AIBU to challenge detention?

[abraham]

Just looking for some opinions/advice please . . .

DS1 started secondary school last Sept, so the whole secondary school thing is still really new to me!

He has been doing really well in all his subjects, bar one - German. Yesterday he received an after school detention for failing his German test (detention is scheduled for this coming Tuesday). If he had been given a detention for not completing homework, misbehaving etc. I would support the school 100% (he received a lunchtime detention for not completing RE HWK in his second week at the school, and there was a good reason for it too (he'd been in hospital having an operation!) - but I still supported the school). However, a detention as punishment for failing a test just seems unfair - and counter productive anyway.

He does go to what is generally regarded as being a very strict school, so I suppose what I'm asking is if this is normal practice across the board - or not? I might have a philosophical problem with it, but if it's a widespread way of dealing with failure then there's little point in me challenging it is there?

Just to complicate things further - he comes top (or very near the top) of the class for most subjects. Languages aren't his strongest suit, but he is still near the top of the class in his other language choice (Spanish) - he says he finds it hard to understand the German teacher's accent, and she conducts most of the lesson in German. Clearly she's going for an immersion approach, but surely then she should expect that this approach would take longer to take effect anyway? Going to sound really gorilla mum here, but I have to question if the problem here is not DS1 at all - but actually the teacher?!?

Any thoughts on this would be most appreciated!

WOW! Thank you all so much for taking the time and trouble to reply - it's certainly opened my eyes to the diversity of opinion out there on this subject!

Just to clarify (for those who asked), DS1 did bring home a 'detention card' - which I have to sign, and he then takes along to the detention with him to hand in on the day. The detention is for 30 mins after school - reason for detention is stated on the card as: 'Failed grammar test. Has been specifically warned.' I hadn't seen the card for myself when I originally posted this morning (as DS stayed over at my mum's last night) - but, to be fair, the teacher has also written 'Revision session' at the top of the detention card. DS says the whole class was warned in advance that any who failed the test would receive a detention. He also said they were warned in advance not to complain, so I'm guessing they may have had complaints from parents over this in the past! He is definitely not the only one to have received a detention for failing the test, but he doesn't know for sure how many others did (possibly a quarter or the class, or so) - guess he will find out on Tuesday!

It's difficult, isn't it? On one level this does seem unfair - he is genuinely struggling with the subject, and obviously didn't choose to fail the test! On the other hand, this is probably the first time in his life he has ever struggled with anything academically before - and I do suspect he may be disengaging slightly from it for this reason. I did tell the teacher he was struggling a few weeks ago (at parent's evening) but, hand on heart, have not really done anything about it since then (Christmas got in the way slightly!). This is a kick up the butt for me, as much as for him!

DS says himself that he thinks it's unfair - but would rather sit through a hundred detentions than suffer the mortification of have me go in to complain about this one! So our decision is to 'bite the bullet' this time (as so many have advised!) Also, if the detention really is a revision session, then that makes it a whole lot better (and a whole lot more useful!) straight away! However, we are going to put in a lot more work in advance of the next test. If I can say then (hand on heart) that he's tried his hardest and still not passed, then I think I may have to raise my concerns with the school at that point.

Once again, thank you all so much for all your responses - it's been a real insight.

I give an after school catch up opportunity for students who don't pass tests yr10-13 I expect them to attend and be happy about it. we go through the test in detail and provide a revision opprtunity n a chance to explain individually any concept they find difficult.

I wouldn't for ks3 but it might be more of this sort of arrangement and your son feels it is a detention

Philoslothy My kids school give detentions out all the time, for various reasons, I think they are harder on year 7. My kids are just average and it is an average London high school.

My daughter has detentions for talking too much, but was also on the headteachers list of highest credits of her year and got an award. So I take very little notice of detentions.

How about getting him some help in German outside school? Either a tutor or using an online tuition programme? If he can do Spanish he really ought to be capable of learning German.

Talking while a teacher is talking is one of the most annoying things to a teacher and holds up learning constantly.

Does sound like a revision session and the only way the teacher can guarantee attendance is to do it as a detention. Perhaps you could raise it with the school that it's called a mandatory revision for those who didn't get the required grade rather than a detention.

I give detentions for failure to be within a grade of a students target grade. So if a students TG is an A and they get a B all is good, if they get a C they are with me for 40 minutes usually to resit the test which I then mark with them present. I don't even wait for them to fail.

It works on many levels and in many types of schools. It encourages students to do well the first time round and fulfill their potential.

Also it works from an academic point of view. I thought in one of the roughest schools in the country and got their hugest grades in 20 years in my subject with this approach. Now I work in one of the best schools in the country and strangely enough it works there too. Everyone is an expert on teaching and how old fashioned people are for taking a disciplined consequential approach but to be honest it works. Kids love boundaries, the need to know where they stand and that we care.

Teachers don't give detentions for fun, they are giving up their own time to do them. It's intervention and it's something worthy of praise rather than censure.

I doubt the detention I'd fir failing the test, more for not revising for the test

I wouldn't challenge it.

I often set revision for a test as homework so failing a test can be seen as not doing his homework. Also the teacher might use the detention time to discuss any misunderstanding of the work with the pupil, to help them improve their grade. I would always look at target grades/ability before setting detentions for this too, its not fair to expect al kids to reach, say, 80%. Maybe the teacher high expectations of your bright son and he's not making enough effort.

Interesting. My 7yo has weekly spelling tests. Anyone who gets less than 6/10 stays in over break to try to learn more of their words.

I'd not really thought much about this. It seems sensible to have some sort of extra opportunity for those who haven't learned their words to catch up a bit, and it does help incentivise them to learn their spellings. But use the word "Detention" and suddenly it's a much more emotive thing.

Is it a punishment or extra support? Or both?

Do yourself a favour and don't interfere, you probably don't know the full story and intervening and causing a fuss will not do your child any favours long term, it won't kill him!