She said, he said, but he has proof

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or, are they accusing him of plagiarizing the topics of the handbook? As in, the students were supposed to come up with 10 policies but your son just used the same 10 policies as some company?

I think what happened was he made policies based on the laws and just copied the wording of the law and didn't cite it. So in making the "sexual harassment policy" he just copied and pasted the law about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would let it go because he dropped from a high A to a low A. Doesn’t his transcript just show overall letter grade?

This. Don’t let this be the hill you die on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm really confused. Are they accusing him of plagiarizing the phrase "sexual harassment"? Or is there more?

What is the longest portion of text that was allegedly plagiarized?

It's both. Plagiarize checker flagged Sexual Harassment Policy. This was assigned as #1 of 10 policies provided by teacher. The heading was flagged and content flagged but not copied or plagiarized. Ex: Company prohibits Sexual Harassment of any kind against any persons...

From memory, paraphrased as, Company X has a zero tolerance policy with regard to sexual misconduct of any employee or person...

Flagged: zero tolerance policy, sexual misconduct and the heading Sexual Harassment Policy

He paraphrased generic wording. What would you come up with. Also, there were sub sections, quid pro quo. This was also flagged. 10 pages of this type of crazy. Every time he changed a phrase, it was flagged. This sentence I'm typing now would be flagged.

Do you understand what I mean? If so, imagine 10 pages of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kid didn't manage his time well and plagiarized even though that wasn't his intent. There are consequences which you don't like. Let him figure it out.

+1, he at a minimum should ask to redo his work at apologize.

[Anonymous]

Why does OP write in such a confusing way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any way someone can rewrite the telling of the story while a) using both subjects and verbs in all the sentences, b) leaving out the irrelevant asides (such as "double jeopardy," which does not fit the setting), and c) cutting out the chaff?

If someone does, I will be your fervent admirer.

Kid cheated, got caught, made up a bullshit story to excuse his cheating and convince his mom that the teacher was to blame.

DP. Yes, this is how I read it, too. I would add that now the mom is here casting shade and things her precious one did no wrong.

[Anonymous]

He did apologize. I read the email exchanges. He was very clear that nothing was deliberate plagiarism, and sent screen shots of his original flagged section, and paraphrased version.

I don't know what the flagged version was, but this is his paraphrased section which was also flagged for: quid pro quo, sexual favors may result in demotion or termination:

Quid Pro Quo
○ Offering an advantage to any person in return for sexual favors may result in
demotion or termination.

Hostile work environment
○ Sexual misbehavior includes harassment, conversations, advances, and/or sexual images.
○ Verbal or physical misconduct
○ Nonverbal/physical sexual harassment
○ Display, distribution or discussion, such as jokes, ​images​ or written material

[Anonymous]

Based on your son's description, I don't understand how everyone wasn't flagged, if it was triggered by such common phrases. Shouldn't every student's project have had the words "sexual harassment" and "quid pro quo" if that was the explicit assignment?

I feel like there's a piece missing. Regardless, to answer your question, yes, theoretically the teacher could call colleges and retract or amend her recommendation. No idea if she would or not.

It may be worth requesting another meeting, saying that you and your son are genuinely confused and want to understand so as not to repeat the mistake. Forget the grade, and focus on finding out what that missing piece is so that this makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on your son's description, I don't understand how everyone wasn't flagged, if it was triggered by such common phrases. Shouldn't every student's project have had the words "sexual harassment" and "quid pro quo" if that was the explicit assignment?

I feel like there's a piece missing. Regardless, to answer your question, yes, theoretically the teacher could call colleges and retract or amend her recommendation. No idea if she would or not.

It may be worth requesting another meeting, saying that you and your son are genuinely confused and want to understand so as not to repeat the mistake. Forget the grade, and focus on finding out what that missing piece is so that this makes sense.

Agreed. OP, you've given examples, but maybe those were chosen because they are the ones you consider most straightforwardly outrageous?

