<p>Kudos to you for your courage in tackling this difficult situation.
I suspect one of two things: that the instructor has been given an “improvement plan” or is in trouble after you very justifiably complained about the $50, and now he is trying to “prove his worth” by showing that “his” students have a high rate of college admission and financial aid/scholarships (he may not know the difference between these), OR he is so vindictive that he wants schools to rescind their offers of admission or financial aid. Let’s hope that it is the first possibility. This in no way justifies his outrageous behavior, but it might help to know where he is coming from as you try to stop him from intimidating students for his own purposes, which obviously involve gaining favor for himself with others (whether this is his charity or the principal). You might go to the principal and explain that you would not want anyone at the school to get in trouble because an instructor was violating privacy laws, and that you are concerned that the school could be in legal jeopardy if students are required to submit private information. I am sure that the principal will share your concern.</p>
<p>Levirm, I was thinking that is exactly what his motivation is. What do you think about this scenario…
I inform the principal in what ever shape form or fashion. She bans him from this nonsense. (Which I’m sure she will)He then tells the class that my D reported him. Give them a very difficult final, so her classmates can blame her. Now what? Teens can be very harsh on each other.
He is just that vindictive.</p>
<p>That’s why I’d do the bare minimum to meet the requirement and once the grade is in hand then lower the boom. Dr. Phil says, “Do you want to be right, or do you want to solve the problem?” Getting her out of that class with a decent grade is solving the immediate problem. Then when you’re out of the line of fire go back and do what’s right.</p>
<p>Without comment on other reasons, in some circles, schools ask for students’ total awards (be they FA or scholarships). These get totalled and the school boasts how their kids got awarded millions (of course this ignores whether they were merit or need based awards).</p>
<p>Could the instructor’s desire for award letter info be tied into this? He’s hoping to give a tally of what his kids are being awarded?</p>
<p>On another note, JROTC instructors are retired Army NCOs and they also report to an outside administrator, I’m almost certain. Have you considered that the head of JROTC instruction in your city is possibly another ally (along with your principal)?</p>
<p>My sympathies to your daughter. My JROTC experience was stupendous. It was my main EC which helped me attain an HYP college. For a very long time, I considered the service academies – just based on the great instruction and personal example of the two JROTC instructors at my HS. In subsequent years whenever I ret’d to visit, I always stopped by the Sergeants’ office to say hello. They were great men.</p>
<p>An effective way to talk to a school principal is to say, “Here’s what I understand is happening in my D’s classroom, and I just came to seek clarification from you as to whether it is normal or appropriate.”</p>
<p>You simply describe what you heard and understand has already transpired. Be calm and factual. After you tell the whole story, ask again in even tones: “Does that all sound normal or appropriate to you?” </p>
<p>When she offers to “look into the matter,” THEN you express all your concerns about your daughter’s privacy, grade and possible repercussions including “I’m also concerned that she might experience consequences from my visit today” and why you think that might occur (based on how D reported his prior in-class comment). You can list your “concerns” such as: the next test might be super-hard to punish students; D’s grade might become punishment; peer pressure, or whatever you think. It’s the principal’s job to either reassure you or take steps to see that these things don’t happen. </p>
<p>“I’m concerned that…” is a fair way to begin a sentence about whatever you imagine might happen. Principals deal a lot in evidence and demonstrated facts rather than “what if this happens?” speculation. That you are “concerned” is already a fact and she has to deal with the fact that she has a concerned parent. </p>
<p>Find out how you might expect to hear follow-up so you know where you stand. If she’s too vague, say, “It sounds as though I should call in to find out how it has resolved. Should I call back in 1 day or 3?”</p>
<p>Let the principal do her job but ask to be informed of the outcome. Continue to say you are concerned for your daughter and possible repercussions but you have confidence the principal will tend to the situation. Then leave. </p>
<p>Don’t expect the principal to say a single bad word against the teacher or agree with you in any way until she’s had a chance to talk with that teacher. She’ll likely just take in information from you on this first meeting. IF she’s like 99% of the principals I know (I taught public school), the moment you leave she’ll make a bee-line for his classroom and tell him that his next prep period he is to come to her office. By day’s end, the matter will be in much better control than it is now.</p>
<p>Figure it will take two meetings: one for you to introduce the situation to her, and a second where she;ll advise you of the outcome and how it’s being handled. (that second meeting might be a phone call out to you.)</p>
<p>If the principal handles it well, I don’t see why you’d alert the school superintendent right now. For now it’s an in-school matter. If you want to campaign after your D graduates to have the teacher reviewed or disciplined, then let the principal initiate that, and over the summer, with you as witness not plaintiff. Others might do things differently but I tend to separate things out and deal with immediate problems first.</p>
<p>Legit, how do the other parents or students feel about this? Might they also complain? Could you do it in a group? If you could get other parents on board, this would shield your daughter from being blamed by the other students for a difficult final.
If you can’t get other parents to join you, you might tell the principal that you have concerns about the legality of something going on, but you need absolute confidentiality regarding the reporting of this matter because you fear retribution against your daughter or against the whole class. Would the principal respect this?</p>