Reply to Teachers, how do you tactfully refuse to write a recommendation letter?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Aren't you supposed to mentor these children and help them with opportunities to become adults? It's pretty laughable reading highschool teachers refusing to give letters of recommendation to their students to save their 'reputation'. I grew up poor and decided to go to grad school 3 years after undergrad. Had no idea how to get letters of recommendation but luckily I had college professors willing to write an adequate letter despite not remembering me at all (large state university). I wouldn't have gotten in without them and wonder if letters of rec are actually some sort of class based or race based gate keeping.[/quote]

What makes you think it's class-based or race-based gatekeeping? I have poor students and URM students I've given glowing recs to and rich, highly polished kids I wouldn't give a rec to if my life depended on it. It's about what they did in your classroom.[/quote]

+100

I don’t understand why DCUM parents think teachers are racist and classist.  I find that UMC kids tend to be way more entitled, arrogant and disrespectful than other socioeconomic groups.  I’m not spending my personal time writing letters for kids who couldn’t spend their time doing work in my class or being respectful or engaged.  It’s a good life lesson and one of the few times as a teacher I can give consequences for behavior.[/quote]

It’s not that teachers are racist/classist—it goes back to who knows how and what to ask if teachers when getting recommendations. If you have parents who went to college, siblings who went through the process, a family who can afford to hire a private college counselor, and you are used to asking and getting favors then you know how to work the system. [/quote]

PP and I don’t think asking for recommendations is part of working the system.  Other parts of the college application process, absolutely.  But every teacher I’ve ever met who teaches juniors just tells the class how they would like to be asked.  And then kids of all races, genders, SES, etc.  just ask the same way.  And honestly it’s UMC parents that get involved and then I say no to the kid because this is something you should take ownership over.  Your mother should not ask me to write you a rec letter.[/quote]

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