My story: unfair disciplinary action taken? please help!

Applying to College
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<p>In the first semester of my ninth grade year, a classmate was absent for a few weeks. The day before he returned, he asked me several questions online about an extra credit assignment. I answered him, but he completely did not understand. So, when he asked to see my Word Document, I thought nothing of it and sent it to him. I didn't think it was a big deal, since it was a book report and we both had obviously had to have read two different books.</p>

<p>Along the course of the next two months, I built up a great hostile relationship with my English teacher for completely petty reasons, and she was not fond of me either.</p>

<p>So, when she accused me a few months later of cheating on an assignment I was angered. It was not the first time she edged toward the thought of me cheating. Though at first it boost my self esteem, to think that she thought of me as such a great writer that I would copy someone else's words, it got to the point where I was very angry.</p>

<p>Anyway, she pulled me out of class one day and asked if I had ever copied assignments from anyone. I had to think of it for a minute, and was reminded of our last assignment where one part included copying dictionary definitions. Since no one wanted to find all one hundred and twenty definitions, 15 or so kids and I split up the work and helped each other. I told her that that was the closest I could think of, and asked if she included that as cheating. She said no, and we returned to the classroom.</p>

<p>The next day, I was faced with 3 weeks detention, a lowering of 2 grades, and was put in front of the class to embarrassingly apologize to everyone, which was very upsetting. My counselor spoke with me, but there was one part that I was never told: I have a mark on my permanent record.</p>

<p>For some reason, in my mind, I kept thinking that sharing dictionary definitions with my classmates was what was counted as my cheating. So, I dealt with the consequences, and let it be. But, the year after, when I confronted my teacher and asked if this would affect my applying to college, she laughed, put her arm around me and said, "Of course not, honey."</p>

<p>But, only this year, after begging my counselors to look into it (I go to a very terrible public school), and finally having my parents come into the school to speak with the principal, did I learn that I have a mark on my Permanent Record. That is also when I found out that it had nothing to do with the sharing of definitions, but actually the Extra Credit assignment that I let my classmate see. I have no idea whether he copied it word for word or what, because I was never told. I never knew that THAT was what had caused this mess, and if I was told that, then I could at least I could try to tell the truth.</p>

<p>I am posting this for help. I am aiming for the highest colleges, and this has created a mess, and has in turn made me a mess. For years I have been dealing with the, what I feel is, unfair actions taken. I don't know what to do. I have just begun my junior year, and I feel that there is no point in trying to work so hard when I may have lost my chances already.</p>

<p>Please give me advice. I am not a cheater.</p>

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<p>Did you tell them this story? If not, tell it to them just like you told it to us, and confront the kid you sent your work to. If they don’t believe you, try to get him to explain to them that it was his fault.</p>

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<p>Oh, and if all else fails, then you can explain that to them in their letter, or, alternatively, you could say nothing about it. Many, if not most, top schools in the Ivy League do not count Freshman grades, I don’t think they count any suspensions or disciplinary actions taken in 9th grade, either, although you may want to double check on that. From what I read, they only look at 10th, 11th, and the first half of 12th. </p>

<p>Besides, just because you cheated on one assignment does not mean you will be automatically rejected; Grade Point Average, Test Scores, Class rank, and Extracirriculars are far more important. What are your stats?</p>

<p>My brother was suspended from High School several times, had a 3.2 GPA weighted GPA, 2.8 if you don’t count his electives, and an 1,870 SAT, but he was also an Eagle Scout. He was accepted into the University of Colorado Boulder, and several Big Ten schools. </p>

<p>Really, though, if I were you, I would have followed up when it first happened. If she says it isn’t cheating, why would you assume that you were punished for that? You copy definitions from the Dictionary anyway, there’s little to no difference copying it from another person. Just accepting the punishment, especially the two grade lowering, was very irresponsible. What was your final grade for that class?</p>

<p>I would try to get it fixed by doing what I advised, but if it honestly does not work, they don’t count 9th grade, anyway.</p>

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<p>Youre pretty much boned by your own inaction, sorry. And boned by school bureaucracy. IN order to make this post somewhat helpful, I would say get your parents to come talk to your teacher and GC if they don’t listen to you, because its a known fact that parents can bail their kids out of many messes. </p>

