She knows she's wrong and doesn't want to be held accountable or have to explain her reasoning.

That's too bad.  If WE were the ones to screw up, I think that the school would want an explanation...no, I KNOW that they would.  March of '99, Dave's grandmother passed away and we had to yank the kids out of school to go to the funeral.  We were gone a week, because we drove there ( 2 days driving each way, 3 days spent there), and when we got back we had a nastygram from the school wanting to know how we could justify taking our kids out of school for a week in the middle of the school year.  Their nastygram prompted me to compose my own nastygram right back, saying that I'm sure if my grandmother in law had had any say in it she'd have planned her own death around the school district's calendar so as to not piss any teachers or principals off.  Thay didn't like that much....dunno why.

Anyway, I don't care about her feelings.  I want an email acknowledging my contact.  At least.

My kids have homework almost every night. If parents ask me for some extra stuff for their kids to do, I might point them to the internet, if that's available to them.

See, but there's the difference, Marcie...you don't set homework that involves your students logging onto the school website to take a quiz.  Your students have the option of using the internet, it's not a mandatory thing.

If any of these kids didn't have internet access and had no way of getting to the library to use a computer, they wouldn't have been able to complete the assignment and would have got a zero on their paper.  That's unfair, IMO.

similar to givin an apple to the teacher only in this scenario, the teacher may decide pcs are too vulnerable and will wind up having to buy her own new apple product.

If I had the balls and the knowhow.....but, alas, I don't, so thats not an option.

Extenuating circumstances - such as a broken computer or services not yet available doesn't equal denying your kids the future IMHO.

Mine either.  There are LOTS of new subdivisions going up around here, and some of those don't offer cable or DSL as yet either.  Parents waiting to get the service they want isn't anything close to denying a child 'the future'.

See, but there's the difference, Marcie...you don't set homework that involves your students logging onto the school website to take a quiz. Your students have the option of using the internet, it's not a mandatory thing.

I just don't think it's appropriate for where your son is at in school. High school? Sure. USUALLY high schoolers have a computer class or some sort of study hall or library time or they can stay after school or something to do something on the computer. But in elementary school? No. AND...I don't know how technolgically advanced other schools are...but my kids hardly know how to click a mouse...lol

Here's a little update:

my friend reads my blog and she called to tell me that her son informed this teacher on wednesday that his computer at home was acting up and he wouldn't be able to watch the little Mpeg that preceeded the quiz.  Her response was 'tell your mother to take you to the library' - and she ever had him write those words in his school agenda on Friday and bring it home to show his mom.

Oh, and Dan....she's pretty fucking pissed over what you said.  Wanted to know who in the hell you thought you were......

A cheap, can't-do-much computer is still several hundred dollars.

---- Texas Wahine

Although NEW systems (not quiet bleeding edge, but close to it) are coming down in price, they're still fairly pricey ($550+). If you're lucky, you might find a used system for sale through the local "trading post" type newsletters or some such.

Several other places to try would be ... FreeCycle. It's a long shot, but it's got possibilities.

I've got a computer (w/ internet access, obviously) at home. However, it serves several distinct roles. Education (as a teacher resource and a student resource - homeschool), work (I'm a programmer and do some work at home as well as freelance stuff from home), and web work for various organizations that I'm involved in.

This doesn't mean that the single father next door (who's a mail carrier for the USPS) has a computer (I know he doesn't) for his elementary age son. It definitely wouldn't be fair for the teacher to assign internet based homework there. Dad works 6 days a week from 6 until 7:30. The libraries in town that have internet access (I know which ones do ... I wired most of them ) close by 6:30 and shutdown the computers at 6. There's no way he could do the work.

Dharma, if you don't hear something by Friday, make sure that you've got hardcopy of the emails (including all pertinent headers like the date/time sent, recepients email address, etc.) when you go see the principal.. That way, she can't dodge around it with "you never sent me any email" type responses. Also, in the future, make sure that you have the program(s) ask for a read receipt. So you'll know that she actually got it. Most people leave their email programs configured to automatically send read receipts, so she might not even be aware that she's acknowledging that she got them.

