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Secondary education

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Original poster

More cross than I should be....

17 replies

lalalalalalaleeee · 14/06/2023 07:00

DS (14) has been part of the mandarin excellence programme at school since year 7. Unfortunately the majority of the 1st year was online learning, and due to COVID many of the promised activities (trip to Beijing, china town, calligraphy classes etc) haven't happened.
For whatever reason DS has just not gelled with the subject. Fast forward to yesterday and it was their hurdle tests.
DS did his best, but has now been issued a detention because it wasn't good enough. To compound this, I have just checked the parenting app and he has been marked 'lack of pride'
I have emailed the school but can't help feel sorry for him

More cross than I should be....
OP posts:
SnapPop · 14/06/2023 07:03

I agree with you that "lack of pride" is a bit mean - he may just find this subject hard. It is a very difficult language! Is it a private school? I'd be surprised if a state school used this wording.

wildfirewonder · 14/06/2023 07:03

What are you annoyed about - that he failed or that he got a detention?

I would be cross about the detention if it was for failing something, as the correct consequence for failing is failing.

What does 'lack of pride' mean?

Hellocatshome · 14/06/2023 07:06

Lack of pride seems to me like the teachers thought he could have done better but didn't bother. If he tried his best but failed then marking that as lack of pride is not on. I would email/call the teacher to discuss and find a way to move forward.

eish · 14/06/2023 07:06

Lack of pride is a pretty antiquated term, have you had the full story from ds? I would question it but go with an open mind to see what happened.

Original poster
lalalalalalaleeee · 14/06/2023 07:06

SnapPop · 14/06/2023 07:03

I agree with you that "lack of pride" is a bit mean - he may just find this subject hard. It is a very difficult language! Is it a private school? I'd be surprised if a state school used this wording.

It's a state school

He has admitted that he finds it hard, has wasted 3 years and that he can't wait till he doesn't have to do it anymore

OP posts:
Original poster
lalalalalalaleeee · 14/06/2023 07:07

Hellocatshome · 14/06/2023 07:06

Lack of pride seems to me like the teachers thought he could have done better but didn't bother. If he tried his best but failed then marking that as lack of pride is not on. I would email/call the teacher to discuss and find a way to move forward.

I've emailed his teachers.

OP posts:
Paulla82 · 14/06/2023 07:08

Oh blimey. We don't have 'lack of pride' thank goodness. Talk about demoralising, I'd be annoyed too.

Original poster
lalalalalalaleeee · 14/06/2023 07:08

wildfirewonder · 14/06/2023 07:03

What are you annoyed about - that he failed or that he got a detention?

I would be cross about the detention if it was for failing something, as the correct consequence for failing is failing.

What does 'lack of pride' mean?

I'm annoyed that he got a detention

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 14/06/2023 07:10

lalalalalalaleeee · 14/06/2023 07:06

It's a state school

He has admitted that he finds it hard, has wasted 3 years and that he can't wait till he doesn't have to do it anymore

Show quote history

Is he doing a Mandarin GCSE? Does he have to be in the Mandarin Excellence Program? If he isnt enjoying it and is failing assessments can he not just leave the program? Sorry never heard of it so don't know how it works.

Newyeardietstartstomorrow · 14/06/2023 07:13

I think many of us can echo this. The enrichment that was supposed to encourage the language learning had to be cancelled, so just learning the language in the class room becomes stale and boring and the kids switch off. I'm disappointed because my dc could have dropped his MFL for a humanity, which would have guaranteed him pretty much an 8. He took his MFL because of the trips, enrichment and natural talent for language - his classmates even joked my ds was a spy. 12 months later after everything being cancelled (teacher strikes and staffing shortages) he has told me he might not even be doing the higher paper for his GCSE.

Notellinganyone · 14/06/2023 07:15

SnapPop · 14/06/2023 07:03

I agree with you that "lack of pride" is a bit mean - he may just find this subject hard. It is a very difficult language! Is it a private school? I'd be surprised if a state school used this wording.

This is much more typical of state than private.

Original poster
lalalalalalaleeee · 14/06/2023 07:24

Newyeardietstartstomorrow · 14/06/2023 07:13

I think many of us can echo this. The enrichment that was supposed to encourage the language learning had to be cancelled, so just learning the language in the class room becomes stale and boring and the kids switch off. I'm disappointed because my dc could have dropped his MFL for a humanity, which would have guaranteed him pretty much an 8. He took his MFL because of the trips, enrichment and natural talent for language - his classmates even joked my ds was a spy. 12 months later after everything being cancelled (teacher strikes and staffing shortages) he has told me he might not even be doing the higher paper for his GCSE.

100% this. DS won't have a MFL at GCSE now as has spent year 7-9 on mandarin
He is dropping it at the end of the school yesr

OP posts:
wildfirewonder · 14/06/2023 07:52

I think though the correct modelling for the child to see is a parent saying 'this is a good lesson for life - some you win and some you lose. I know you tried, but COVID and maybe your preferences mean this isn't for you. You drop it and move on, focus on strengths'.

If the child wants to learn a language they still can (one of mine self-taught).

Complain about the detention/lack of pride thing, but encourage the child to focus on their strengths. Life is a disappointment at times but they sound like generally they can do well.

Catmuffin · 15/06/2023 23:28

What is Failure of C1 ?

Testina · 16/06/2023 21:50

Catmuffin · 15/06/2023 23:28

What is Failure of C1 ?

C1 is usually the lowest level of admonishment, that’s not formally recorded. So a first warning for talking in class my kids’ school in a C1 of having your name written on the board. If you behave, your name is wiped off and no action or record. But if you continue to talk it becomes a C2 for breaking the C1 warning. It’s like a quiet word before a yellow card!

OP, why are you focused on the second day lack of pride and not the first day C2? Lack of pride is a stuffy phrase… but at the end of the day, even if he’s disappointed with the pandemic impact (and who isn’t?) he’s got - few weeks to go and he should still be behaving and trying.

It’s actually totally understandable if he isn’t trying… but then he needs to accept the consequences. A detention for not doing well in a test is unfair if he really did try his best. But two behaviour marks in two days suggests perhaps he isn’t trying his best?

NotSoFastMyDear · 02/07/2023 19:54

Is that private school?

Testina · 02/07/2023 20:35

@NotSoFastMyDear - OP has answered that.

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