The week of the 4th of July was a holiday week for the summer school. This incident happened two weeks ago...
Ninth grade English. They were writing a 300-word story.
As there was no seating chart, I took roll the "reverse" way. That is, I walked around the room, asked each student their name, and then marked them present on the class roster.
The office had given me updated rosters when I arrived.
Summer school has a strict attendance policy. They can be absent twice. On the third absence, they are dropped from the class.
I got to the end of the room. The boy gave me his name. It was not on the roster...
"Does that mean I can leave?"
Me: "Have you been absent three times?"
He had.
Oh, he was so excited. It was like he had won the raffle. "I'm done." He was packed up and out the door so fast.
Of course, he had enrolled in the class because he needed English 9 credits, which he'll have to make up at some point. So, not really a victory.
But that was one less student in the class.
He doesn't understand the concept of delayed gratification. Now he'll have to make up that course somewhere else and he'll probably wish he had not been absent those 2 times the summer of 2018.
ReplyDeletebetty
Hi Liz - one less student - but giving extra hassles to his teachers when he wants to catch up ... kids ... as Betty says - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHe's just putting off the inevitable...
ReplyDeleteBummer for him.
ReplyDeleteYup. Alas, he won't realize this for at least a year.
DeleteNot having to go to English class always feels like a victory at the time.
ReplyDeleteAh, youth.
ReplyDeleteAh, youth. One of these days in the future, he'll finally "get it".
ReplyDeleteYup, he will. I doubt I'll be around to see it, though.
DeleteI wonder about his parents. Sounds like he doesn't have a support network at home.
ReplyDeletehaha....KIDS! They just don't get it, do they? One less makes it just a tad easier on you.
ReplyDeleteKind of. That class was pretty good, actually, so I doubt he would have had a negative impact on the class.
DeleteI taught summer school biology one year. The kids so didn't want to be there but needed to be. There were more a few who threw away all that money they had to pay to go.
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy as adults, to recognize that he's only hurting himself, but I would be with him. If I had ever needed summer school I would probably have preferred to make up the class when all my friends were in school.
ReplyDeleteAlas, that's not really possible. Unless he wants to come early mornings or stay after school. They do social promotion, so come graduation time, he'd be missing credits.
DeleteI would have preferred to get it done and over with even then, I think. But then, my habit was to do my best so as to never need to make up anything. Happy to say that habit remains, though I don't always research things before diving in. ~grin~ My halfway successful gardening is a testament. Be well!
ReplyDeleteYeah, well if he had passed English during the school year, he wouldn't have needed summer school in the first place.
DeleteYea, he must have felt like victory. Though it is not. Hope he is able to catch up with what he has missed.
ReplyDeleteHe has a couple other options for making up the class. So long as he does, he'll be fine.
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