[/ramble]

---- Texas Wahine Although NEW systems (not quiet bleeding edge, but close to it) are coming down in price, they're still fairly pricey ($550+). If you're lucky, you might find a used system for sale through the local "trading post" type newsletters or some such. Several other places to try would be ... FreeCycle. It's a long shot, but it's got possibilities. I've got a computer (w/ internet access, obviously) at home. However, it serves several distinct roles. Education (as a teacher resource and a student resource - homeschool), work (I'm a programmer and do some work at home as well as freelance stuff from home), and web work for various organizations that I'm involved in. This doesn't mean that the single father next door (who's a mail carrier for the USPS) has a computer (I know he doesn't) for his elementary age son. It definitely wouldn't be fair for the teacher to assign internet based homework there. Dad works 6 days a week from 6 until 7:30. The libraries in town that have internet access (I know which ones do ... I wired most of them ) close by 6:30 and shutdown the computers at 6. There's no way he could do the work.

You're assuming that people know that there are places where you can get a free computer, you know? Most people who don't have a computer or don't have the internet don't know a thing about how to get access to either. I'm sure there are families like that in my classroom. The teacher in this case is assuming too much. If she wants the kids to have access to all this stuff, she should take them to the school computer lab and let them do the assignment there. I *assume* that my students have at least a pencil and a few crayons at home. That's a grand total of about $2 as opposed to the expense to purchase a computer and acquire and maintain an internet connection...

Set up a conference with this teacher if she fails to contact you. Yes, teachers get super busy (hell, I'm lucky if I get to sit at my desk for a few minutes), but it is part of her job to keep that line of communication open with parents. She seems a little ignorant to the fact that not all students have access to the net. I work in a school where the majority of kids come from a low income household, and it would be ridiculous to require them to use a resource they don't have. Maybe she should set up alternative assignments (such as book research) for those students with no access. Or better yet, set up enough time for her classes to use the school's computer lab (I'm assuming they have one).

Dharma, if you don't hear something by Friday, make sure that you've got hardcopy of the emails (including all pertinent headers like the date/time sent, recepients email address, etc.) when you go see the principal..

Already did, sweetie.  And, I always ask for a read reciept when I send something important....

This doesn't mean that the single father next door (who's a mail carrier for the USPS) has a computer (I know he doesn't) for his elementary age son. It definitely wouldn't be fair for the teacher to assign internet based homework there. Dad works 6 days a week from 6 until 7:30. The libraries in town that have internet access (I know which ones do ... I wired most of them ) close by 6:30 and shutdown the computers at 6. There's no way he could do the work.

That's exactly the kind of circumstance I'm talking about.  She didn't take anyone's home life into consideration.

Here's another update:  my friend's kid asked if he could do the work at school because his computer at home was acting up.  the teacher's response?  "There;s not enough time, you'll HAVE to do it at home on the weekend".

She never gave him an alternative, despite his asking her to.  She KNEW about his home situation, but just didn't give a fuck.

Everybody has them? Hah. Tell that to the welfare mother 3 doors down, who doesn't even own a car to take her kids to the library, much less a phone, computer, or internet access.

Exactly.  Just because the majority of the kid in the class come from military families, doesn't mean that they're all going to have a computer.

 

 

You're assuming that people know that there are places where you can get a free computer, you know?

I know!  Not everyone's going to either be able to find a free/cheap PC, or even have the time to go looking for one.  Around here there are a lot of exercises, where people work 13 and 14 hour shifts.  That doesn't leave a person with a lot of free time....

 

Or better yet, set up enough time for her classes to use the school's computer lab (I'm assuming they have one).

Yes, they have one, but she told the students that there "wasn't enough time" for them to use the lab to do their homework.  That's setting a child up to fail, IMO. 

Set up a conference with this teacher if she fails to contact you. Yes, teachers get super busy (hell, I'm lucky if I get to sit at my desk for a few minutes), but it is part of her job to keep that line of communication open with parents.

If I haven't heard anything by Friday, then I'll call the principal and set up a meeting with bother and and this teacher present. 

I'm hearing some things from kids that are in her class that I find slightly disturbing.  She snatches their work out of their hands (like she did with my son), and she tears it up in front of the other students, she is very vocal about pointing out to all the other kids when one kid has made a mistake in their work, she yells at them....it's nothing criminal, but it's still slightly inappropriate.  they're little kids, y'know?  They're not in boot camp, they don't need to get yelled at and demeaned every day.

I'm guessing ol' Dan has never even conceived of neighborhoods where one "house" has power and three other "houses" are running extention cords to that house just to keep the lights and a few other electric things running.

You're assuming that people know that there are places where you can get a free computer, you know?