What are the examples of elements of his work that would seem the most problematic for his case?

[Anonymous]

OP, I think you should threaten legal action against the school.

It sounds like your child is being threatened with a very negative action (his scholarship plus accusations of plagiarism, which harm the reputation of a smart student headed off to college.

NO COLLEGE will take the time to look into what actually happened here and hos ridiculous this all is.

If the principal isn't willing to sit down and listen to the facts and make a determination that your student didn't in fact plagiarize, but was being flagged for common terms, I think you need to hire a lawyer and fight for your child to get the truth out.

It will be important to your son that he knows you have his back in this. It isn't about he grade. Is is about the accusation of plagiarism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She has dug in. She is not going to back down no matter what evidence he provides. Some teachers are cray cray.

My kids never had a single issue except for one teacher..and boy she was cray. I later found out there was quite a precedent with other students. I’m not sure what was happening in her personal life, but she got nuttier.

This, Is this a private school? If so, there is nothing you can do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on your son's description, I don't understand how everyone wasn't flagged, if it was triggered by such common phrases. Shouldn't every student's project have had the words "sexual harassment" and "quid pro quo" if that was the explicit assignment?

I feel like there's a piece missing. Regardless, to answer your question, yes, theoretically the teacher could call colleges and retract or amend her recommendation. No idea if she would or not.

It may be worth requesting another meeting, saying that you and your son are genuinely confused and want to understand so as not to repeat the mistake. Forget the grade, and focus on finding out what that missing piece is so that this makes sense.

Agreed. OP, you've given examples, but maybe those were chosen because they are the ones you consider most straightforwardly outrageous?

What are the examples of elements of his work that would seem the most problematic for his case?

+3

I think I understand what OP is saying and taking her and her son at face value, this teacher is just... way off. And then it all escalated for personality reasons.

Except... I just don't understand how the same thing didn't happen to most or all of his classmates. OP you have to answer this.

[Anonymous]

There must be something different about what he did if the entire class isn’t getting accused of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Plagiarism accusation (sort of). After the fact, DC senior emailed all details to me, including teacher emails. Assigned a business project requiring legal research, and policy laws. However, it wasn't a research paper. Teacher rubric stated internet usage to complete an employer handbook containing 10 or so policies. That's it. No citations, use of quotes. Rough draft had to be turned in after running through a plagiarism checker. Teacher isn't tech savvy and communicates via email. She posted assignment on classroom with a link to a very weak checker app. She also moved the goal posts the entire week.

My son was accused of plagiarism. He is a senior. He was assigned a business project. The rubric given by his teacher said that he should complete an employer handbook containing 10 or so policies, after researching policy laws on the internet. The rubric did not state he needed to give citations. The rough draft was to be turned in after running it through a plagiarism checker. The teacher posted a link on Google classroom to a very weak plagiarism checker ap.

DC submitted draft after checking and changing anything flagged. Returned with flags. Hybrid, so kids were only in person one day, and she gave them 20 minutes to run plagiarism check, make corrections, and turn in. It was 10 or so pages. He ran out of time. The policies were legal, and as such, nearly impossible to change generic wording, such as, sexual harassment, code of conduct, discrimination, etc.

My son submitted his draft of the employee handbook after running it through the teacher's assigned plagiarism ap, and he changed anything that was flagged. The draft was yet again returned with flags. Since he is in school that is hybrid, and this had to happen in person, he only had 20 minute that day to run the plagiarism check, make corrections to anything that was flagged, and turn in the draft. His draft was 10 pages, and he ran out of time to make the changes to whatever was (twice) flagged.

Phrases that were flagged as plagiarism included "sexual harassment", "code of conduct" , and "discrimination". These are common legal terms and as such, it made no sense that they would be flagged as plagiarized.

