So, in school, there are random times where kids who are late to class get detention. It's random when they do it, so they can ensure that everyone gets to class on time regardless if there is one or not. That's an alright idea, right?

BUT, the punishment if you are "caught" is four hours of detention (2 hrs for 2 days that is).

Here's the best part, people who cut class only get two hrs of detention.

I should just cut class and avoid getting "caught" to only get half the time!!

IS THIS FAIR OR NOT?!? (In my opinion, it's not!)

Why not copy your post and give it to a teacher you trust? The teacher could take it to the Administrators for discussion, and you could remain anonymous.

Just be on time to class and then it isn't an issue. No brainer.

[salukigirl]

My high school was gigantic. We had about 3,000 students and it was split into wings. We only had 5 minutes in between class and it was over a 5 minute walk from say the 2nd floor of the South wing to the bottom floor of the West wing. If we showed our teachers our schedule showing that we had to walk clear across campus we wouldn't get anything. I think it sounds unfair simply because if we skipped we got an automatic saturday school. I honestly don't remember ever getting detention for coming in late.

One time the clock in one of the classrooms was broken so I took out my cell phone to see the time and got a saturday and got my phone taken away from me. By the time I had gotten down to the office at the end of the day to pick it up the story had turned into my cell phone had gone off during class and I answered it in the middle of class which was total bull. I still went to the saturday but that was the only one I ever had.

Oh and one time I got detention because in health class we were talking about alcohol and I said that I bet Superman could hold his liquor. Although I never got in trouble for wearing a cow costume to school....

School is just a bunch of unfairness that you can't really do anything about. That's why its fun to find those little loopholes where you can do things that are clearly wrong but technically not punishable. Probably not the best advice but that's how I got through high school lol

[Perna]

I don't understand what "fair" has to do with it. You shouldn't be late OR cut class and it doesn't really matter that they have different punishments? Presumably cutting class has additional "punishments" in that you miss the class/material and have stuff to make up and/or your grade suffers. The punishments are about two different, unrelated problems the administration has that they have figured out a way to solve that they like. They're the "business" owner, you're the worker and you don't get a vote how they run their business!

Originally Posted by Perna

I don't understand what "fair" has to do with it. You shouldn't be late OR cut class and it doesn't really matter that they have different punishments? Presumably cutting class has additional "punishments" in that you miss the class/material and have stuff to make up and/or your grade suffers. The punishments are about two different, unrelated problems the administration has that they have figured out a way to solve that they like. They're the "business" owner, you're the worker and you don't get a vote how they run their business!

Good post, Perna! Like I tell my students, "It's the rule; get over it." Life is full of rules. They don't go away. Deal with it and move on.

Folks, geez, I was kidding about the cutting of class. I wouldn't do that.

Salukigirl- Sounds like my school! It's insane how many kids there are. Loopholes are fun, but I'm not a person who's that fortunate enough to find them. Though, it certainly sucks to see more people find them and have others try and not find it.

TheByzantine- Some action was taken against it before, but nothing came out of it. You see, you really can't try and reason with people at my school. It's hard, no kidding, and you always have to get your parent/guardians to talk to the school about these things. But still, they always make it out like they're right. It's gets on my last nerves. :|

Perna- 3 cuts= losing credit, so yes, there is worse to come with cutting class. but it's still sucks though. that's a lot of detention for only being slightly late to class.

I hate when these random late to class occurences when you get detention...it makes you want to stand up to someone, but in the end, you feel smaller.

Thanks for everyone's opinions though. It was nice of you guys to respond.

Thanks for posting, opaquemind. I commend you for thinking about issues of fairness. Despite some of the comments, I think your signature says a lot.

Be well.

TheByzantine- Thank you very much..

[Ascension]

I agree with both sides of this, but think that it is good to challenge those who claim to know what's best. After all, the rules and guidelines are enforced by people, and in as much are imperfect. And sometimes rules become a means to become disconnected and unaccountable for the interaction. "Hey I don't make the rules, I just have to enforce them." That being said, I like everyone need to be accountable for my behavior. And how do our superiors keep the peace without same and equal expectations for everyone? It's a complicated process and imperfect but it has to be there.

P.S. - I think it's a bogus inconsistency in the punitive actions in regards to the offense. I wouldn't go in late either. Get in more trouble AND get called out in front of all my peers? No way.

[PeculiarGroove]

I chose 'Unfair'. It is unfair - however, so is life and let's face it, unfortunately, in the real world - if you don't get caught there are no consequences, so i suppose in a way it's a life lesson.

I think 4 hours is rather extreme though. Mind you, at my school the worst that ever happened for being late was being told not to do it again, which of course didn't stop people. In the end I just stopped going altogether, so perhaps they are on to something here.

Welcome PeculiarGroove!!

Yeah, it's pretty extreme to me too. I understand maybe an hour..or two at the most, but 4 hours is kind of absurd.
I totally understand that having some sort of punishment is ok though.

Sure, my school is up to getting all kids to class on time. That's exactly what they're up to alright. It's a great idea, don't get me wrong. It's less annoying for teachers too. That's great..

....but 4 hours?!?! That's redundant.

