due on Monday? If so, then I see no reason why your child can't hand it in Weds. The storm didn't pick up until Monday afternoon, and it should have been READY TO GO on Sunday night.

Signed,
MoCo high school teacher curious to see if her students turn in tomorrow their (small) project that was supposed to be due on Monday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still OP you have not answered my question- was this stuff originally due on Monday? If so, then I see no reason why your child can't hand it in Weds. The storm didn't pick up until Monday afternoon, and it should have been READY TO GO on Sunday night.

Signed,
MoCo high school teacher curious to see if her students turn in tomorrow their (small) project that was supposed to be due on Monday

Not the OP but didn't her OP say it was due on Wednesday and was still due on Wednesday regardless of the power situation the kids might be in? Plus she has now posted that her kid finished the assignment. No need to continue badgering her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sadly, OP, you now have the r.e.a.l reason the kids in MoCo are stressed out, neurotic head cases. It's the parents. So many parents here thinking that there's no reason that an epic, historic storm should slow down the competitive-academic steamroller. Welcome to MoCo.

So to paraphrase, "the rain ate my homework" is a valid excuse. I weep for the future.

[Anonymous]

OP's second post clearly stated that she was disturbed by the teachers' announcement that even a power failure wouldn't be considered a reasonable excuse. That's a little harsh, especially when you consider that most colleges have extended their early application deadlines for students affected by Sandy, as they did for last year's October suprise storm.

[Anonymous]

Nonsense. What about the 2 days off our children have enjoyed. You want 2 days off and postponement of tests and assignments? You give and inch and they take a mile.

[Anonymous]

The OP has no case and no sense. I hope her children do not follow her example into responsible adulthood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in nursing school up in Boston and although we have no school today, I'm still scheduled for a test tomorrow morning at 8am and one Wednesday morning. We are just starting to get hit with more severe winds and rain.

I guess i don't find it that abnormal because I remember being in middle school and high school here and was always expected to complete assignments and tests on time even when we had snow days. The only exception was a paper if power was lost and our papers were on our computers.

Now your son has extra time to work on his assignments. Unless he saved all the work until the last minute, he shouldn't have to spend all day on them. And if he did procrastinate, imagine what it would be like if he'd had school today and then had to get all the work done.

This confirms for me that most people on here are not actually D.C. urban moms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in nursing school up in Boston and although we have no school today, I'm still scheduled for a test tomorrow morning at 8am and one Wednesday morning. We are just starting to get hit with more severe winds and rain.

I guess i don't find it that abnormal because I remember being in middle school and high school here and was always expected to complete assignments and tests on time even when we had snow days. The only exception was a paper if power was lost and our papers were on our computers.

Now your son has extra time to work on his assignments. Unless he saved all the work until the last minute, he shouldn't have to spend all day on them. And if he did procrastinate, imagine what it would be like if he'd had school today and then had to get all the work done.

This confirms for me that most people on here are not actually D.C. urban moms.

Really this one post confirms it for you? Rather than Jeff's many posts about the geographic distribution of posters?

I am guessing you aren't in a field the requires evidence-based practice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in nursing school up in Boston and although we have no school today, I'm still scheduled for a test tomorrow morning at 8am and one Wednesday morning. We are just starting to get hit with more severe winds and rain.

I guess i don't find it that abnormal because I remember being in middle school and high school here and was always expected to complete assignments and tests on time even when we had snow days. The only exception was a paper if power was lost and our papers were on our computers.

Now your son has extra time to work on his assignments. Unless he saved all the work until the last minute, he shouldn't have to spend all day on them. And if he did procrastinate, imagine what it would be like if he'd had school today and then had to get all the work done.

This confirms for me that most people on here are not actually D.C. urban moms.

This confirms to me that many of teacher types that respond to these threads are not Moms at all. Seriously, if you are some 25 yo nursing student, you know exactly JACK about what growing children need or the realities of family life with your own actual (not theoretical) children. So many teachers are basically social misfits with no clue of what families even do on weekends.