Is 100 Paragraphs Too Much!

[Beebo]

As a punishment for the whole class, Adrienne's teacher gave them a paragraph to write. Although she wasn't the one who misbehaved, she and several more students have to write it. Adrienne finished 12 of them, in between 2 appointments after school, dinner and bedtime. And yes they have to be turned in today, All 100 paragraphs. And they will be graded. She will probably get a 0 on it! But is that too much for 9 and 10 year olds? He is treating his class like they are in military school, he was in the military before he became a teacher! Am I wrong in thinking this is too much?

[carrie1977]

I'm going to say yes because I have a ten year old and I know there is no way I could get her to do it. That's insane and I'd be marching my happy butt in there telling him exactly how I felt. 100 paragraphs?! Seriously?

Ugh...I'm mad for her!

[YepBrook]

I think 100 paragraphs is too much for 9/10 year olds. Are you sure he didn't mean 100 sentences? Wow. But I agree with the stance of this article when it comes to class punishment: http://www.chicagonow.com/good-bad-parents/2013/01/teachers-allowed-punish-students/. My suggestion would be to tell the teacher that she worked on it every spare minute of her day. Tell him you support his attempt to gain control of his students, because it is for the betterment of the entire class. But I would respectfully tell him that perhaps his punishment was uneachable for the students, setting them up for failure and further punishment. :( I think almost ANY additional assignment would have been better, like a 1 page essay. I would think 100 paragraphs would fill 4 pages! Am I right?

[Beebo]

She filled 2 and a half pages, front and back with 12 paragraphs. The paragraph he gave them to write has 5 long sentences in it complete with commas!

[Keely~B]

That's ridiculous! I'm all for consequences but this is way over the top.

[maryinaz]

Yes, that's way too much. I'm sure you aren't the only parent who is upset about it and you can bet some have complained. Pretty much every time I have held my tongue about something like that, I find out later that there were many who did not.

I am NEVER for group punishment. Ever. In about 3rd grade my twins were subjected to silent lunches for the whole grade. I went to lunch in the cafeteria several times to see what was going on. It was VERY obvious who was causing the problems - a handful of kids. But for whatever reason, the administration didn't want to deal with just those students and they punished the entire grade.

It happens all the time in sports (mostly in high school), and I hate it.

[YepBrook]

I am NEVER for group punishment. Ever. In about 3rd grade my twins were subjected to silent lunches for the whole grade. I went to lunch in the cafeteria several times to see what was going on. It was VERY obvious who was causing the problems - a handful of kids. But for whatever reason, the administration didn't want to deal with just those students and they punished the entire grade.

Well, this is ridiculous and I would never support it. I think if the problem is one that seems it might spread among the class, a rare class-wide punishment is needed. But certainly not on a regular basis like this situation!

[BrattyMeg]

way too much for that age...100 sentences I'd understand but paragraphs? thats more than a term paper lol

[rach3975]

Another vote for way too much! How long has this teacher been teaching? Because it doesn't sound like he understands the age group. I'd send a note or email saying that you support him in his efforts to keep the class behaving and on target and will review expectations with your daughter. However, she spent X amount of time on the assignment and only finished 12 paragraphs; you feel that asking more from a student who wasn't even involved in the problem is not productive and he can contact you if he wishes to discuss it further.

[tanyiadeskins]

100 paragraphs is too much for me even :cursing:

[Nettio]

My husband is in the military and he wouldn't even assign that to his adult soldiers, so that teacher is just crazy. Sounds like someone had a rough teaching day if anything.

[julifish]

I'd be in the principal's office discussing the appropriate amount of homework for a class and what the school's policy is on class punishment. In my opinion he flew off the handle and gave them assignment that no one could complete. The only way a teacher like that (in my personal experience) gets back on track is if administration knows what is going on.

An assignment like that would totally distroy my child. She has a hard time writing period - that much would totally push us both over the edge. Definitely complain and let your voice be heard. It's your job to advocate for your child.

[adi&co.]

wow yeah that is insane. 100? maybe he did it on purpose, knowing nobody would complete it and isn't going to be grading harshly, he just wanted to make a point? I don't know. it honestly sounds like something my dad would do (he's a teacher).

[MommaTrish]

Yeah... I don't make my kids do whole class punishments, I don't even make them try. Zach's KINDERGARTEN teacher made the whole class write their spelling words 5 times each (on top of regular homework) because some kids did something (like talking during the practice test or something). I didn't make him do it. When she dropped his conduct the next day for it I wrote her a note and said if she wants to punish my child for something another child did I'd be going to the principal, if he did something she needs to mark it in his agenda as something HE did and punish just him, and that it isn't his fault if she's having a bad day or other kids are being bad.
I did the same thing last year when Ryan came home with a note saying that no one would be able to buy ice cream for the next two weeks because one kid tried to sneak ice cream back into the classroom.

