<p>I firmly support a teacher’s right to limit the number of rec letters he/she will write. A well-written letter takes significant time. It is not “part of a teacher’s job,” as defined by public schools at least, and teachers certainly shouldn’t have to provide as many letters as there are students who might request one.</p>
<p>OP, I think your problem is more with your child’s school than with the individual teacher. A good high school will have a timeline in place for the college search process, which should spell out for students when they ought to request letters. We weren’t especially in the loop when our first went through the admissions process, but the guidance department made clear when teachers should be approached, and issued several reminders. Mid-September IS on the late side to ask for a rec for a November 1st deadline, when one realizes that many students today apply via early decision. The teacher will have things going on in his/her life for the next 6 weeks other than writing letters for as many students as want one.</p>
<p>Finally, if the college already has on file several letters from this teacher for your child’s admission to summer programs, I don’t see why one of those letters couldn’t serve, unless it’s particularly limited. Does your high school have a copy of one of those letters that could be sent? Perhaps, if asked very nicely, the teacher might be willing simply to adapt one of the previous letters.</p>