Roger is a grade 11 student who is quiet, pleasant and willing to participate orally in French class. His goal is to be a mechanic or a fireman. He's in a grade 11 immersion "u" (university oriented) course. He does little written work and gets overwhelmed with instruction pages and attention to details.
I called home at midterm because he was not in a position to get his credit. His mother agreed to a contract signed by her, her son and me to try to get him back on track. He subsequently did not meet the terms of the contract. I let his mom know, and she shared that he also is having medical issues. Tests for malignancy are being done at Sick Kids Hospital. I said that in that case we can reduce the requirements to the essential pieces of the course. As he is unable to complete work independently (for a number of reasons now) I said that I would like to work with him over 6 lunch periods, Tuesdays and Thursdays over three weeks until the end of the term in order to ensure that he meets the minimal requirements. She agreed to this. Roger came twice and then stopped showing up. Later he said he didn't come because he had to do projects for other classe ( I know he also has a girlfriend and would much rather go out to lunch with her than be in the classroom).
He wrote the exam, passed it, but failed the course due to less the the minimum requirements having been completed. His mother called me, quite upset, because "you said he would pass the course". I explained that indeed I had told her that but on condition that he show up six times for extra support. I also said he did not communicate with me about being absent on those catch up days. However, based on the medical concern, I offered a final solution: Roger needs to come and work on essential requirements during the exam schedule, at times when he is not writing an exam. She said she would ensure that he showed up for these sessions.
Roger came once and I am expecting him again today.....From my point of view I'm bending on the principles of teaching students responsibility, holding to agreed upon conditions, following through on the consequences for breech of responsible behaviour. Should compassion overrule these principles in this case?
believe that throughout the opportunities given, there is not much more opportunities to give. The end of the term is approaching and there are many other students to focus on as well. It now becomes the responsibility of the student to want to succeed in the subject. There is clearly no willingness to even try based on the students actions and missed opportunities. The rules have been extended although based on good reason however, it is now at the point where the student must accept the consequences of his actions. It seems as though the course will need to be repeated by the student. Compassion for the student should be overruled after giving them a variety of opportunities to succeed, at this point if the student does not care it is impossible to force them to do anything they do not want to do. Everything has consequences and therefore, the student will have to meet those consequences.
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