What would you do?

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The school I attend has a very strict attendance policy. Last week, one of my classmates was absent. However, I noticed that his girlfriend signed him in. During class the teacher noticed that he was missing, and his girlfriend stated that he was in the restroom. This was not true, as he was gone the entire day, and I know for a fact that she signed him in.

If this were you, would you inform the dean? I mean it is not fair for one student to get credit, while the rest of us walk on pins and needles hoping we don't ever have a legitimate reason to be gone.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

(Die, thread, diiiiiiiiiiiiie....)

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Sorry! I'm not following your logic. The thoughts are kind of scattered.

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This is interesting. Most of the "give em a pass" folks seemingly think the issue is limited to the relative harm of some guy skipping class. Apparently, the girlfriend forging a name on the attendance roster and then the direct lie to the instructor's question are infractions so mundane as to go without notice.

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This is interesting. Most of the "give em a pass" folks seemingly think the issue is limited to the relative harm of some guy skipping class. Apparently, the girlfriend forging a name on the attendance roster and then the direct lie to the instructor's question are infractions so mundane as to go without notice.

Interesting thread! (Don't die thread - this is good stuff).

I don't think this is as simple as a guy skipping a class either.

steph

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Specializes in home & public health, med-surg, hospice.
This is interesting. Most of the "give em a pass" folks seemingly think the issue is limited to the relative harm of some guy skipping class. Apparently, the girlfriend forging a name on the attendance roster and then the direct lie to the instructor's question are infractions so mundane as to go without notice.

Hmmm, maybe.

But I see a common thread amongst the opposing group of a mentality that says, "if I can't, they shouldn't be able to either." So really, what's it about? Is it about someone not following the rules? Or is it more about the feelings of slight from those that feel obligated to follow the rules (and I'm sorry but, hopefully, by the x ppl are in college didactic class attendance really ought to be up to the individual) when others don't? What I mean is, are you really pissed b/c of the particular "rule" that was broke or are ya just pissed they're getting away w/ it?

Are you adhering to the letter of the law or the spirit of the law?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Look, if someone violates a moving traffic rule and causes an accident, I'm gonna hang around and make sure TBTB have a witness, if I saw it.

But I'm not gonna go up to the cop investigating a 'california stop' and go, "OH! OH! I saw the whole thing!"

I agree that it's more than just skipping class, it's lying and deceit.

Nevertheless.

I was watching 'the Running Man' on TV the other night, and this reminds me of where the background announcer at one place was saying, "Remember kids, it's two for one month, turn in a relative and get double the reward!"

It's just so '1984' to feel you have an obligation to ensure that everybody follows the rules. I think you have a duty to report some things, but that doesn't make you the hall monitor.

I guess I just don't see myself as the eyes and ears for TPTB. But more to the point, being the class narc is somewhat equivalent to being a gossip. I don't see any morally redeeming value in it.

I don't feel like I have some morale duty to ensure all the rules are enforced. Especially rules like this, which I view as silly and overbearing. I mean, we are adults, if the school wants to treat you like a truant child, I guess they have that right, but that doesn't equate to some morale responsibility on my part to be complicit in its enforcement.

~faith,

Timothy.

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I would mind my business & not be the "reporter of dishonesty" in this instance. Surely there's enough to keep you busy to let this one go & frankly it's none of your business. Ultimately he hurts no one but himself; & don't be so sure the instructor is oblivious to this-- he may be more on top of things than you're giving him credit for.

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Zash, I'm all for giving people free reign to be as mutton-headed as they desire. However, as you said, we are adults. As such, we shouldn't have to explain why we need to out of class for a day. We should be given a fair amount of latitude regarding work turned in or even the occasional reschedule of an exam for personal reasons. But it doesn't work that way. I'll give you an example.

Where I'm currently going to school, you are prohibited (officially at least) from going to the bathroom during an exam. Yes. You heard that right. Why in the world would such a rule exist? Because some person(s) thought it would be cute to look up answers while at the can. So, instead of being treated like adults that are capable of emptying a bladder without cheating, we're all burdened with the sad result of some twerp who thought they could thwart the rules.

It would be nice to let people futz around however they like. But in an environment of shared resources, the stupidity of one ends up penalizing the innocent long after the shelfish person has left. So yeah, I'll say something when someone is displaying their idiocy right under my nose. Because if I don't, I'm going to end up having to put up with some asinine rule that gets created because nobody had the chutzpah to stop it at the source.

Sometimes being an adult means putting a stop to childish behavior.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Zash, I'm all for giving people free reign to be as mutton-headed as they desire. However, as you said, we are adults. As such, we shouldn't have to explain why we need to out of class for a day. We should be given a fair amount of latitude regarding work turned in or even the occasional reschedule of an exam for personal reasons. But it doesn't work that way. I'll give you an example.

Where I'm currently going to school, you are prohibited (officially at least) from going to the bathroom during an exam. Yes. You heard that right. Why in the world would such a rule exist? Because some person(s) thought it would be cute to look up answers while at the can. So, instead of being treated like adults that are capable of emptying a bladder without cheating, we're all burdened with the sad result of some twerp who thought they could thwart the rules.

It would be nice to let people futz around however they like. But in an environment of shared resources, the stupidity of one ends up penalizing the innocent long after the shelfish person has left. So yeah, I'll say something when someone is displaying their idiocy right under my nose. Because if I don't, I'm going to end up having to put up with some asinine rule that gets created because nobody had the chutzpah to stop it at the source.

Sometimes being an adult means putting a stop to childish behavior.

Yeah, but in this case, the school is already over the top. The 'asinine' rule is already in place.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.

Personally, I don't favor these people getting away with their behavior. Particularly telling the instructor a bald faced lie. I simply don't consider it my job to rat them out. Period.

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Specializes in ER.
It is this type of attitude that gets me. Wonder what else you would do if you could "get away with it".

Actually I know this one guy who was drunk and ran over his own child in his yard, drove him to the hospital and then could only point and grunt at the injury, he was so intoxicated. Then a month later he came in himself after wrapping his car around a tree and taking out an innocent bystander.

If I could get away with it I would cheerfully take him out back of the ER and shoot him in the head. So, pretty much, I guess I'd do anything given the right circumstances, and if I could get away with it. If that makes me an amoral sociopath, I can live with it. :rolleyes: (and thanks for asking, lol)

I just don't think cutting class is going to shatter anyone's life- that's all. OP is getting all tied up in a knot oversomething thatreally doesn't matter, and he/she certainly has enough stress, and enough conflict what with going to school. Why add to it? Sure, if she is specifically asked, don't lie, but notes to profs and promises anonymity are just to melodramatic for such a minor infraction.

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