Chemistry. They had the class for four hours. (There was a fifteen minute break in the middle.) And it was a very quiet four hours.
They were working on their "final". They had the final for the semester they were making up, and they could use their books and notes to find the answers. And they had four days to complete this.
Yeah, many of them weren't doing much of it. Some were chipping away at the questions. Others... Well, there were lots of phones out. (One boy had started his summer homework for AP US history.)
At the break, they left the room. At the start of the second two hours, I again checked attendance. In situations like this where they essentially are in the class for two classes, I am in the habit of verifying that everyone returns. It's rarely an issue.
However, on this day, it was. Eighteen students left the room. Seventeen returned. I triple counted. But luckily, I had a seating chart, so I was easily able to identify the girl who did not come back.
No, I have no idea where she went. As it's summer school and students are not necessarily taking a full day's worth of classes, they open the gates at the breaks, so the girl could have easily just left.
If she could afford the absence, she could afford the absence. Maybe she thought I wouldn't notice?
I definitely would've taken roll again. Too easy for one to slip away.
ReplyDeleteIt would be hard to be a teacher, at least for me who is a bit neurotic. I would be wondering, is she okay? Did something happen to her, etc. But I guess you adopt or adapt the idea that it is not your responsibility for the decisions they make or your responsibility for their whereabouts especially if they are in high school. They need their own accountability.
ReplyDeletebetty
Little tinker! It sounds like the kind of thing I might have done as a teenager - and then got into almighty trouble about it with my parents, that is if they found out!
ReplyDeleteNowadays they have this phone system that calls parents when a kiddo is marked absent in class. They don't get away with cutting class anymore.
DeleteI'm more surprised that only one slipped away. Ugh, four hours of chemistry...
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a lot they think, or at least hope, you won't notice.
ReplyDeleteWe must remember that teens are stupid. They think they're much more clever than they are. I don't know if it occurs to them that we adults have been their age, and we know how they think.
DeleteBetting she though you wouldn't notice *shakes head*
ReplyDeleteProbably. I don't think she forgot to come back ;)
DeleteYou need a transporter device to zap them back for real, lol. Imagine their stunned faces as fantastic ideas sink in... Teach has got powers! Oh No!
ReplyDeleteHope she could afford the absence. If not, I hope she understands bearing the consequences of her actions. I have to thank Thoreau for teaching me that concept at 18. I cut out of classes often after that, though they were in college.
ReplyDeleteTwo hours and two more to go. In a way (sorry), I don't blame her.
ReplyDeleteI mean, I get it. But she signed up for the class. She probably failed it in the regular year. Attending class is part of the deal.
DeleteHahahaha, something tells me you're going to find out. My money is on "she went for ice cream" ;-)
ReplyDeleteI may find out months from now. We'll see.
DeleteFour hours of chemistry is exhausting.
ReplyDeleteIn college we had three-hour labs two days a week for chemistry. So, yeah, I know what it's like.
DeleteI have to admit, I was guilty of not coming back to a class and walking to the mall. Thank goodness i grew up at time before all the phones, Ipads etc...
ReplyDeleteYeah, nowadays they can find you ;)
DeleteAssuming she was bored with those two hours of chemistry, and paranoid about another two hours coming up, couldn't she cook up a good enough excuse to seek permission from you to leave the class early, during the break? Maybe she just looked forward to the sheer thrill of just slipping away!
ReplyDeleteNo, she couldn't. I don't have the authority to let her go. And they're only allowed three absences before they're dropped from the class. Of course, she could have sought permission from the principal, but I doubt she would have given permission.
DeleteI probably would have thought you wouldn't notice. One missing out of 18? But then again, it's not like a college class with 50 or so people. Hope she had the absence to take.
ReplyDeleteIt's likely she did. We were less than a week from the finish.
DeleteSo close to the end and she bails! *shaking head*
ReplyDeleteThe schools here have the text-to-parent thing as well. Doesn't stop the kids though.