First period Earth science. They had a review to work on. Their test was the next day.
"Did you go to promotion last year?"
"No. Did you?"
"No. They 'requested' that I not attend the last three weeks of school."
Me: "Were you suspended?" (He was.)
Earth science is the science class they put all the ninth graders who got Ds or Fs in eighth grade science in. So, hearing several did not "promote" was unsurprising.
Promotion is "eighth grade graduation". But due to social promotion and parental pressure, these eighth graders start ninth grade the next year with their peers. They'll get their act together in high school, or they'll end up at the continuation high school.
So, knowing all this, I was expecting a crazy class. Actually, they were pretty calm. I'm sure the fact this was first thing in the morning may have been a contributing factor.
A group of them were clearly not working, so when at the end of the period one boy passed another a paper, I went to investigate. (I was worried one was going to copy.)
The paper was blank. False alarm.
But they knew what I was looking for.
A girl explained that she always used to give her homework to some boy not in that class. And, she said, he never gave it back. I suppose that did not help her grade.
This got one of the boys to thinking.
"I should date a nerd." He knew just how he'd play it, "'Babe, can you do my homework?'"
I hope the girls on this campus have better taste. Sadly, I can't be sure they do.
Did you ever do someone else's homework for them? Did you attend your eighth grade (or comparable level) promotion?
Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...
Yes, I did graduate from both Jr High and High school. But I wish I did better.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
In my day, we graduated from elementary school in 6th grade, with a formal ceremony. 7th, 8th and 9th grade were in junior high. There was nothing at the end of 7th or 8th grade. For 9th grade I remember a dinner dance but no formal ceremony. High school graduation was a cap and gown affair on the football field.
ReplyDeleteMy kids went to the same schools as I did. A formal graduation in 5th grade then off to. Idle school. A formal graduation in 8th grade followed by a dinner dance. And high school graduation in the air conditioned auditorium.
Funny how they've changed terminology over the years (although I'm very familiar).
DeleteHow do you feel about social promotion? That could be a whole other post of yours down the line. When we lived in Montana, it was the norm for social promotion in elementary schools. One mother didn't think her child was ready to move up to the next grade level and had a terrible fight on her hands (she won) to keep him back. It was to his advantage and he excelled the rest of his school years.
ReplyDeleteI did graduate 8th grade and yes I did do homework for others, my brother a year above me in school.
betty
I am happy to say I only had to attend one ceremony, my high school graduation. What a boring day. Heh... Best luck to these slackers, and you!
ReplyDeleteOh, you missed out. 8th grade promotion can be fun.
DeleteI never had anything like a "promotion" in school. After eighth grade it was just... you're in high school now. Bye!
ReplyDeletePretty slick plan!
ReplyDeleteBut when she finds out he only wants her for her homework?
DeleteI have no idea what 8th Grade promotion is but that was over 35 yrs ago so it may not have existed. I never did homework for anyone or have someone else do my homework. I slugged it out.
ReplyDeleteDid you have a middle school or junior high? It's going from there to high school.
DeleteI barely did my own homework, much less anyone else's!
ReplyDelete(Good grades / lousy study habits - Bad Jz.)
Is promotion what they call graduation? In my day (hahaha, I actually said that) we had to pass a civics test in order to graduate 8th grade. In my freshman English class, I let the boy on whom I had a crush copy my class work, but only once.
ReplyDeleteIN 5th grade I had perfect attendance but I was absent to receive my award.
ReplyDeleteI helped a couple people with their homework but never gave my away.
We don't have any sort of graduation at the end of the year, until you leave the top level at the school. So here my Barbarians will graduate grade 10 then go to college for senior and will graduate at the end of grade 12, but in our old state high school goes until grade 12 so they just have the one graduation.
ReplyDeleteI didn't do other people's homework, however I often ended up giving my notes to a friend who always misplaced hers. She was a gifted artist, very creative, but hopeless in everyday organization.
ReplyDeleteAt high school reunion a good ten years ago I met her again. She owns an advertising agency. "YOU are running it?" - "Well, I'm the creative head, but I have a partner who picks up the pieces, does the bidding, invoicing, you know..."
Hahahaha, why am I not surprised?
https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/2019/04/under-arrest-u-is-for-us-marshal.html
Sounds like she found her perfect place. It helps to know your weaknesses so to find someone to pick up those pieces.
DeleteI am not sure about kids today.....they can't think that life will be an easy as school has been where you get someone to do your work? I never did anyones work and never had mine done. I was not a nerd but then again that should not play a part in anything. I bet spring time is hard while teaching....kids wanting to get out and be out in the weather and out of school.
ReplyDeleteWell, keep in mind we have no snow. So, it's not like they haven't been outside. But yeah, we do have a bit of spring fever.
Delete'Promotion' is a new concept for me with regard to school. Let's hear it for that one girl, hopefully, never giving her homework away again.
ReplyDeleteThat would be nice. Maybe.
DeleteThe only time I knowingly cheated, I gave American History test answers to one of the foreign students. She needed the grade in order to graduate, but she wasn't American, and wasn't going to stay in the US for college or ever after high school. Why should she fail? I changed enough answers that she wasn't copying, and she changed some too. She ended up passing with a C. I feel no remorse for cheating.
ReplyDeleteIn that case it makes sense.
DeleteI haven't written the homework for someone else, nor someone written mine. But I have helped my friends with inputs for the homework.
ReplyDeleteOh, well, that's to be expected. I hope students work together for the better understanding of all.
Delete