Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Frustrated
It would only make sense to me that if a student had not completed a "task" that was necessary, or required, for graduation that someone from the administration would in form the student of what they need to do. Send a letter, make a phone call, something. Especially if that particular student had recently moved in from out of town. Granted it is a majority of the students responsibility to take requirements for graduation in their own hands, to be proactive, however if it was solely up to the students then there would be no need for any type of administrative staff. I am a senior this year, and it has been almost a year since I moved here after Christmas of last year. Since while i lived in Florida I had completed all of my graduation requirements, I assumed that everything was ready to go, I mean no one had told me otherwise, in fact I was told that I had completed more than the necessary classes for graduation. Spring of last year I took the graduation test here at Jones County High School, and was not informed that there was a writing portion of the test. Had the student information center not been on the way to my locker yesterday after 8th period economics, I would not have stopped to look at it, so I would not have known that my name was on the testing list for writing. Being a senior this year and only having to two classes that I am required to take (AP Government and Economics) plus my desire to take College English 1101-1102, and AP Statistics, I am left with about half a day that I don't have any classes on my schedule. So I decided to join the work based learning program at school, I work in the morning, and go to school in the afternoon. Had I not shown up to my testing site they would have called my name on the intercom, but since I don't have class in the morning I still would not have known about this test. Granted there is a make-up testing date, however if no one thought to inform me that my name was on the list for the first round, would they really think to inform me that my name was on the make-up list. And if the had not thought to, what would they say on graduation night when I am getting ready to walk across the stage and accept my diploma, "We are sorry, but you can't graduate since you never completed the writing portion of the graduation test" Extreme frustration.
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OUCH! I understand your frustration. I also must say that I didn't read this, but scanned it quickly. HOWEVER...I DO know the GHSWT is given at least 4 times and that you will have at least 2 more chances of taking the test. And, needless to say, there should be no problem. STILL . . . I'm not sure if I would be frustrated or angry. I worked within a system that made SURE students took their GHSGTs as soon as possible. And you're right; there is no excuse for not telling you when and where the testing is. Normally I wouldn't ask this, but do you have anyone at home who could come up here, meet with your principal and counselor and express their concern on your behalf. Sadly, administration responds best to parents more than students, and more than teachers. Trust me on that. I am a much more powerful figure in my son's life as a mother than I was as a teacher. In fact, one of the reasons I chose to "retire" was to enable him to have a high school life without his mother in the halls and the classroom, not because I didn't want to be there. However, it is important that parents maintain that connection with schools--even when their children are grown, as seniors (like you and he) pretty much are. Yep. I would encourage your mom to come up and express her concern and disappointment on the part of the school--or at least send an email. No point in "raising hell" -- that only antagonizes & worsens a situation--but serious concern and a "I hope this won't happen again. My daughter is looking ahead to her college and career . . ." or something like that might help. The school owes it to you to tell you when the test is. YOU are RIGHT!!
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