Straight-A student?s parents sue over F

[AStar617]

http://sundaygazettemail.com/section/News/2007031226

March 13, 2007

Web Tools: [print]
Straight-A student?s parents sue over F


By The Associated Press

A top student?s failing biology project grade has landed a Sissonville High School teacher and the school system in court.

The parent of the straight-A student is suing teacher Jane Schultz and the Kanawha County Board of Education, claiming the low score hurt the female student?s 4.5 GPA.

The student, identified only as ?L.H.? in court papers, was given an F? on a leaf project, wherein she collected and identified leaves, because she handed it in a day late, the lawsuit said.

The project?s deadline listed in the class syllabus was Oct. 17, but L.H. was attending a school-approved student council trip to Jacksons Mill in Lewis County from Oct. 15-17.

J. Michael Ronson, the student?s lawyer, said the late assignment should be accepted because the trip had been approved by the principal. Other absent students, including athletes and those who are suspended under disciplinary action, are allowed to hand in work after they return to school, he said.

?It could possibly take her out of the running for valedictorian, and for those highly competitive students, you certainly would make as many A?s as you can,? Ronson said.

[b]The case, filed in Kanawha Circuit Court, seeks an injunction, punitive damages, and damages for ?emotional stress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of scholarship potential.?[/b]

Schultz and Nancy Walker, assistant principal at Sissonville High, declined comment because of ongoing litigation.

?The class had ample notice that late submissions would not be accepted,? said Jim Withrow, attorney for the Kanawha school board.

?Part of going to school is learning there are rules, learning there are deadlines. Unfortunately, this is a pretty good student. But sometimes you just have to learn from your mistakes.?

But Ronson says his client is actually following the rules very closely.

?She?s really not protesting a bad grade, what she?s protesting is that there?s a refusal to follow the rule in Kanawha County, that if you?re absent from school with permission, then you are given the days you?re absent to make up or complete the work you?ve done,? Ronson said.

As the most significant assignment of the semester, the leaf project was worth more points than the final exam and the student?s A grade will drop to a B if the failing grade stands.

The West Virginia Education Association says they?re watching the case closely, because it could set a precedent.

A hearing has been scheduled March 29, at 10 a.m. with Kanawha Circuit Judge Duke Bloom, and attorneys for the school board have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which can be heard at that time.[/quote]

I repeat--

w... t... f...

 

[RadiclDreamer]

LOL this is not far from me, hilarious!

 

[moshquerade]

arrrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhh

i am so sick of these helicopter parents. is it any wonder these kids can't function in society when they get out on their own?

 

[jman19]

Collecting leaves in HS for a biology project?? :roll:

The law suits in this country just get stupider and stupider.

 

[thirdeye]

While I could MAYBE understand being upset about it. Suing would NEVER be an option.

 

[zebano]

Helicopter parents?? I'm not familiar with that term.

 

[KoopaTroopa]

hey, if i'm the girl, i figure it's worth a shot

you have straight A's, and one stupid project that is worth more than the final, could take you out of the race for valedictorian. not only that, she was on a school sponsored trip.

if she loses she loses....but can't blame her for trying

 

[jiggahertz]

J. Michael Ronson, the student?s lawyer, said the late assignment should be accepted because the trip had been approved by the principal. Other absent students, including athletes and those who are suspended under disciplinary action, are allowed to hand in work after they return to school, he said.

Seems like it should have been accepted, but a lawsuit is a little over the top.

 

[Queasy]

Well, the parents definitely sound silly...especially with the wording of the lawsuit. However, if other students were given opportunities to turn in projects late but this student was not...they definitely have reason to complain.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: zebano
Helicopter parents?? I'm not familiar with that term.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter_parent

 

[RadiclDreamer]

On a side note, they have a point, you cant punish a student for not turning an assignment in on time when they are out AT A SCHOOL FUNCTION! If they had an issue with it they should have said the assignment needed to be in before the trip

 

[eleison]

Originally posted by: thirdeye
While I could MAYBE understand being upset about it. Suing would NEVER be an option.

a .45 acp glock is!!! j/k

 

[yowolabi]

Looks like they have a case. Punitive damages are obviously unneeded, but I see no reason they shouldn't sue to have the paper graded correctly.

If she followed the rules, why should she get punished?

 

[Ipno]

I agree with this lawsuit. I often think people go over the top but this teacher is not using good sense and there are things about this story we're not getting I'm sure.

Though at first I thought the punitive damages were a bit much to seek, this is about setting a precedent and they always want to ask for the moon. Really I bet all the girl wants is the same treatment that the athletes get when they're on a school trip. Its stupid that it had to get this far, but right now I think the school is at fault, not the parents/girl.