Zero with no discussion. DC respects authority, never plagiarized, and has a great relationship with this teacher. He spoke with her via zoom, she didn't let him get a word in. He emailed valid proof and screenshots of generic flags, "Name of company has a zero tolerance policy..." He forwarded emails. Shot down, threatened to escalate, lots of teacher psycho babble.

My son received a zero for this assignment, with no discussion with the teacher. My son spoke with her over Zoom, and tried to explain that the flagged phrases were very generic. For example: "(Name of company) has a zero tolerance policy...." was a flagged phrase.

Thing is, he wasn't fighting the grade, only defending himself with proof against an accusation with many holes in it. Principal sent an email to all teachers, parents, students that final grades would be pushed until last Wed and extra day to "make up missing assignments, do extra credit, improve grades." Of course, son thought that applied to all. Teacher finalized her grades 2 days prior to principal's extension. His grade 98 dropped to 90. More emails ensued. She escalated, he spoke with principal who tossed it back to teacher. Mid year report finalized for colleges. No resolution. On Friday, at 5 p.m., she sent him an email stating escalation to his file, stripped of scholarship app, and eligiblity for NHS. This is quadruple jeopardy. Winter break this week, and she left him with no opportunity to resolve.

My son wasn't fighting the grade, but was defending himself against allegation of plagiarism. The principal sent word that final grades for the semester would be pushed back a bit, and my son thought that perhaps meant he could make up this work. However teacher would not budge and change her grades. As a result of a few emails to her questioning this grade and the accusation of plagiarism, the teacher escalated (in some way?). Therefore my son spoke with the principal about it, who refused to get involved. As a result of going to the principal, the teacher, on Friday at 5 PM before winter break, sent an email to him stating she was escalating her response: she would put a note about his plagiarism in his file; would remove her recommendation to his scholarship application; and planned to remove his eligibility for National Honor Society. The it was winter break, with no time to address her email.

New principal is too busy trying to be cool. DC has taken 3 years of teacher's elective courses. He's supported for her 3 years in many capacities and vice versa. Old principal is now superintendent and great guy, but winter break.

Nothing he can do now. Told him wait until they return from break, reply to her email and cc whoever he wants with a short, I've learned that standing up for myself is necessary, despite the consequences. I respect your decision, and I'm grateful for your support the past 3 years. Respectfully, ...

The new principal is no help. My son formerly had a good relationship with this teacher and has known her and worked with her for 3 years. The former principal is now the superintendent, and we couldn't contact him over winter break.

I told my son to wait until after Winter Break, reply to her email about all the escalations, and cc it to some people along with a contrite message (to try to defuse the situation?)

Would like your advice, maybe teachers here can help. Please no snark. He did not hand in a deliberately plagiarized assignment. My kid isn't a "snowflake", he drives his own process and values my help when asked. My concern is that this teacher used very vague language in her late eve Friday emai. This is decision time and she seems unhinged. Can she retract her letter of recommendation? DC has 5 teacher recs and he used different ones for different colleges. We have no idea if she will blow up his remaining apps. Also, he has every right to speak to the principal. No disciplinary issues ever, good student, incredible manners.

My son did not deliberately plagiarize. The phrases flagged are standard boiler plate language. The teacher's Friday evening 5 PM email before break was very vague. I am concerned she will retract her letter of recommendation.

My son had every right to contact the principal, and it seemed she escalated right after he did so.

OP -- did I get it mostly right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think I understand what OP is saying and taking her and her son at face value, this teacher is just... way off. And then it all escalated for personality reasons.

I just went back and rewrote OP's original post and now I understand.

It escalated because OP's son went to the principal. If her son had just accepted the zero, the teacher would have let it go; but complaining to the principal pissed her off and she sent a threatening email to the kid that she planned to put a note in his school record, rescind her recommendation for the scholarship, and pull his eligibility for NHS.

For a smart, scholarly kid, these are big deal things. I think the teacher is WAY out of line.

I would fight this.