Attendance pressure

[Anonymous]

My child returned from being sick and had to immediately take a quiz that day with the class that they had been told when they were absent. My child explained to the teacher they had been sick and didn’t even know about the quiz. Didn’t matter. The teacher made them take it. They failed it. I guess the teacher felt sorry for my child and allowed them to retake it. But what a jerk making them take it in the first place and causing undue stress on my child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child returned from being sick and had to immediately take a quiz that day with the class that they had been told when they were absent. My child explained to the teacher they had been sick and didn’t even know about the quiz. Didn’t matter. The teacher made them take it. They failed it. I guess the teacher felt sorry for my child and allowed them to retake it. But what a jerk making them take it in the first place and causing undue stress on my child.

Sounds reasonable on the part of the teacher. Other option: kid sits there while everyone else takes the quiz. I'd consider it a practice run.

How long was your child out? One day or week or more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up, many years ago, if I was out sick I called a classmate to find out what my homework was. I don't recall any illnesses that kept me out for more than a day or two at a time. I'm sure that any teacher I asked would have been kind and compassionate, however.

Of course, that was before the internet and assignments available online.

And, I was a teacher. If kids were out sick, I helped them when they returned--I don't remember contacting mom to tell her what I was doing to help her kid. So, mom--you may not be aware of what is happening in class.

This is a good point. I always post my plans (daily and weekly) online. Each entry has links to the day’s notes, slides, and assignments.

Students don’t need to ask me what we did during their absence because it is already available online, including any necessary instructions.

Not really making a case for the “gift” of attendance here.

What’s the better alternative? Should I gatekeep everything so students are forced to sit though my lessons?

Of course it’s better to get the lesson during class, with examples and ample class discussion. But if you’re sick, I’d like you to get the second best option: complete access to everything we discussed in class.

I’m sorry that’s not acceptable to you. If it’s okay, I’ll keep doing it because it’s the right thing to do.

I mean you’re not making a case why it’s more valuable for a high achieving kid to be in your class than having enriching experiences with their family— they’re not missing anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up, many years ago, if I was out sick I called a classmate to find out what my homework was. I don't recall any illnesses that kept me out for more than a day or two at a time. I'm sure that any teacher I asked would have been kind and compassionate, however.

Of course, that was before the internet and assignments available online.

And, I was a teacher. If kids were out sick, I helped them when they returned--I don't remember contacting mom to tell her what I was doing to help her kid. So, mom--you may not be aware of what is happening in class.

This is a good point. I always post my plans (daily and weekly) online. Each entry has links to the day’s notes, slides, and assignments.

Students don’t need to ask me what we did during their absence because it is already available online, including any necessary instructions.

Not really making a case for the “gift” of attendance here.

What’s the better alternative? Should I gatekeep everything so students are forced to sit though my lessons?

Of course it’s better to get the lesson during class, with examples and ample class discussion. But if you’re sick, I’d like you to get the second best option: complete access to everything we discussed in class.

I’m sorry that’s not acceptable to you. If it’s okay, I’ll keep doing it because it’s the right thing to do.

I mean you’re not making a case why it’s more valuable for a high achieving kid to be in your class than having enriching experiences with their family— they’re not missing anything.

So let me get this straight:

I teach an AP course. Would you rather I keep everything under lock and key? Is your argument that I should encourage attendance by restricting access to plans and resources?

This thread has gone on for over 40 pages with parents complaining that teachers don’t do enough to accommodate absences. And here’s a teacher who has a robust website that contains transparent plans, and that’s now bad?

If your kid is as high achieving as you claim, then your kid will want to be in class to get the info and engage in thoughtful discussion. If you would rather have your kid skip around Epcot with you, at least know that they can have the 2nd option: access to everything they missed while waiting in line for rides.

Isn’t that a win for you? Or is nothing ever enough?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up, many years ago, if I was out sick I called a classmate to find out what my homework was. I don't recall any illnesses that kept me out for more than a day or two at a time. I'm sure that any teacher I asked would have been kind and compassionate, however.

Of course, that was before the internet and assignments available online.

And, I was a teacher. If kids were out sick, I helped them when they returned--I don't remember contacting mom to tell her what I was doing to help her kid. So, mom--you may not be aware of what is happening in class.

This is a good point. I always post my plans (daily and weekly) online. Each entry has links to the day’s notes, slides, and assignments.

Students don’t need to ask me what we did during their absence because it is already available online, including any necessary instructions.

Not really making a case for the “gift” of attendance here.

DP. Teachers don't really mind if students are out as long as they get their work done, especially at the secondary level. A kid who logs on when they're out for whatever reason and goes through the material and is ready to roll when they come back or contacts the teacher to arrange to make up a quiz or a lab isn't a problem. The people who care about those students missing class are under the gun due to having a large contingent of students who are not only chronically absent but also barely passing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child returned from being sick and had to immediately take a quiz that day with the class that they had been told when they were absent. My child explained to the teacher they had been sick and didn’t even know about the quiz. Didn’t matter. The teacher made them take it. They failed it. I guess the teacher felt sorry for my child and allowed them to retake it. But what a jerk making them take it in the first place and causing undue stress on my child.

