04-13-2012, 02:29 PM
One hour detention would be worth setting the class straight and getting the teacher to admit he was wrong, in writing. One hour, big whoop. I had more than a few Saturday morning work details in 10th grade, from the same teacher, for respectfully arguing opinion in civics class. After the third or fourth time offering a "dissenting' view of what I considered her off-base interpretations, she started asking me, in class, if I wanted to resist debating her or spend a half day Saturday cleaning up around the school. I played racquetball at school every Saturday afternoon anyway, so I chose option B. I always stopped after about 5 minutes of back-and-forth and told her I could see her point, though I disagreed.
My parents didn't give a shit. They cared more about my report card and simply called the teacher the first time I got work detail. She assured them that I wasn't an asshole, but a bit "disruptive" in that I knew that I always had the option of challenging her after class. She was right about that. So, I considered it fair. I didn't sit by and let something I considered to be bullshit go unchallenged, and she made me pay a little for not handling it the way that the authority figure preferred. Pfft. It wasn't the Breakfast Club or anything, but I did get to like some of the Saturday morning regulars.
So, I don't see the OP note as that big a deal as long as the parents didn't encourage the kid to just shut his trap altogether. Always trade-offs for challenging authority in front of their charges; good prep for adult life on-the-job. Right or wrong, probably a price to pay if you continually argue with the boss, or military leader, in front of others too.
My parents didn't give a shit. They cared more about my report card and simply called the teacher the first time I got work detail. She assured them that I wasn't an asshole, but a bit "disruptive" in that I knew that I always had the option of challenging her after class. She was right about that. So, I considered it fair. I didn't sit by and let something I considered to be bullshit go unchallenged, and she made me pay a little for not handling it the way that the authority figure preferred. Pfft. It wasn't the Breakfast Club or anything, but I did get to like some of the Saturday morning regulars.
So, I don't see the OP note as that big a deal as long as the parents didn't encourage the kid to just shut his trap altogether. Always trade-offs for challenging authority in front of their charges; good prep for adult life on-the-job. Right or wrong, probably a price to pay if you continually argue with the boss, or military leader, in front of others too.