It's not ALL about Science here at Chez Moogie
Meelie has been working diligently on a Science project that, from the beginning, was due on February 21st. She had last Thursday and Friday off from school, as well as this Monday. Through her holiday time, we pulled her in from playing outside and have slowly been putting everything together. She had done the research ahead of time, so it was just a matter of putting it into the right format, and coming up with what she was going to use as her presentation.
People, we made her do HOMEWORK during her days off. I am not popular. But that's ok, because that's what we needed to do. It's much easier to finish the projects over the weekend, than to try to do them during the week. It just doesn't work that way. I should know. I've learned my lesson well on that one.
Today, Meelie came home with a note from the teacher that basically said that since so many children weren't going to have the project done on time, she had moved the due date to February 23rd. Excuse me? Correct me if I am wrong, but we have known about this project and the original due date since the first of the month. We have been steadily working on it for the last few weeks. Do you see the problem here? Or is it just me?
I most likely wouldn't be so upset about it but this doesn't seem to be an uncommon practice. For the first semester of the year, and into the third quarter, Chickie had been working on an autobiography. She spent countless hours on it, and when she had completed the written portion, she began to painstakingly sift through photos (regular and those on the computer) to choose the one's that best fit. She decorated a plain binder to fit her theme, as well as made a cover sheet for all of her chapters. She had seven of them. And then the teacher decides that because a few parents really objected to this assignment because it was too much work, she was only going to give extra credit. TOO.MUCH.WORK. She's in seventh grade.
It might just be me, but somehow, this whole changing the due date, or suddenly making a huge project into something insignificant doesn't seem right. Truth be told, it makes me want to just not monitor what my kids are doing in school, and what assignments may be due soon.
Am I overreacting? What would you do?
Comments
That's totally unfair, and irresponsible of the teacher. What are you teaching the kids if you indicate that being unprepared means you simply get the deadline pushed back? If you set a date, you have to stick with it. It's certainly not fair to the kids who got things done.
Posted by: Jay at February 21, 2007 6:06 AM
I'm with Jay. The teacher is being unfair and not teaching the kids responsibility. As a matter of fact, I think she's "giving in" to parents who aren't responsible themselves. What are the kids going to do in the "real world" when they expect things to be pushed back. I know it's too late, but I sure hope you let Meelie take her project in today. I think the teacher ought to at least give those who did what they were supposed to do extra credit for doing it on time. I'll tell you what... once the kids get to college, they won't be given slack if the assignments aren't done on time. Makes me boil, when a teacher is so irresponsible.
Posted by: Judy at February 21, 2007 8:52 AM
just you try convincing your boss that the project that you're working on, the one that is critical to a business objective, will be late. you'll be lucky to still have a job, you certainly won't get the next critical project. nor, I expect, a raise in the near future.
I've read a few blogs written by college professors and they all rail against kids that have exactly this expectation. Even though the assignment was made a month ahead, they have (insert excuse here) so they can't turn the assignment in on time. And they act surprised when they automatically get a letter grade lower, or an F. Angry parents call, etc. etc. etc.
It is a product of our overly litigious society that we are no longer expected to bear the consequences of our actions. Some lady gets coffee in a drive-through, spills it in her lap and then sues the company for selling her hot coffee. the company didn't spill it in her lap. a guy sues a ladder company because he placed the ladder on a slippery surface and the ladder slipped. why didn't he look where he was putting it?
neither of these people accepted responsibility for their actions. and our kids are not being taught to accept theirs. they are in for a rude surprise when they grow up.
sorry for the rant, this (obviously) gets my goat.
Posted by: bob at February 21, 2007 9:43 AM
Well, here now I thought that we were supposed to be teaching our kids responsibility, I know, unpopular idea. If my child screwed off to the point of not being able to turn in an assignment, I wouldn't just be expecting an assignment, I would be demanding it! Let the kids who cannot complete their work do a ton of extra credit to try and get their grade back up, and allow the kids who can follow directions and be responsible to shine. (Oh, what a goofy word, but you know what i mean!)
Posted by: azgreeneyes at February 21, 2007 10:57 PM
I do love that, not really I mean for all the kids that made the effort or had nice "kind" parents who made them work on it during times they could have doing nothing but playing outside. I mean come on I know there are "no-one left behind" type things but THAT doth taketh thyne biscuit..
As for the "oh that's too much work for my poor angel boy dayrl or whoever" well I bet "poor" dayrl is poor as I mean he probably needs to work his ass off more to get his grades up etc..
I mean like other people had said IF I were to try that one at work I'd just get LOOKED at really strangely and get told well you better get on with it then....
I'm betting those kids are the same kids that wouldn't know what hard work is or what the rewards of hard work are unlike Meelie & Chickie both do.
I wonder if I can manage to get the school awarded a "bone-head" award or maybe some of the parents lol.
Posted by: Gopher at February 22, 2007 12:44 PM
Education is so important. It sounds like some things in your school need to be adressed and fixed. I am sure you are not the only parent that is concerned.
Hugs
Posted by: Raggedy at February 22, 2007 4:04 PM
