I thought I loved my son's private school...until he got suspended for a week for supposedly plagiarism. No one asked him about it, no one spoke to us first - they just suspended him for a week. He copied some quotes (put them in quotation marks AND left them in the original font instead of changing to the school's "courier" rule) and forgot to go back and cite the quote. It was clear he didn't do it in a manipulative way...to try to get away with it. It was a lazy mistake yes. But he's in 7th grade and to suspend for a week with no questions asked seems inane to me. I want to approach the school but I don't know the best way without them saying "You can choose not to be here if you don't like our rules"
They promised and touted how they pride themselves on providing a safe environment where students can make mistakes, even fail and learn from those mistakes.
He was devastated and the negative effects from the suspension (which was 2 months ago) keep on hitting him. He was tested to have an IQ of 156 at age 8. They wanted him badly at this school. Why this zero tolerance stuff? Shouldn't this be a learning experience for him not a damaging experience?
Please help...
YOU have more power than you think!!!!!!!!! I was raised in private school and had my children in one for a few years.
Their WORST fears are:
1. Being sued and
2. Parents leaving the school
Have a meeting with your lawyer and the heads of school. And/or threaten to leave and complain to ALL the parents you see about this situation. It ALL comes down to $$$$$$, non-attrision, fundraisers and alumni donations.
Been there.
Remember, at their end Happy Parents = Good, Bad Press = Bad
Putting something in quotation marks seems like he knows that he wasn't trying to plagiarize and knew that those quotes were coming from another source, especially in the seventh grade! This is ridiculous... i say fight!
You know that is such a good point that the teacher and the school did not look into the INTENTION of the paper. It really was a poorly thought out punishment and did I mention they threatened him several times that if he did it again he might be expelled? Huh?
What is this world coming too? Teachers now use a program to detect plagiarism. No one can use their brain anymore! Can they not look at the paper and see what was intended. Slackers have made this world crazy. There are still good people out there with good intentions - don't punish the hard worker because teachers can't think for themselves!! Fight the system!
What is this world coming too? Teachers now use a program to detect plagiarism. No one can use their brain anymore! Can they not look at the paper and see what was intended. Slackers have made this world crazy. There are still good people out there with good intentions - don't punish the hard worker because teachers can't think for themselves!! Fight the system!
Thank you phmommy. Your points really do make sense and are very helpful!
I will keep you posted.
My husband is a high school assistant principal and this stuff happens all the time. I would surely question the school. I would also put an emphasis that it is in fact a choice to send your child to their school. I hardly think that a 7th grade student not properly citing quotes is a good reason for suspension. I would make sure that they are aware of your dissatifaction. Suspension should be held only for real discipline problems. Yes, plagiarism is serious. But that is why I would question that the level of seriousness in 7th grade. If it is a private school, I'm sure that in our economy, they will want to keep your funding and support coming in. For every bad experience that a parent has at a school, five or six other parents will consider your situation when it is time to pick a school. Good luck and keep us informed.