Man, I tell you, the feelings I get when this happens..
There's so little warning and the school treats this so seriously.
I get angry, I feel smaller, and I don't give a damn to much all at the same time.

one more thing..
certain people (adults that is) have been angry regarding this, and are willing to take action that is going too far imo. to the point of hiring a lawyer, no joke. -__-

i'm trying to convince otherwise, b/c it's not THAT bad.
any ideas to help me?

Originally Posted by opaquemind0

one more thing..
certain people (adults that is) have been angry regarding this, and are willing to take action that is going too far imo. to the point of hiring a lawyer, no joke. -__-

i'm trying to convince otherwise, b/c it's not THAT bad.
any ideas to help me?

Just keep telling them to back off. We live in an overly litigious society. Sometimes people just need to learn to deal. Life isn't always fair, but it certainly doesn't mean we have to sue someone over it all the time.

[PeculiarGroove]

Seriously? People have taken it that far? I mean 4 hours does seem redundant but is it worth going to court over? I mean, at the end of the day the students choice is this: go to class while you are at school or use up your free time sitting their for longer - which would you rather? lol How late do you have to be to get detention? Like, if you are 5 minutes late - would you get detention?

[(JD)]

Many ill feelings arise when the idea of "fairness" comes into play.
I personally think the word would be best unwritten and unthought!

Detention is an incentive to not do something you did, plus
give you time to do homework, or even additional work. That's what school is for.

When someone toddles in late to class, it disrupts the class, the train of thought the teacher had laid out, and gives a general air that they are above having to obey the rules of timeliness, or respect the teacher.

I think it's quite right. It's made YOU think about being late to class already!
Being late is disrespectful of the teacher and the rest of the class.
I agree, if you can't bother to be there on time, don't go.

FarmerGirl- I hope that these people are overreacting and the commotion will die down soon.

Groove- It's a random thing. Teachers, I believe, are notified of what periods this will happen. Students have no idea. As soon as the bell rings, the doors are locked and students go to the auditorium. Then detention is assigned.

Sky- Thanks, all of your words put some sense into me

lol, one last thing. I was going to lunch!

[PeculiarGroove]

hmmm in that case I would probably skip class altogether if I knew I was going to get detention anyway.

[(JD)]

LUNCH?
I suppose then, that it is for your safety to be in the lunchroom on time and not wandering the halls?
Do they let you wander about after you finish lunch, before your next class, or do you not have enough time?

Do you get class credit for lunch?

In our school, students can be tardy to lunch as other classes are going on at the same time. We can't have students wandering the halls unsupervised, particularly when other classes are going on. You have to be where you have to be. It's a supervision and liability issue.

[PeculiarGroove]

Wow - I can't get over the discipline. When I was at school we could wander anywhere we liked...I guess that's the english school system for you!

[Onzichtbaar]

I know what you mean!! I grew up in the UK and my school didn't have such a thing as 'detention' - this was in the late 90's/early 00's. In fact there was very little in the way of formal rules/regulations at 'high school'. You had to wear a uniform (they were quite strict about that) and if you were late in the morning you got to write your excuse in a book at the secretary's office and that was that. Downside, it was an ALL girls school

I don't think I would have survived 5 minutes in a US high school - I got by my 'high school' education as a truant. I studied hard at home alone but HATED being in school and skipped about half my classes from age 16 to 18 - I did very well academically (highest grades my school had had for several years) and that's all they cared about, and not if I was there or not.

It's interesting how cultures differ.

Onzi

Groove- 1. Wish I could skip lunch but I'd get so anxious. Would I get caught? Knowing my luck, lol, I wouldn't dare try.
2. Oh yeah, school's are just getting stricter and stricter. I'm curious to see how tough they'll get in the future.

Sky- Yup. Lunch. :| Well, I have time, but I need to go to my locker to put my stuff away. Now, I just carry everything and not go at all. We're not allowed to go anywhere without a pass either. Lol, we don't get credit for lunch.
I think that doing these detention things will lose a little profit for lunch. I didn't buy lunch that day because when they assigned detentions, a good amount of the period was over, and I didn't bother anymore.

Farmergirl- That makes sense.

Onzi- Yup, dress codes/uniform rules..that's strict stuff..
Hmm, intresting, schools now-a-days care about both being in class and good grades. That's putting pressure on those who care about school but w/e, rules are rules. :|
Oh yeah, cultures totally differ.

Originally Posted by Onzichtbaar

I don't think I would have survived 5 minutes in a US high school - I got by my 'high school' education as a truant. I studied hard at home alone but HATED being in school and skipped about half my classes from age 16 to 18 - I did very well academically (highest grades my school had had for several years) and that's all they cared about, and not if I was there or not.

It's interesting how cultures differ.

Onzi

In Texas, there is a 90% attendance rule. Students who are absent more than 90% must have a doctor's excuse. Otherwise, they lose credit for the entire course. Truancy can be filed and that runs $500 a day. Yes, we are very serious about attendance.

[mlpHolmes]

As a High School Teacher with approx. 200 students/day. students would get a grade each day for participation. If a student chose to skip class they received a 0% for that day (damaged their grade terribly).
(Had pretty good attendance).