[jk703]

Um, nope. I'd be emailing/calling to meet. I'm not for class punishment. Reward the ones who acted properly instead and as an incentive. I can see 100 sentences, but not 100 5 -sentence minimum paragraphs. Ugh.

[carrie1977]

I couldn't even get my 10 year old to do 100 sentences....honestly.

[monia13]

That's way too much for the group age. I don't even recall writing 100 paragraph papers in college. I would definitely write a note to the teach. I am not for the class punishment either. Reward good kids and punish he bad ones to set the example.

[SeattleSheri]

I agree, completely excessive!

[DawnMarch]

I also don't agree with class punishment. To me, it's just a way for the teachers to get kids to punish their peers when the teacher can't come up with their own effective discipline. And 100 paragraphs seems crazy! Kids at that age write slow!

[Kjersti]

My thesis isn't even going to be 100 paragraphs. hahaha :p

Maybe she can just write the teacher a letter of apology (even though she wasn't the one that misbehaved....boo) and tape a Hershey bar to the top!! That always works for us!!

[jacinda]

I think 100 paragraphs is completely unrealistic. You don't even give college kids that much for punishment. I'd be going in to see the teacher AND the administration. Something is wrong with his method of teaching. Like someone earlier said, he's setting the kids up to fail. That's kind of sadistic if you ask me, and absolutely wrong.

[littlekiwi]

I don't even think I write that much for a first year university assignment! 100 paragraphs is just plain crazy.

[jaylensmom]

100 paragrahs is crazy for kids...maybe 100 sentences.

[jacinda]

Made any decision on what you're going to do?

[Beebo]

I emailed her teacher and he said the entire class had to do this. She has been home the last 2 days due to the weather. Her therapist is going to intervene for me. She also said that the 100 paragraphs was too excessive for the kids. Chances are she will get a big fat zero because she never finished the paragraphs. She has managed 32 but I made her stop because her hand was beginning to cramp.

[jacinda]

Are you going to contact the administration? I'd be speaking to a principal at the very least.

[Libby Pritchett]

Wow Rachel. That is just unbelievable. I agree with Jacinda. I'd be talking to the administration. If the punishment had been reasonable, even though I hate group punishment, I would've made my daughter do it - even if I disagreed with it. But that is ridiculous.

I'm sorry that you're dealing with that. :(

[coopert]

I don't agree with group punishment and my son's teacher is notorious for it. Luckily it's a combo class with 0 problem students so they don't suffer much from it. 100 paragraphs also sounds excessive.

I am curious to what the paragraph says. If it is regarding things the trouble kids did, then it is definitely not a proper group punishment. Sounds like he was having a HORRIBLE day and had no patience for anything. IF he is always that way, I don't think I could tolerate him as my child's teacher. I'd be calling the principal and the school district on that. Like you I would also accept that my kid would get a 0 on the project.

[haydensmommy217]

This is just down right wrong, I'd be calling the school principal and then the school district. That teacher was having a very bad day and took it out of every one. 100 paragraphs is just down right insane.

[luckyme]

It's not only excessive -- it doesn't make sense. There should be negative consequences logically linked to the offending behaviour. So, if a kid is disrupting a class, the corrective action would be to get him to do something to get the class time table back on track (maybe by assisting the teacher with photocopying, prep work, classroom tidy-up, etc.). Punishments that don't teach the child anything are a waste of time.

I echo what others have said about the ineffectiveness of group punishments.

[disneyaddict]

I'd be in the principal's office discussing the appropriate amount of homework for a class and what the school's policy is on class punishment. In my opinion he flew off the handle and gave them assignment that no one could complete. The only way a teacher like that (in my personal experience) gets back on track is if administration knows what is going on.

An assignment like that would totally distroy my child. She has a hard time writing period - that much would totally push us both over the edge. Definitely complain and let your voice be heard. It's your job to advocate for your child.

Totally agree. I have a Master's in Special Education and one in Curriculum Development and Instructional Supervision. Absolutely never should this have happened, and parents should be in the principal's office immediately! At that age, my son would have had a total meltdown and was not capable of writing 100 sentences, let alone 100 paragraphs (and he tests gifted). One page or two at the most, maybe!!

[SweetMelissa]

Honestly if this happened to my child I would of been calling the school the next chance I could and be raising hell. I'm sorry but that is just too much for 9 and 10 year olds to be assigned. How the teacher expects them to complete it I don't know.