Do you think this is acceptable?

Question

As a teacher this really bugs me:
I teach maths and one of the classes I have are trainee hairdressers.
A student of mine has just been allowed to graduate highschool even though she has failed seven out of her ten exams, has failed four out of five of her practical classes; has 78 yes 78 days of unjustified (no note) absences in the last six months and during her internship at a hairdressers she didn't show up three days out of five.
She's been allowed to graduate because according to the principal 'she won't resit the year anyways and hey, she can cut hair'.
Yes she can cut, the one class she passed, but she can't colour or anything else. She scored 13 out of 100 on her maths exam, she scored 23 out of 150 for languages. She has no skills whatsoever and her school just lets her out into the world to continue partying, drinking and bunking off thinking she had an easy ride this year. Infuriating, irresponsible towards the student or am I wrong?

Answer 1

I would be just as p!issed if i was one of the other students.
Why should they make the effort when someone elce is getting a free ride.

If there going to do that, why not just hand out the passes at the start of the year, then it realy means nothing and everone can pass.

Answer 2

wow.....
well, you tried your hardest to help her as a teacher, but some kids just can't accept that. She will go on in life, and then soon realize her horrible mistake. She will then try her hardest to fix what has gone wrong, but it will never be the same. You have done all you have the ability to do to try to straighten her crooked life, but it somtimes is never enough. Try to not think of her, but instead think of all the succesful students you have had, and how you have changed their lives for the better. She will probably think of you more than you can imagine, annd wish every single day that she should have tried harder. Remeber that it is not YOUR mistake, it is HERS.
Children have changed somewhat. When I was a child, I remeber that it was always, "Now what?" It seems that now, children want to ask "So what?" As a teacher, keep it all straight. You have broken the prejudice against learning on so many others. There is a bad apple in every group. You tried your hardest, and that is the best anyone can do.

Answer 3

No you're not wrong.

Unfortunately I feel you are in a minority tho because there is always going to be some do-gooder that pipes up somewhere along the way and claims that anyone who reprimands this 'child' will be damaging her human rights or something just as silly.

Sod what you're sending out into the big wide world to fend for itself....

I think society as a whole has gone soft. And I know for an absolute fact that had anyone, well they wouldn't have... they wouldn't have got away with ANYTHING like this when I was growing up going through school.
But they cared in those days.
We wore school uniform, we learnt in lessons, we had utmost respect for the teachers and our parents.
We did loads of homework. Schools were places you took very seriously, you went to LEARN

I see kids going to school past my home and NONE of them wear school uniform.
The girls wear trousers or skirts with splits right up.
None of the boys are wearing ties, their shirts are hanging out all over the place. their trousers if theyre wearing them ( not jeans) are frayed and dragging along the floor.
They wouldn't have a CLUE what a school cap was.
They look AWFUL. They're smoking.
They have no respect for people, police, teachers or parents.

I DREAD to think what the next generation (in approx 20yrs) will be like.... and this example that you have stated is merely a topical example of what goes on in MOST schools these days....
But don't dare say anything. We're not allowed to say anything because it might hurt the little tykes feelings....

Such a shame, eh ... wouldnt want to upset them would we?

Answer 4

Seems the less you do in this world, the more you get away with it. I know a number of people like that, that seem to get away with murder. Yet if you speak out against them, in the interests of what is right, you will be the one who receives all the flack for it.
Trust me as much as you may be right in what you say, just forget about it as best you can, because in the long run its not worth the hassle. If the powers that be cant see past these people then you will never ever get anywhere with them!

Answer 5

You must be livid !!
I think its ridiculous that she will be able to cut hair. I don't think her future clients would be too chuffed if they knew.
Just think though, to work in the public, you need so many other skills other than cutting. She will struggle to keep a job for long if she is unable to carry out basic other tasks and skills. I think the school has set a bad example with this girl. The message they are sending is that you don't need to study, heck, you don't even need to turn up !! We'll pass you anyway !!
It's a worrying world we live in !!

Answer 6

I really don't understand your Principal's way of thinking. From what you say this student has no business being allowed to graduate, she is certainly not a shining light of responsibility or commitment. I am assuming there is no way of protesting officially, are there any other teachers who feel this way about this particular student, if so, perhaps you could present a united front to the Principal and object to his/her decision.

Answer 7

I would be upset for several reasons...first, as a teacher, it is my responsibility to look out for the well being of my students' futures...and by letter her go unprepared, i don't feel i got the opportunity to do that! Also, it is bad PR for the school if they let that happen. Plus, how is she going to measure hair dye or how many inches to cut off if she can't do simple math? You aren't wrong...she shouldn't have graduated.

Answer 8

Of course, you are not wrong. Perhaps the curriculum is inappropriate for the student's goals, but this is out of your control. 78 unexcused absences is inexcusable - the administration should have and enforce a policy that would have that student expelled long ago.

What is "Bunking Off"?

Answer 9

I wouldn't be as angry at her as I would be at the principal...It's his kind of attitude that makes students, like the one you are referring to, get away with not studying and taking the whole thing for a joke!! Does he not care about the kind of people he is sending out into this world!!

Anyway, I bet he doesn't care because he has no hair for her to cut!

Answer 10

No - you are definitely not wrong. This is absolutely disgraceful and infuriating! These young people are our future - and this kind of stupid, ignorant mollycoddlying will come back to bite this country in the ar$e in the very near future.