Need your opinion, my high schoool kid

[look 171]

My senior in high school signed up in the college center for a field trip to Cal Poly's engineering program and wants to major in mech. engineering. He asked his teachers and three of them said no to the field trip and wanted him to attend their classes and will not release him. His GPA will hope to be 3.8 upon grad. He's getting an A in all three of those classes so far. They are AP Calc., Art, and AP English. It must be a power trip deal with these people. Who in their right mind will hold a kid back from such experience and want their student to attend their class. Cal Poly is one of the better engineering school in these parts. Here's my question. I don't want to fight his battle but he's incapable of convincing those teachers because they shut him down when he asked. Part of me don't want him to lose this opportunity and get involve. What would you do? He is so done with these games.

[Alan A]

"will not release him"

is this a school or a prison ffs?

i'd be having a wee chat with the principal - or more accurately my wife would be having quite a chat with him - and if that failed i would be escalating it to the district level in relatively short order.

and not to be an ass - since i'm sure it will read poorly but isn't intended that way - but he's going to pull up his gpa from a 3.8 if that's where he eventually wants to go, so you might need to do some expectation management there.

[Tobra]

I would pull his ass out of school that day and if they asked any questions, he has a doctor's appointment. If they pushed at all at that point, I would advise them it is not legal for them to be asking any more questions about it

I would go down and pick him up myself

I would also be writing letters to every single person up the chain of command who might have anything to do with it up to Governor, regardless of how it plays out. Those MFers would schit themselves every time they heard the name for the rest of their GD lives

[fanaudical]

I'm not sure I understand. Is the field trip sponsored by the high school or by the college? If sponsored by the college, don't you just need to write him a note for an excused absence and be done? If sponsored by the high school, why are they offering field trips if others within the school can veto attendance?

[look 171]

Sponsored by the college but through the high school. They go in the big yellow school bus and they send them back before school is over.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Alan A

"will not release him"

is this a school or a prison ffs?

i'd be having a wee chat with the principal - or more accurately my wife would be having quite a chat with him - and if that failed i would be escalating it to the district level in relatively short order.

and not to be an ass - since i'm sure it will read poorly but isn't intended that way - but he's going to pull up his gpa from a 3.8 if that's where he eventually wants to go, so you might need to do some expectation management there.

Yeah, covid screw him up in the 9 th grade sitting in fron of the computer. PE class screwed him up, "C". Other then that, straight As through out.

His Covid PE class demanded that he watch a professional sport of his choice and write a 2.5-3 page weekly report on it. He has to film himself running in place for 10 min daily along with other exercise. These people are really stupid. What 14 year old is going to film himself running in place and uploaded for all to see. The teacher never appeared on camera once but type up some BS and posted it and graded the students that way. Yep, covid sure screwed up many kids.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by look 171

His Covid PE class demanded that he watch a professional sport of his choice and write a 2.5-3 page weekly report on it. He has to film himself running in place for 10 min daily along with other exercise.

And I thought watching my older kid do pushups on camera for the teacher was dumb.
Glad to see NY and CA are still neck and neck for least useful school experiences.

[fanaudical]

Have teachers provided any rationale for their decision?

Is there a guidance counselor or other school staff in charge of this trip? Perhaps a call to that person may be a place to start. I would escalate to the principal if there is no remedy there.

[LWJ]

I don’t enjoy stupid people and power trips. When it comes to my kids, I am even LESS patient with this sort of thing.

Don’t know what I would do but it would be 1) loud and 2) painful for the teachers in question.

Sorry. Only a few months left.

[917_Langheck]

Originally Posted by look 171

Sponsored by the college but through the high school. They go in the big yellow school bus and they send them back before school is over.

"Off you go laddie, let me know what you find out" would be my answer to the kid. You never pass up these opportunities! Especially at this critical juncture, between child and adult stage of development. It could be literally life changing. Do not let three ignorant teachers dictate your child's life path. I'd have no problem going over those teacher's heads to get to "yes."

