Sam comes in to the classroom from another literature class right as Mr. H is about to start class. He creeps to the back of the room where Mr. H is getting his morning coffee. Sam is a Chinese exchange student. I believe his dad works for the Chinese consulate and he is only at The Center School for this year. Sam does speak English but does so at a low level. He is working with another student teacher for One-on-One help. He quietly says to Mr. H that he forgot his homework and needs a note from his Advisor. A note from an advisor is usually required for all students from their advisor when they forget homework. Mr. H asks him why he forgot his homework and Sam says that he lost it.
“You lost it, don’t you finish homework and then out it back in your bag to bring to school the next day?” Mr. H asks sarcastically. Mr. H is usually VERY sarcastic with his students. Most of the students understand this sarcasm but several of the younger students see it as Mr. H very mad at them. Sometimes it is even hard for me to tell which one he is being. Quan does not understand the sarcasm and replies “yes I do” almost choking back tears.
"Well if you do that then, why is your homework not at school with you today? Get a piece of paper and I'll write this note" Mr. H yells at Sam. Sam walks to Mr. H's desk to get a piece of paper.
"Hurry up Sam, you are wasting mine, yours, and your other lit teachers time with this". Mr. H says to Sam in front of his lit class. Up to this point, the conversation has only been between Sam and Mr. H, and most of the students had not noticed what was going on in the back of the room. Sam continues to look for a piece of paper but does not see one on the desk. He then open up a drawer to get one.
"Sam, don't go through my desk. Come here and take the note I just wrote on a post-it". Sam walks over to Mr. H this time crying.
"Sam you don't have to cry. you just have to remember that when you don't do your homework it is bad for everyone, including teachers in other classes." Mr. H hands Sam a note on a post-it and sends him off to his literature class. The whole process took about 10 minutes out of a unusually short period that day.
So basically, Sam walked into the classroom, trying not to interrupt class, asked for a note and ended up taking up about 1/3 of class that day with his problem. I want to note that unlike everyone else's "Critical incidents" mine really an example of a "bad" student. I have been very lucky and very spoiled with my kids so far this semester. I have heard of 2 "fights" and "bullying" but I was not there for those. This is honestly the worst thing I have seen.
Meghan,
ReplyDeleteI am a little confused about the timeline of events. Is Quan in Mr. H’s literature class or is Mr. H his advisor? Is there a certain part of the day set aside for students to meet with their advisors and receive notes about missing homework or do they usually simply go during class time to get the notes?
How old is Quan? Do you know if this is the first time he forgot his homework, or is this a reoccurring problem?
Mr. H is Sam's advisor NOT his literature teacher. At Center School everyone has literature at the same time so Sam has another teacher for lit. The rule is that when a student forgets their homework, they have to have a note from their advisor for their teacher. Most students who forget homework talk to their teacher during a passing period or before school. They are not supposed to interrupt another class for this note, they are also not supposed to forget their homework so this rule I think is in place so advisors can keep track of their students.
ReplyDeleteSame is in the 5th grade at Center School so I think he is either 10 or 11. He is good about remembering his assignments. In the several classes I sit in on with Mr. H, I have never seen Sam come in for a note. After class I spoke to Mr. H about this incident and he said that he thinks Sam has only forgotten one or two assignments this year. So I would have to say no, this is not a reoccurring problem.
How would you have handled the incident? Why do you think Mr. H. handled it this way?
ReplyDeleteI think that there are many similarities between how I would have handled the situation and how Mr. H did. I also would have told Sam that he was wasting mine, his and both lit classes time but I would not have yelled at him. Sam does not speak a lot of English and sometimes has trouble understanding cultural norms. While it is importantthat he learns he needs to come to his advisor at a good time to get this note, I would not want him in tears over something so small.
ReplyDeleteThis incident is a little upsetting to me, i totally understand the need for instilling some kind of accountability in students, but to be so harsh with such a young student seems unnecessary. Does this student chronically misplace his assignments? I wonder if maybe he just needs a "system".
ReplyDelete