Sounds reasonable on the part of the teacher. Other option: kid sits there while everyone else takes the quiz. I'd consider it a practice run.

How long was your child out? One day or week or more?

No it was absolutely not reasonable to have a kid take a quiz for which they didn’t even know about and were not prepared for on the day they returned from illness. That’s not compassionate or fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not racist. I had students of all races take off for two or three weeks in January. Yes, white children, too. The family was always on another continent. Always.

It’s discrimination, if you prefer that word. I want to take my kid out for just three extra days so they can spend a little more time with their grandparents. They’re elderly, and I genuinely don’t know how much longer my child will have the chance to be with them. We’re white, and the grandparents live overseas and cannot travel.
And now I’m being told that these three days of school—during a period when teachers are mostly focused on supporting underachievers—are somehow more important than my straight-A+ student spending irreplaceable time with aging grandparents?

Oh please. It’s not racist. It’s not discrimination. It’s rude to teachers who have lesson plans, it’s rude and disruptive to fellow students, it’s disruptive to your child’s own education. Imagine being the teachers who have to deal with all those emails after the fact when parents are trying to get and Larlo back up to speed. Our private had this rule because the absences upset everyone. And we all adhered to it for those reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child returned from being sick and had to immediately take a quiz that day with the class that they had been told when they were absent. My child explained to the teacher they had been sick and didn’t even know about the quiz. Didn’t matter. The teacher made them take it. They failed it. I guess the teacher felt sorry for my child and allowed them to retake it. But what a jerk making them take it in the first place and causing undue stress on my child.

Sounds reasonable on the part of the teacher. Other option: kid sits there while everyone else takes the quiz. I'd consider it a practice run.

How long was your child out? One day or week or more?

No it was absolutely not reasonable to have a kid take a quiz for which they didn’t even know about and were not prepared for on the day they returned from illness. That’s not compassionate or fair.

I wonder what the teacher’s explanation would be. Was the child out only one day, but present for the two weeks the material was covered? Was the quiz announced, but this child didn’t hear? Did she say, “why don’t you give it a try and if you need a retake, we’ll do it?”

I’m guessing there’s more to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child returned from being sick and had to immediately take a quiz that day with the class that they had been told when they were absent. My child explained to the teacher they had been sick and didn’t even know about the quiz. Didn’t matter. The teacher made them take it. They failed it. I guess the teacher felt sorry for my child and allowed them to retake it. But what a jerk making them take it in the first place and causing undue stress on my child.

Sounds reasonable on the part of the teacher. Other option: kid sits there while everyone else takes the quiz. I'd consider it a practice run.

How long was your child out? One day or week or more?

No it was absolutely not reasonable to have a kid take a quiz for which they didn’t even know about and were not prepared for on the day they returned from illness. That’s not compassionate or fair.

I wonder what the teacher’s explanation would be. Was the child out only one day, but present for the two weeks the material was covered? Was the quiz announced, but this child didn’t hear? Did she say, “why don’t you give it a try and if you need a retake, we’ll do it?”

I’m guessing there’s more to this.

There is not more to this other than the teacher was a jerk. My child was not in class when the quiz was announced (Friday). It was a fast paced class and the kids were expected to read and take notes on a certain section over the weekend (which my kid was unable to do due to illness) and be prepared for the quiz on that section the next class period. My kid missed the day which happened to be a Friday and was bedridden all weekend. My child also missed Monday but was back on Tuesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child returned from being sick and had to immediately take a quiz that day with the class that they had been told when they were absent. My child explained to the teacher they had been sick and didn’t even know about the quiz. Didn’t matter. The teacher made them take it. They failed it. I guess the teacher felt sorry for my child and allowed them to retake it. But what a jerk making them take it in the first place and causing undue stress on my child.

Sounds reasonable on the part of the teacher. Other option: kid sits there while everyone else takes the quiz. I'd consider it a practice run.

How long was your child out? One day or week or more?

No it was absolutely not reasonable to have a kid take a quiz for which they didn’t even know about and were not prepared for on the day they returned from illness. That’s not compassionate or fair.

I wonder what the teacher’s explanation would be. Was the child out only one day, but present for the two weeks the material was covered? Was the quiz announced, but this child didn’t hear? Did she say, “why don’t you give it a try and if you need a retake, we’ll do it?”

I’m guessing there’s more to this.

My child was able to see the posting on schoology of what they missed, but was unable to do any of the work because they were sick all weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child returned from being sick and had to immediately take a quiz that day with the class that they had been told when they were absent. My child explained to the teacher they had been sick and didn’t even know about the quiz. Didn’t matter. The teacher made them take it. They failed it. I guess the teacher felt sorry for my child and allowed them to retake it. But what a jerk making them take it in the first place and causing undue stress on my child.

