Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Some background: Parents send nastygrams to teachers every day. Here is an example of one such parents’ initial contact with me. I changed nothing except the kid’s name and identifying characteristics.

Enjoy. Or not. Completely up to you.

Her email:

I am very upset on why you keep doing note book checks and giving Adam “F’s”when Adam has a problem with organization. He just cant get organized. Why don’t you try grading him on his history skills. You are grading someone who has Asbergers Disorder. That is his disability. They don’t have any organizational skills.
Please change how you grade my son. You are failing him for his disability.

This was my response:

Dear Mrs. Moonhead,

Nice to meet you.

Since you were polite enough to introduce yourself, let me do the same. I’m Catherine Robinson, Adam’s History teacher. Adam came to find himself in my 2nd period class after disturbing several other classrooms this year at Superior High School. When Adam was caught throwing rocks at the school’s windows, he led several teachers on a foot chase down the street and into a restaurant before surrendering. Therefore, it should not surprise you that Adam’s presence in my classroom has been distracting for other students and he has shown little concern for my classroom’s policies or assignments.

While I would love nothing more than to grade your child based on his history skills, I cannot. See, Adam has only turned in two assignments. He’d much rather throw Skittles at his fellow students. Adam’s lack of organization is the least of his issues and not really a factor in my grading system. Appreciate your feedback, though.

In related news, I had to write a referral because Adam was in school yesterday but did not attend my class. Student Affairs has no record of him signing out.

Is truancy also a sign of Asperger’s Syndrome?

You take care.

Sincerely,
Catherine Durkin Robinson

Hey. At least I wrote “Dear” and “Sincerely”. That’s gotta count for something.

***cross-posted at Out in Left Field***