Worse case, "I'm calling on behalf of little Johnny, he will be out sick...." and drive him up there yourself. Just have him blend in like Spicoli and the biology class visit to the hospital - "Are you in this class?"...."I am today!"

[look 171]

I just spoke to him. He tells me the AP calc. instructor said no because they have an important new lesson that day and that is enough reason to prevents him from leaving class on that day. I told him to go back tomorrow, tell the teacher the trip is way out in April and that you like to see his lesson plan for that day. Demand to see it and take a photo of it tomorrow. I really don't think they plan that far ahead. I know the answer will be a big "NO" from the teacher and he will be brushed aside or punished for being rude. It looks like I have to ask to see that lesson plan for April. I really like him to go in and fight that one himself. Not sure what the deal is with the art teacher. I met her at parents conference and dislike her left, lgbt BS she has up on the walls. Yes, orange hair loud mouth.

I don't know how much fight is left in him? This is the older kid that refuse to put his head down when the teacher ask the class for a moment of silence when Kobe Bryan died but decided to do his home work quietly. Oh, he didn't like that one when the teacher allowed the kids called him a racist. I think that has smothered his fire a little bit in fighting with the authority.

Not sure if he will ask at all or even for the second time. I kept pushing him to get a legit answer from these instructors. No just isn't enough.

[red 928]

Call your congressman's office.
They have staff who are employed to help with stuff like this.
It's cheaper than campaigning and more effective.
One call from his/her office to the school
will fix this problem.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by red 928

Call your congressman's office.
They have staff who are employed to help with stuff like this.
It's cheaper than campaigning and more effective.
One call from his/her office to the school
will fix this problem.

California.
Democrat.
Going against teachers union.
Not gonna happen.

Ok I’m extrapolating from NY but I’m guessing it’s the same there.

[NYNick]

Schedule a tour with Cal Tech for the weekend. Make sure you meet directly with the Engineering Dept. when you go. Then put him in your car and take him yourself.

Don't you want to see the school also?

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Have teachers provided any rationale for their decision?

Is there a guidance counselor or other school staff in charge of this trip? Perhaps a call to that person may be a place to start. I would escalate to the principal if there is no remedy there.

This. Run it up the administrative flagpole. Powertrippers suck.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by NYNick

Schedule a tour with Cal Tech for the weekend. Make sure you meet directly with the Engineering Dept. when you go. Then put him in your car and take him yourself.

Don't you want to see the school also?

Excellent suggestion . And make that visit well in advance of the April date . That way your son can possibly attend the April date as a follow up . Meet with his teachers in person and see for yourself what their mindset/reasoning is .

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Wow, just wow to a few of the replies

If kids and parents demanded/dictated how teachers should teach kids I think there would be a lot more stupid people around

Instead of demanding why not just politely talk to the principle and explain the situation and why you think it's best your son needs to go. See what he/she has to say because if 3 teachers have all said no there must be a good reason

If your son is not in his final year of high school then I'd think his time is better spent getting the highest grades he can to give him the most college options

There will be plenty of opportunity for you both to go college shopping closer to when he graduates

[DRONE]

Pomona or SLO?
when our son went to SLO you had to have at least a 4.0 to get in

[Crowbob]

I think my first step would be to put my house on the market.

When I first read the OP, I immediately wondered why won’t they ‘allow’ him to go?

OP: Though your son is a senior you can’t expect him to battle this out for himself. My guess is he knows what’s up, anyway. His most important lesson is how you help him recognize what is happening to him right now.

I’d pursue exactly what NYNick (#14) suggests. He’s not going to prevail over the school administration. They will not budge. Teach him to choose his battles carefully. This situation is a microcosm of the real world he is migrating into.

[Sooner or later]

It is not just his battle.

You need to personally talk to each of the teachers that refused to give him the daily pass.

I would not lie to the school claiming he is sick and then take him yourself. Word could get back to the school and then where would you be.