Sounds reasonable on the part of the teacher. Other option: kid sits there while everyone else takes the quiz. I'd consider it a practice run.

How long was your child out? One day or week or more?

No it was absolutely not reasonable to have a kid take a quiz for which they didn’t even know about and were not prepared for on the day they returned from illness. That’s not compassionate or fair.

I wonder what the teacher’s explanation would be. Was the child out only one day, but present for the two weeks the material was covered? Was the quiz announced, but this child didn’t hear? Did she say, “why don’t you give it a try and if you need a retake, we’ll do it?”

I’m guessing there’s more to this.

My child was able to see the posting on schoology of what they missed, but was unable to do any of the work because they were sick all weekend.

Your seriously this worked up about a quiz. Get help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child returned from being sick and had to immediately take a quiz that day with the class that they had been told when they were absent. My child explained to the teacher they had been sick and didn’t even know about the quiz. Didn’t matter. The teacher made them take it. They failed it. I guess the teacher felt sorry for my child and allowed them to retake it. But what a jerk making them take it in the first place and causing undue stress on my child.

Sounds reasonable on the part of the teacher. Other option: kid sits there while everyone else takes the quiz. I'd consider it a practice run.

How long was your child out? One day or week or more?

No it was absolutely not reasonable to have a kid take a quiz for which they didn’t even know about and were not prepared for on the day they returned from illness. That’s not compassionate or fair.

If they let them retake it I seriously do not see a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child returned from being sick and had to immediately take a quiz that day with the class that they had been told when they were absent. My child explained to the teacher they had been sick and didn’t even know about the quiz. Didn’t matter. The teacher made them take it. They failed it. I guess the teacher felt sorry for my child and allowed them to retake it. But what a jerk making them take it in the first place and causing undue stress on my child.

Sounds reasonable on the part of the teacher. Other option: kid sits there while everyone else takes the quiz. I'd consider it a practice run.

How long was your child out? One day or week or more?

No it was absolutely not reasonable to have a kid take a quiz for which they didn’t even know about and were not prepared for on the day they returned from illness. That’s not compassionate or fair.

If they let them retake it I seriously do not see a problem.

DP. There was no problem. The PP just feels the need to be angry.

And I’m still fairly certain there is more to this story. The parent only knows what the student reported. My guess? The teacher was A LOT more accommodating than this PP is willing to admit; after all, it was clearly no problem getting a retake.

But the teacher will remain a “jerk” to this parent for no good reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child returned from being sick and had to immediately take a quiz that day with the class that they had been told when they were absent. My child explained to the teacher they had been sick and didn’t even know about the quiz. Didn’t matter. The teacher made them take it. They failed it. I guess the teacher felt sorry for my child and allowed them to retake it. But what a jerk making them take it in the first place and causing undue stress on my child.

Sounds reasonable on the part of the teacher. Other option: kid sits there while everyone else takes the quiz. I'd consider it a practice run.

How long was your child out? One day or week or more?

No it was absolutely not reasonable to have a kid take a quiz for which they didn’t even know about and were not prepared for on the day they returned from illness. That’s not compassionate or fair.

I wonder what the teacher’s explanation would be. Was the child out only one day, but present for the two weeks the material was covered? Was the quiz announced, but this child didn’t hear? Did she say, “why don’t you give it a try and if you need a retake, we’ll do it?”

I’m guessing there’s more to this.

My child was able to see the posting on schoology of what they missed, but was unable to do any of the work because they were sick all weekend.

Your seriously this worked up about a quiz. Get help.

Do teachers still give "pop quizzes?" Sometimes it is a way for them to evaluate what they need to repeat--in other words, are the students "getting it?"

As I recall, a "quiz" was not the same as a test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child returned from being sick and had to immediately take a quiz that day with the class that they had been told when they were absent. My child explained to the teacher they had been sick and didn’t even know about the quiz. Didn’t matter. The teacher made them take it. They failed it. I guess the teacher felt sorry for my child and allowed them to retake it. But what a jerk making them take it in the first place and causing undue stress on my child.

Sounds reasonable on the part of the teacher. Other option: kid sits there while everyone else takes the quiz. I'd consider it a practice run.

How long was your child out? One day or week or more?

No it was absolutely not reasonable to have a kid take a quiz for which they didn’t even know about and were not prepared for on the day they returned from illness. That’s not compassionate or fair.

I wonder what the teacher’s explanation would be. Was the child out only one day, but present for the two weeks the material was covered? Was the quiz announced, but this child didn’t hear? Did she say, “why don’t you give it a try and if you need a retake, we’ll do it?”

I’m guessing there’s more to this.

My child was able to see the posting on schoology of what they missed, but was unable to do any of the work because they were sick all weekend.

Your seriously this worked up about a quiz. Get help.

Do teachers still give "pop quizzes?" Sometimes it is a way for them to evaluate what they need to repeat--in other words, are the students "getting it?"

As I recall, a "quiz" was not the same as a test.

Yes, they give graded pop quizzes in classes.