 

[jiggahertz]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: zebano
Helicopter parents?? I'm not familiar with that term.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter_parent

wow, didn't realize this was such an issue

 

[mobobuff]

Um, I'm pretty sure I remember collecting and classifying leaves in 4th grade... This is a high school class?

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: KoopaTroopa
hey, if i'm the girl, i figure it's worth a shot

you have straight A's, and one stupid project that is worth more than the final, could take you out of the race for valedictorian. not only that, she was on a school sponsored trip.

if she loses she loses....but can't blame her for trying

no. it sueing says you can not do what you are tald and sue if you do nto like the results. She turned in the project a DAY late. sure she was on a school sponsered trip on the day it was to be turned in. BUT she should have turned it in a day early.

When i was in highschool i was on sports teams. there was days that we would leave school in the afternoon. IF that was the case and i had something due that day it was my responsiblity to make sure it was turned in ON TIME.

personally i hope she lose's the case. but the school will change it and give her a new grade of an A and she will a few thousand dollers.

 

[mercanucaribe]

They are absolutely right to sue, despite the slew of knee jerk posts. She turned an assignment in a day late because she was on a SCHOOL TRIP. If she was an athlete off playing in some game, she would not have recieved the F. T

hey should be suing for the correct grade, but there's nothing wrong with punitive damages- the school needs to be taught a lesson. Boohoo it will take money away from stadiums and trips to Disneyworld!!

 

[mercanucaribe]

They are absolutely right to sue, despite the slew of knee jerk posts. She turned an assignment in a day late because she was on a SCHOOL TRIP. If she was an athlete off playing in some game, she would not have recieved the F. T

hey should be suing for the correct grade, but there's nothing wrong with punitive damages- the school needs to be taught a lesson. Boohoo it will take money away from stadiums and trips to Disneyworld!!

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: yowolabi
Looks like they have a case. Punitive damages are obvioulsly unneeded, but I see no reason they shouldn't sue to have the paper graded correctly.

If she followed the rules, why should she get punished?

wait... so she is on a school approved trip. she knew she would be on that trip so she should have got her assignment done and handed in BEFOREHAND.

according to the article she was given "ample notice that late submissions would not be accepted."

 

[jiggahertz]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: KoopaTroopa
hey, if i'm the girl, i figure it's worth a shot

you have straight A's, and one stupid project that is worth more than the final, could take you out of the race for valedictorian. not only that, she was on a school sponsored trip.

if she loses she loses....but can't blame her for trying

no. it sueing says you can not do what you are tald and sue if you do nto like the results. She turned in the project a DAY late. sure she was on a school sponsered trip on the day it was to be turned in. BUT she should have turned it in a day early.

When i was in highschool i was on sports teams. there was days that we would leave school in the afternoon. IF that was the case and i had something due that day it was my responsiblity to make sure it was turned in ON TIME.

personally i hope she lose's the case. but the school will change it and give her a new grade of an A and she will a few thousand dollers.

To be fair she would have had to turn it in 4 days early.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: jiggahertz
J. Michael Ronson, the student?s lawyer, said the late assignment should be accepted because the trip had been approved by the principal. Other absent students, including athletes and those who are suspended under disciplinary action, are allowed to hand in work after they return to school, he said.

Seems like it should have been accepted, but a lawsuit is WAY over the top.

Adjusted for great justice.

 

[zebano]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter_parent

As these students graduate and move on to the job market, personnel and human resources departments are becoming acquainted with the phenomenon as well. Some have reported that parents have begun intruding on salary negotiations, and in one case showing up for a job interview on a child's behalf[2].

Oh my...
Thanks for the link.

 

[Jeraden]

Here in the real world, if I have a project due on friday and I'm not going to be in the office on friday, I make sure I have it done thursday.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: KoopaTroopa
hey, if i'm the girl, i figure it's worth a shot

you have straight A's, and one stupid project that is worth more than the final, could take you out of the race for valedictorian. not only that, she was on a school sponsored trip.

if she loses she loses....but can't blame her for trying

no. it sueing says you can not do what you are tald and sue if you do nto like the results. She turned in the project a DAY late. sure she was on a school sponsered trip on the day it was to be turned in. BUT she should have turned it in a day early.

When i was in highschool i was on sports teams. there was days that we would leave school in the afternoon. IF that was the case and i had something due that day it was my responsiblity to make sure it was turned in ON TIME.

personally i hope she lose's the case. but the school will change it and give her a new grade of an A and she will a few thousand dollers.

I agree. It worked the same way when I was in high school. But the complaint states that this particular school's policy is to allow students to turn work in a day late if they were on a school sponsored trip OR if they were suspended from school. If that is true, then this girl has a case because she was treated differently.