There's the rub. Some people do. Some people don't. Like so many other things, those that are interested in finding out where they could find one, will find the necessary information. Those that aren't interested (even remotely) won't make the attempt to find the information.

She never gave him an alternative, despite his asking her to. She KNEW about his home situation, but just didn't give a fuck.

That's just sick. And the sad part is, it's teachers with attitudes like that (and this clown in one of the counties around Richmond that's been arrested for child pornography) that reinforces the decision (in my mind) to homeschool. Which, isn't an option for everyone.

---- Texas Wahine Although NEW systems (not quiet bleeding edge, but close to it) are coming down in price, they're still fairly pricey ($550+). If you're lucky, you might find a used system for sale through the local "trading post" type newsletters or some such.

Would you care to rephrase that? While this is NOT a bleeding edge machine it's "more" than capable of handling most jobs you could throw at it. And to find this did NOT take a lot of looking either.

eMachines T3958 Intel Celeron D 2.93GHz / 512MB DDR / 80GB HDD / DVD±RW Dual-Layer / Flash Media Reader / Intel Extreme Graphics 3D / 10/100Mbps LAN / Windows XP Home / Item #: E400-T3958 Avg. Rating: 1 Review Price: $379.99 Operating Systems Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition SP1 Platform Learn More PC Form Factor Tower PCI Slots (Total) Learn More 3 Expansion Slots 4 Processor Brand Intel® Processor Class Celeron® D Processor Number 340 Processor Speed 2.93GHz Memory Type DDR Total Memory 512MB Interface IDE Ultra ATA Capacity 80GB Optical Drive Type DVD±RW Dual Layer Audio Description Integrated Audio Graphics Description Integrated Graphics Communications Description Integrated LAN Support Data Transfer Rate 10Mbps 100Mbps Power 250 Watt Mouse Type Ball-Bearing Buttons 3 Keyboard Type Multimedia Keys 122 Front Speakers 2 Famous Brand / 17-Inch / 1024 x 768 / Beige / Off-Lease CRT Monitor Great monitor for an amazing price! This Famous Brand 17-inch CRT monitor is attractive, reliable and affordable! $39.99* In Stock Manufacturer: Famous Brand

While computers (and internet) access is growing in American homes, I do agree with you that handing out a weekend assignment that cannot be accomplished without internet access is foolish. During the school week the children should be able to access the net at school, but on the weekend, there's no guarantee that a kid is going to be able to get to a computer. According to some statistics (which may or may not be on the mark), only about 56% of Americans have internet access. If this is factual, the implications to your situation are obvious. Your friend's son was not the ONLY child in the class who would have to scramble (and might not even be able) to do the assigned work. Not all families have crayons at home. If a child is assigned a project that requires it, they can borrow a package or spend a buck and buy some. Not all families have a calculator at home. Again, borrow or spend a buck or so. But...a computer with online access? If a family doesn't have one already (and believe it or not, it's not a necessity to live), they're probably not going to be able to afford to go buy one (not to mention the mess that getting internet access entails). And how do you justify doing that when the child will be at school with online access on Monday? A cheap, can't-do-much computer is still several hundred dollars. I just think this teacher has lost her mind. (And she probably hasn't contacted you because she knows she's in the wrong and doesn't want to have to own up to it)

While I agree 100 % with "most" of what you wrote, I have to take exception with one sentence. See reply #42 for details. But "everything" else is "dead on"! And IMHO I think the teacher is a jerk!

The teacher should have certainly gotten back to you by now. Even a quick phone call to say she received your note and will contact you at a later time, anything! That's what my son's teacher did when I contacted her. That's courtesy. Unfortunately, your child's teacher doesn't seem to care by her actions and what she says to your son and the other parent.

On the computer/internet issue, I have two computers at home, none of them have internet connections. Although I'm trying to find the most economical one that will not blow up out of control the way our AOL account did. Thank heavens I can access information at work if they really have to go on it during the week before we hit the library on the weekend. Teachers do set homework that has to be done via the internet and accessing their websites is always so hard to do because, either they have forgotten to update it and/or did not give access to everyone. That has happened to me too.

See reply #42 for details. But "everything" else is "dead on"!

drmiler: I think you're confusing what I said with what Chaos Manager said.

My quote was,

A cheap, can't-do-much computer is still several hundred dollars.

That's all I said. It's true as well. Ever use an eMachine?

The point is, you're not going to be able to purchase any new computer for less than a couple hundred bucks. The one I'm using now is a Gateway...real simple...and it was $500.

