<p>as I understand it, a new protocol was instituted for the plebes laptops that will not allow them to install any new software (games) on the computers and shuts down internet access after midnight. yes, this is frustrating to many. though some have already figured out work arounds to the problem.</p>
<p>That's it, APE, as I understand it from my plebe...including skype, installing/uninstalling programs, access to internet date/time calendar, defragmenting, sending homework files to professors via Email, connecting to wireless routers. I'm sure he has figured out how to work around it, temporarily. Not a permanent fix-he realizes that and is frustrated</p>
<p>As for the computer engineering class-I am extremely concerned, but what can a mom do? If 8 or 9 are failing in each class!?! Do your plebes say the same? It sounds like most of our plebes have the "problem" professor and they (for the most part) are failing the course. My son reassured me that "his" F is a "HIGH" one. Like I feel so much better about that. The plebes who have the "other" professor for the same class are making A's and B's-not F's. The "problem" professor doesn't use textbook or syllabus and told the class they'd would mostly cover EXCEL and they are actually mostly doing VB. Don't they have only 3-4 weeks left now until finals??? What can they do? My son feels pretty much "helpless" and thinks he can't change anything. He is very knowledgeable with EXCEL and is extremely computer savvy. Have any plebes been to the dean? My son isn't the type to spearhead a confrontation with "Academia" much to my dismay!</p>
<p>if his class is anything like the one i am in then it is not 8-9 failing... its 6-8 passing. thats good if he has an F+. that means he might be able to pull up his grade. Some people are so far gone (even though they tried and tried) that there is no way that they can pull it up in the next 3.5 weeks before finals. We got our last quiz back. We have a kid in there that took 3 years of computer programing stuff before he got there. he got in the high 60s. there were a total of 4 kids in my section that passed. The teacher is very unapproachable. He treats us like we are 10 years old in class. As for the new restrictions on computers. We cant add new software (forget games... I need AutoCAD for next trimester), we cant change time or date, defrag the harddrive.</p>
<p>It's not just the plebes. He has a section of 3rd class "B" splitters too. It looks like the same story there.</p>
<p>Did we not go through the same problem 1st tri with calc and physics? Is there a pattern here and is admin looking into any of this?</p>
<p>My mids say that Admin is handling it - they are in the classroom working with the prof among other things. What's more the mids are on it too. Spoke to mine last night and was assured that it is taken care of (after I offered to get involved).</p>
<p>Talked to mine last night as well. He had some good advise which I felt was worth sharing. First, it would be best if we as parents stayed on the sidelines
and let the Mids handle this. Second, he suggested that the Plebes allow the
thirdclassmen take the lead and just grab on to their coattails. Finally and perhaps most importantly he said to rememeber that this is a 2 credit course that is taking up much more of everyone's time than many 3 and 4 credit courses. Do not allow your other courses to fall away because of the time you are spending trying to save this one. If you fail another more important course trying to get to an F+ in this one you really WILL be in trouble.
Unfortunately sometimes you have to sacrahice a limb to save the patient.
Save your e-mailsand hope that this all works out.</p>
<p>Helicopter mamas, take a deep breath and remember that your offspring are now adults attending a federal service academy. They are being trained to deal with stress and crises. This isn't high school anymore. Do we stress and worry----absolutlely. Is it our problem to solve---nuh uh. As hard as it is (and it is) you have to let them go. In less than a year many of your little darlings will be at the helm of a 700' ship somewhere in the world. They may have ship captains that may be Horatio Hornblower or Captain Queeg. You can't just swoop out to the North Atlantic and save them. You want to listen to what KPMarineopsdad just said. At this point the best you can do is listen to the *****in' and offer them your prayers.</p>
<p>I think that St. Crispian is right on the money. I too have a plebe in that class who is also struggling. Unlike most of you, mine hasn't made a peep except to clue me in when he was home. When I inquire he says, "I'm handling it mom. Yes, I am going to tutoring and I am telling my mentor." What else can you say? They are learning real quick to be adults and to deal with issues that will make them more able to handle the crises that await them later this year at sea. As I am sure all of us parents raised our children right and now our job is done. We taught them to be strong, independant and capable young men and women. Now they are being tested, in some instances, for the first time. I think KPMarineOpsDad said it earlier in this thread. These were the model students, the tutors, the leaders....now they are learning how to deal with academic adversity. It is a hard pill to swallow. I have faith in mine AND yours to come through this stronger than ever. As long as the powers that be intercede in an appropriate way--I'm staying out, way out of this one. I can't speak for everyone, but I think that doing nothing on this one might be the best thing to do.</p>
<p>Amen! We don't need to get involved. I'm not sure how many of you are members of your Parent's Association, but Kings Point has Parents Associations for a purpose. I suggest you all join your local group. There is a link on the Academy web site. If you turly have a concern and/or gripe, that's the venue to use. Go to the Association President. The President can then look into the issues through the proper channels. When my older son enlised in the Navy, I sure was not at Great Lakes when he was going through basic, and I'm sure not there with him now in Iraq.........the lesson's he's learned on his own are what's made him successful.</p>
