oh kids! (#12)

I don't know if this is unethical but I just had to post it.  It's too funny not to share!

This is an email conversation between me and a parent.  She was concerned because she didn't think that her daughter had made up her missing work from when she was "sick" with the "flu."  I have taken out the names to preserve their privacy. Pay attention to the highlighted portions.

My (Initial) Response


Ok,

Can you tell me what days she was out because of the flu?

Sincerely,
Mr. _____


Parent Response
Thank you, Mr. _____.  This is pretty much what I expected.  _____ had
the flu and was out of school on Thursday, October 1 and Friday, October
2.  There was one day earlier in the semester when she had an upset
stomach, but I can not recall that date.

Thank you for your time and attention.

- _____ _____


My Response


Did _____ fail to mention that on October 1st and 2nd she was suspended
for skipping?


Parent Response


WHAT???!!!  Is there a phone number where I can reach you right now if
you are available?

My Response

I am not available ma'am, I am in class.

She was suspended those two days for skipping, I don't know what class
she skipped but it wasn't mine.

Looks like she pulled a fast one.  You can verify this with the school,
though. It looks like she went under a lot of trouble to keep this under
wraps though.

-Mr. _____

******************************************************


 Too good!  For starters this is really funny, though I feel bad for the mother (sorta).

I just have to say that I have to give it up to this student because she almost pulled off two things:

1) She somehow kept her mom from finding out that she was suspended for skipping. So in effect she avoided two chastisements (one for skipping and one for a suspension because of the skipping).

2) She somehow tricked her mom into thinking that she had a mild flu AND that she needed to stay at home for two days to "get better."

And she probably would have gotten away with it if her mom had never emailed me.  The teenager in me feels kinda bad that I ruined a very good plan that took a lot of planning (á la Ferris Bueller).  The adult and teacher is me feels glad that a con-artist got caught (and that I helped in this).

I can just imagine her mom on the other end of the computer, "WHAT!!!" That has to be a crappy feeling. I would hate that feeling that the mom probably had when I emailed her...

Thanks to my students I will never ever believe my children when they tell me something (should I be so fortunate to have any, of course).