Anonymous wrote:You should ask the principal or counselor about this, but my guess is he will get promoted because that’s how things work these days. But take this as warning sign and get your DS some help because something is amiss. Even old school teachers have a hard time failing students these days because the grading formulas make it very difficult to actually fail a kid. Does he need a tutor? Is he having problems with depression, anxiety, or adhd?

+1. MS teacher who is pretty old school. It’s very hard to fail a student unless they literally don’t show up to class and/ or don’t attempt to do any work. Definitely talk to the dean or counselor as a starting point.

You should ask the principal or counselor about this, but my guess is he will get promoted because that’s how things work these days. But take this as warning sign and get your DS some help because something is amiss. Even old school teachers have a hard time failing students these days because the grading formulas make it very difficult to actually fail a kid. Does he need a tutor? Is he having problems with depression, anxiety, or adhd?

I'm surprised so many people think the teacher is the problem. Your kid is failing because they aren't doing what they are supposed to. Turn that around and the grade will improve. Take the teacher out of the equation. Now, if the entire class is failing, that's a different story.

Find out who to talk to (dean, principal, etc) and make an appointment unless the school has already arranged a meeting. Failing a class is harsh, but if that is what it takes to motivate your child to improve, then you will look back on it as a good thing and will be grateful that the school was willing to let them fail. If your child passes this class despite not turning in major assignments, how do you think next term will go? And when they enter high school? They will care even less about their assignments, knowing that they can pass without them. Think of this as the school’s attempt at a “come to Jesus” moment.

When you speak to the school, your goals should be aligned. Your objective shouldn’t be “I don’t want my middle schooler to fail the second quarter of middle school language arts”. It should be “I want my middle schooler to succeed next term and in high school, how do we, as parents, my child, and the school, work together to motivate them and make it happen.”

Definitely matters on public vs private. If public, most of the districts around here are obligated to allow retakes and late work within varying parameters.

I’ve got a hot mess of a MS kid and the struggle is real. Like the pp, I am now all over his assignments daily and he knows that there is no excuse for not turning in work.

Anonymous wrote:nothing happens anymore

+1. In our county, you have to pass 3/4 core classes to be promoted. And retakes are allowed per policy (teacher can’t refuse) with the highest possible score of 80.