<p>And when all is done, you need to give your “friend” a sharp kick in the nuts, so that he doesnt spawn any children with the integrity of S. Failin.</p>

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<p>^agreed. wow. you should’ve said something</p>

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<p>Every time it was brought up, counselors, my teacher, dean and even my principal shut me down, and claimed that they would “look into it”. I probably went in about twelve times (at the very, very least) over the course of two years to try to figure out what happened, and they didn’t care much. They just said “don’t worry about it” (the “cheating scandal” occurred before winter break, so over winter break I tried to forget about it because I felt so terrible about myself).
My parents went in twice, as did my brother (He’s thirty, and a lawyer), and they refused to take it off. In fact, they tried to get rid of my mom every time she called, and when she finally went in, my principal kicked her out.</p>

<p>I’ve been trying to talk to the administration for years, and nothing has been done about it. And, my school has changed my guidance counselor three times (one quit, the other thought I was a “hassle” because I asked so often if she would write me recommendations for volunteer, and asked for opportunities for college… She never knew how to answer my questions)
Does anyone know if there is any larger board I can speak with?</p>

<p>I repeat, I go to one of the worst schools in my area. The school administration is terrible. I’m at the top 5% of my class, but this is a major blow to my record. In fact, I had to calculate myself what percent of the class I’m in, because they will not tell me.</p>

<p>And, I did speak up, I kept saying that I didn’t know it counted as cheating, and that I didn’t think I had really cheated (which, in retrospect I had realized I had never actually done). But, I just kept repeating that.
My final grade became a C. Thank you, Saugus.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any real advice as to what to do? Because I am not giving up on my dreams. Well, not without a fight, at least. You all seem to know the ins and outs. Is there anyone who can help? I am not going to sit here and let my college dreams disintegrate when I do not believe I had actually done anything.</p>

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<p>Nick017–
Hun, I never called him my friend. I don’t know who you were trying to quote.</p>

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<p>This may seem a big overdramatic and it might not fit your case but you seem like you need/want all the help you can get–could you maybe contact ACLU?</p>

<p>It seems like your teachers/administrators knowingly withheld information about the mark on your record for a long time and you should have had the right to know if you were being punished for something. And even if they hadn’t originally planned on putting it on your record, it seems like you should have been informed if they changed their minds.</p>

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<p>Oh, I assumed he had been your friend, because I wouldnt let a nonfriend’classmate’ within a 1 foot radius of my work. I put quotes around friend to indicate that he was the opposite of a friend, my bad. </p>

<p>I do have something constructive to say about public school bureaucracy, but I’ll get back to you on that. In the meantime you can contact my secretary. No, seriously, you can contact an admissions officer (at any nearby university, maybe even one you arent applying to) meet them and talk with them. They should know the local school’s attitude and they might even empathize with you if you are a good speaker and such. They are better qualified to give you advice.</p>

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<p>fix it up a bit and there’s your essay</p>

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<p>If your school is as stubborn as you say they are, then you need to go to the District level. Contact your superintendent, and plead your case with them. What school do you go to? I want to do a bit of research on it.</p>

<p>I would not only try to get the mark lifted, but have the points taken from you restored. Top Colleges will never know of your C since it was in 9th grade, and they don’t count it, but it may affect your overall rank for high school, and I would be concerned about that.</p>

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<p>I hate the system… You need to take action and do it fast. That’s the most ridiculous disciplinary action I’ve ever heard of. Complain and complain loudly. Get the facts right and tell someone way higher up with your parents. </p>

<p>But seriously, little works against the system. The teacher probably has tenure, and the administration has its rules. They might just stonewall you or say you deserved it, even though I think you didn’t.</p>

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<p>Here I Come – in life and business, if you are not getting what you consider to be fair treatment from those you’re speaking with, ESCALATE! Many times I use the phrase “May I speak with your supervisor, please?” In your case, you need to find out who the Principal reports to, and write them a letter (or better yet, just clean up your first post and send that).</p>

<p>Do not let this go!</p>

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<p>Thank you all so very much!!</p>

<p>I will definitely keep you updated as I go along with this.</p>

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<p>Best of luck. What that teacher did is ridiculous.</p>

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<p>Agreed. Contact your district superintendent ASAP.</p>