Job Discussion Forums

[kev7161]

Hi all,

I have something happening more and more frequently and it is the syndrome of absent students. Now, I'm not talking about one or two that may (or may not) be ill but large quantities. Yesterday, I had 8 students out of 21 missing. A couple of weeks ago, it was 10 out of 41 missing. In one of my Senior Two classes, I have the same half dozen kids missing all the time. Of course, I realize most of these kids are skipping my class because they either don't like me or don't like English . . . or both.

So, I take this problem to the director of our department, but not much has been done about it. If a student doesn't want to learn English or come to my class, then that is fine with me. However, I don't want a student to come and go whenever he pleases. I've taken attendance and given the names to that classes "head" teacher, talked to the director, ask the attending kids where the missing ones are ("they died" is a popular response) - - but it does no good. Also, our school has a lot of extra-curricular activities, which I applaud. They probably shouldn't take place during regular class times though. Some of these missing kids are off to dance rehearsals for an upcoming program or playing in a basketball tournament or in the TV lab recording something or another for some upcoming event. Some are sleeping in their dorm room.

The biggest problem is their final grade. If they don't come to class and do the in-class work and take part in the conversations/discussions/Q&A sessions/etc., then they will do poorly on their tests and will receive a failing grade from me (some will do poorly regardless, but still . . . ). I WANT them to do well but I'm also concerned how that will reflect on me as a teacher when all these "F"s are being posted. Or does it matter? Does anyone at my school care? Am I making too much of this? Aaaaarrrggghhh! My head hurts.

Does anyone else have this strange phenomenon?

[nolefan]

Got the same problem with some of my classes, mainly the business majors.

I have 10 out of 23 kids show up most of the time and I tried real hard to get them there but they are not interested in English. I spoke about it with my dean and other teachers and they said that the Business majors were lazy They just left it to that!

After 3 weeks of trying to get them to class, I decided not to give a rat's Arse about it!!!! I have a few kids in there that genuinely want to learn and I'd rather deal with just them....

As far as the grade, I will give them the lowest possible grade (D or 60%) if they don't show up otherwise I need to test them again in teh beginning of the next semester...no way, jose!!! I don't feel good about doing that but I cannot find an alternative. The last think I want is to be police my class around, fail some kids and have the school pass them.....

If the school does not care, why should I?

[anthyp]

Hmm glad to see it's not just me. I used to toss kids pretty regularly for sleeping, talking over me, etc., so I guess they've learned not to show up if they're not in the mood for a lesson. Do you find the classes much easier to manage with all those absent students? It doesn't seem to be a problem that the other teachers here have to deal with, either, because whenever I peek into another classroom I always see a sea of smiling Chinese faces (well many of them are asleep, and very few are smiling, but you get the point). I think you should just give them whatever grades you can live with. Bring on the D-'s!

[arioch36]

Check out the post "Mystery students" on the general discussion forum. Senior students are not expected to be in class the spring semester. They are supposed to be out looking for jobs. Most of them will no longer live at the school. The four year students have to return for graduation, and to give their thesis. For those interested in higher study, they took that test already, in November I believe.

Often, only the students too lazy to look for work are left at the school (senior year). If they are not seniors, then they must be in class (five absences gives you the right to fail them)

[kev7161]

Actually, we are a private school and kids are not allowed to leave campus. I don't teach the Senior 3 kids this semester, only the Senior One and Two. No, my missing kids are somewhere on campus (more than likely sleeping in their dorm rooms or doing those "extra-curricular" things I mentioned . . . or doing "extra-curricular" things of their own . . . 'wink', 'wink').

[lagerlout2006]

This is unprofessional I guess but the less students in class the better.IMO.

None is a nice number.

But I also hate when they waltz in halfway through and start yapping to their friends about what they were doing--ruining what was a reasonable class. Nothing I can think of pisses me off more than that.

[anthyp]

Eh, maybe it's unprofessional but it's true as hell. When the class sizes are so large I don't mind that so many kids don't bother showing up. And my largest class is maybe 40, I don't know how the rest of you do it.