I'm guessing ol' Dan has never even conceived of neighborhoods where one "house" has power and three other "houses" are running extention cords to that house just to keep the lights and a few other electric things running.

I have a feeling that Dan, despite his assertions to the contrary, has lived a relatively comfortable existence thus far.  He's certainly never lived in the kind of paycheck-to-paycheck existence I have....we've been so broke at times in our married lives that we've been lucky to have had $5 in the checking account after bills were paid and food was bought....and we've been relatively well off compared to some.

And the sad part is, it's teachers with attitudes like that (and this clown in one of the counties around Richmond that's been arrested for child pornography) that reinforces the decision (in my mind) to homeschool.

I admire your ability to do that.  I had considered it, but I don't think I'd be very good at it.  Although.....after the way this school system has been the past few weeks, homeschooling might become an option.  I have never experienced a more fucked-up system than this one, ever.

The point is, you're not going to be able to purchase any new computer for less than a couple hundred bucks

Exactly, and when you're too broke to afford $10 for internet service, three hundred is out of your reach, y'know?

Even a quick phone call to say she received your note and will contact you at a later time, anything!

That's exactly my point!  Anything would have been better than the silence I've recieved thus far!

And IMHO I think the teacher is a jerk!

Thanks, I do too!

Wow... much has happened.

Sorry but that was the most innane response you could come up with. Try again, when you're ready to actually respond to point.

Bad response. Look at how dharma responded for a "logic-based" response. I feel the urge to get touchy about this, so I'll just move on.

Dude, that has to be one of the most assinine statements I've heard in a looooong time. Maybe in your relatively well-heeled circle of acquaintences EVERYONE has internet, but where I live they don't. They didn't at my last base either. I'd suggest that you go check your stats before you make such claims as 'everybody has it'.

Then you just don't hang around the right people. When you say, "that has to be one of the most assinine statements I've heard in a looooong time" it's called a colloquialism. Because the truth is you've probable heard a more asinine comment within the last 24 hours. In the same way, when I say "everybody has it," it means either that "most people have it" or "it has the appearance of most people having it." For instance, if I saw 100 people walking down the road and 1/3 of them had red hair, I might say "everybody had red hair," when in fact not even a majority did. Now, should I really have to explain this to you?

56% is a pretty high percentage for a piece of technology as new as the internet/computers. I think you'll find that a far lower percentage of people have copy machines, which are a much more established piece of technology as such things are gauged (i.e. they've been a solid part of the market significantly longer).

But really, all I'm arguing is semantics, since we already agreed on the meat of the issue.

Dan

Then you just don't hang around the right people. When you say, "that has to be one of the most assinine statements I've heard in a looooong time" it's called a colloquialism. Because the truth is you've probable heard a more asinine comment within the last 24 hours. In the same way, when I say "everybody has it," it means either that "most people have it" or "it has the appearance of most people having it." For instance, if I saw 100 people walking down the road and 1/3 of them had red hair, I might say "everybody had red hair," when in fact not even a majority did. Now, should I really have to explain this to you?

Hmm...how 'bout I explain this to YOU? 

You're a pompous, arrogant little prick, and you're now on my blacklist.

That's all I said. It's true as well. Ever use an eMachine?

Actually I have. And they are like any other computer. They are made from some of the exact same parts as your gateway is. And like any other brand of computers you get good ones and you get bad ones. I was in the computer field for the last 15 years most of which were spent as a computer technician and last as an IT manager. What I was taking an exception to was the comment "can't-do-much computer". Which is wrong in itself. Most of even the "basic" computers now a days can handle anything you care to throw at them. With the exception of video editing. But you are correct on the pricing. Which has come down quite a bit from just 5 years ago.

They are made from some of the exact same parts as your gateway is.

--drmiler

And there's a really good reason for that ... Gateway recently purchased eMachines ... From the looking I did recently, eMachines have become just rebranded Gateways. The same way that HP and Compaq computers are now indistiquishable.

But you are correct on the pricing. Which has come down quite a bit from just 5 years ago.

5 years? Try last year. We priced systems last summer that were comparable to what we've just purchased (which is an eMachine, btw and me a computer pro at that). By comparable, I mean that they were as far behind the bleeding edged of technology as this machine. Somewhere between midranged and bleeding edge. The equivalent system last summer would have been closer to $1000 before adding in the cost of the monitor.