<p>Again, look into your local Parent's Association. There is a lot of valuable information there!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.usmma.edu/parents/%5B/url%5D">http://www.usmma.edu/parents/</a></p>
<p>I definitely have no plans to intervene! I know they're not in kindergarten anymore! I was only asking what you have heard about the class from your plebes and what, if anything, they are doing to obtain a bell curve/challenge the situation? Mine will not be the one to spearhead a challenge with Academia. I am frustrated that he's not made any effort to make this "right." I don't think his "high F" just appeared this week...it's been there all along. He's waited until a few weeks until finals and that "high F" is not going to change significantly unless a very healthy bell curve is put in place. I am encouraging HIM to talk to upperclassmen, professors, administrators EARLY in the trimester as problems arise. Not sit back and watch and wait until it's too late to effectively do anything about the situation. I think that's basically what happened with physics last trimester and I'd hoped that was a lesson. Here we are again. Only, this time, his grade is even lower. My son needs to learn how to approach adult faculty/admin and work out solutions. Not stay in shadows and hope for the best/accept whatever comes his way. That's a bit of advice he got from a rising senior at the USCGA last summer..."Seek out your professors early in the trimester and communicate with them."</p>
<p>RichVaMom,
I don't think your plebe is much different than most and I know that the powers that be have known about this situation for a while. He is in a VERY large group of students who are failing this class. Your son WILL learn to fight his own battles! Do not despair. (And by the way, the students did try to approach this professor early and often--it didn't matter.) Hang in there.</p>
<p>kathynp, Thanks for words of encouragement. I IM'd with my son this afternoon and he said some of them were talking today about the need to "arrange something" and my son actually suggested a meeting on Monday. Now, that's my boy! Everyone seemed to agree sooner the better-Monday sounds good. Now, with whom they plan to meet and which one of them will actually set it up/make contact...who knows. Yes, I do want him to take charge and learn to fight his own battles and make his own destiny! Not just sit there and accept a failing grade in his major that he feels is unfair. It's just way too important.</p>
<p>Talked to my plebe today and sounds like there is enough in the works that it is no longer the priority. Now it's all about the INSPECTION!</p>
<p>I'm sorry, but LFWB went to shcool in the worst public school system in America and he never had any of these problems and is doing just fine. The one tri his grades slipped below a 3.5 he said it was simply because he didn't work as hard as he did before and he fixed that. He acknowledges that it not easy, but its not supposed to be.</p>
<p>LFWB dad,</p>
<p>We are in a great public school system, but both my children went to the school on the "wrong side of the tracks", so to speak. My daughter just graduated from a prestigious school here in MD with high marks this past May and now my S goes to KP--my S even laughs when he tell the other plebes from MD where he went to school, they kind of say, "Wow, and you got into KP?" It's kind of funny. Just gives more confidence to the saying that, "what you put in, is what you get out" of any situation.</p>
<p>LFWB,</p>
<p>Congratulations on your son's achievements and stellar GPA, despite his having attended a HS in the worst public school system in America! Thanks for sharing. Did he (does he) have the same computer engineering professor with whom the current plebes are having issues and about whom parents are discussing on this thread? I thought we were talking about class of 2011 and difficulties with a specific teacher in a specific class, not about how "easy" vs how "hard" it's supposed to be at KP. Sounds like you think our plebes, quite simply, aren't doing the work required. I wish it was that simple.</p>
<p>Also, I think the major has something to do with it. My son is Systems Engineering and as I understand that's one of the harder majors with the "difficult" math, etc. My son went from a 4.0 GPA in HS and is now singing the KP song... 2.0 good to go.....UGH! Currently he has a 3.2 so needless to say I'm happy with that and so is he but it's only 2nd Tri of plebe year!</p>
<p>Our son is also is in Systems Engineering... as we understand it, also one of the toughest majors to acheive. Did a lot of talking with him before he declared his major & he stuck to his guns... "I want to build boats & this is what I have to do to get there." He is doing very well with his plebe year, academics & all but has a little issue with comp engr... but things are getting looked into... he's excited that he has A's & B's in all other courses... he is working to keep his grades up so that he can go practice with the off-shore sailing team over spring break... & hopes with all his heart that he is good enough to do the Far 40 race in the spring... yeah, he's stressed... but we found that as parents if you keep them grounded & their "eye on the carrot" (as stated previously), they get it, to some degree... no way are we letting him bail... our words, "life ain't fair, buck up & do your best & if you know you have done your best, then be proud of yourself."</p>
<p>It is tough for these guys & gals but we have to remind them that they are one of a chosen few.</p>
<p>This is somewhat of a long post but I need to share this... we are actively involed with a conservation group & yesterday we held our banquet... our local troop does color guard & after the presentation of the colors our emcee recognized the 2 Eagle Scouts from our troop that are serving their country, our son was one of them... sorta cool, no... way cool.... sorry, that was a mom moment... our audience was very receptive & it made us proud that we had a son that is willing to serve.... now if we can just get him over all the pot-holes!</p>