Disclosure Documents

With school starting, it has meant I've had a lot of disclosure documents to read and sign--so many that I've wondered a few times who has the homework here: me or the kids? (then I look at Cache and see how much homework the HS is pouring on him and know it's not me!) Most of the documents are your typical rules, expectations and teacher contact info. But a few of them have had things that have caught my funny bone. Here are a lines I found comical:

**Contact lenses should not be worn in the laboratory unless you have permission by the instructor. (I'm aware of the dangers of contacts in a chem lab, but I laugh because what teenager is going to put aside vanity just for a chem lab? Few, methinks.)

**Never look into a container that is being heated. (I don't know why, but I just find this funny--maybe it's because all of the containers I heat, need to be looked into or else supper is yucky!)

**Student grades are kept on the instructor's computer. These grades are confidential. In order to maintain confidentiality, NO STUDENT MAY VIEW OR LOOK AT THE TEACHER'S COMPUTER. This means that STUDENTS MAY NOT STAND IN A POSITION THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SEE THE TEACHER'S COMPUTER SCREEN. (honestly, does this teacher not know how to minimize??? and how subjective. . .how does the teacher determine and prove the 'position' at which a student may be able to see the computer screen?)

And then a few statements that make me realize high school is not like it was when I was there:

**Tests can be made up on the Wednesday following the missed test at 6:30 am.

**Homework is due on the assigned due date. NO EXCEPTIONS. If you were present for the assignment to be given, it is due whether you are not. You may send your work to school with a parent or a friend, but it must be received by this class period or it will not be accepted.

While I understand the need for stringent standards because, frankly, some kids these days need it, but is there ever room for compassion? I don't have the answer to that--especially having taught for 10 years and know how difficult it is to be a teacher and make requirements and have kids slack off (and that was 1st & 2nd grades). But it makes me feel like our lives need to be 100% devoted to school and academics. While I value these very highly and encourage my children to do their best, I don't think it is the end-all. I don't have the answers.

My other thoughts along this line are comparison thoughts. While my grandparents had to walk to school in the snow (up hill both ways, right?) the kids these days have very different struggles and pressures. This could be a whole different discussion and this post is long enough already, but I give hats off to both generations who live/have lived valiantly! I think both are better and stronger than I will ever be.