What is your take on this?

[wysiwyg]

I was approached by two classmates who are both casual friends of mine about an issue they seem to have with each other. This issue involves the teacher and what seems like favoritism. We will call them classmate A and classmate B.

A has missed the majority of our classes and does not come to class prepared. However, she has had a string of extenuating circumstances, but even outside of that, she comes in late to class at least once a week. B missed class as well and has missed at least one important project because of it. B is now kicked out of the class because she has missed over the allotted absent days. However, much like A, B has extenuating circumstances. B had the flu and a doctor's note to back it up. Brought it to class, but was told to leave. 

Now, the attendance policy is laid out pretty clearly. "If a student misses 6 (cumulative) days of class, they will be dropped with an F. No exceptions."

Student B has gone to the Dean of our branch campus. Dean said "tough luck." B is now asking me to go with her to speak to the Dean and Assistant Dean of the main campus. Student B insists that A should have been kicked out as well, but was not because of favoritism. B is correct that according to the class attendance policy, A should have been kicked out.

A has begged me not to say anything. We've talked about what has been going on with her. I firmly told B that I don't think it is right to try to kick A out of the class, as our teacher made a judgment call and our Dean backed her up on it. I also told both of them to leave me out of it from here on out.


Would you have done the same? 

[elleblue]

No way in hell would I get involved in that cluster. And I side eye B for even asking you. 

[Deleted]

Yes. Although I would have abstained from giving any opinion. Instead I would have encouraged B to seek any resources available to her to pursue her complaint with the school. And you were absolutely correct to tell them to leave you out of it.

[aliciaflorrick]

I would not entertain the thought of getting involved in this.

[irishbride2]

That's like saying " I shouldnt get a ticket becaue someone else was speeding too!"

[emjacobs]

This isn't your place, you aren't the teacher and you aren't an employee at all so it isn't your place.

[sparkythelawyer]

I would avoid that situation like the clap.

[maddiepaddy]

Yeah, I agree. Stay out of it. And I majorly side-eye B. They should be arguing why they shouldn't be kicked out.... not why A should also be kicked out. I understand that it may not be 'fair,' but B will gain nothing from A being kicked out, too. What a jerk.

[dexteroni]

You did the right thing. I agree with @damnation that suggesting a few university resources is the most involved I would get. I also agree that ideally, I wouldn't even have given an opinion, but I know myself too well to think I would actually refrain from saying anything if B was going on about it, lol.

[10nille]

I hope you update on what happens to B. If her defense of getting kicked out is to throw another classmate under a bus, then I can understand why she is not the favorite.

[RoxMonster]

Hell NO, I would not touch that situation with a 10 foot pole. You were 100% correct to stay out of it.

If anything, B could fight for her (is it a woman?) right to stay in the class to the Dean. She should not even bring up A to the Dean.

As a teacher, even a HS one, I absolutely loathe when students pull the "it's not fair card." I have even had a student walk in with her own paper and a classmate's paper that she got from that person who tried to tell me her grade wasn't fair based on what her friend earned. I cannot even discuss her friend's paper with her (obviously). Sometimes, fair isn't equal. Students are generally not privy to those things, and teachers can not/should not say. For instance, with all my students, it is half credit if they turn an assignment in late. EXCEPT for the one kid who has a 504 plan stating that he can turn in homework later that day for no penalty. I cannot discuss that with other students, yet if they found out this kid did not get marked down, I am sure they would cry "that's not fair."

All this to say, friend B has no idea if there is some extenuating circumstance going on with A that makes her situation different and the teacher and Dean cannot say. And honestly, as the teacher, it makes me feel awkward when students try to challenge me on that type of a situation. I usually just say, "There could be extenuating circumstances you don't know about. Just worry about yourself."

[wambam]

Stay out of that hot hot mess.

[livinitup]

So, she's only opposed to favoritism when it doesn't blow her way?

Nice.

Yes, you're not in charge of how this blows. At all. Unless you are the dean. Are you the dean?

[Gato]

Yes, I would stay out of it.  I can see why B would argue that it's not fair to kick only her out.  I can also see why A doesn't want an F.  There is no way for you to not be the bad guy to someone in this argument and there's no reason for you to join it.

[wysiwyg]

Okay, glad to hear it. It isn't my place to fight for her either staying in the class or getting A kicked out. B said that I've witnessed favoritism in the class too(I haven't.), so having two students plead her case is better than one. Plus, I'm her friend, so I should support her.

Hell no, I am not going with you to our main campus Dean to help you get another student kicked out of the class and help you plead your case as to why you should be put back in the class after our regional Dean told you no.

[dragonfly08]

As a former professor, I'd agree you should stay FAR away from this one.

Even with a stated policy, there may be leeway that the teacher has chosen to exercise. I usually had that kind of latitude up to a point, and the Dean had absolute say. One class I taught had NO EXCEPTIONS but that was clearly stated...even in the case of documented illness, etc. if you missed three classes, you failed. But typically judgement calls were the norm. Student B can certainly make a case s/he had a legitimate, documented excuse but Student A's situation is completely irrelevant to that and should not be brought up by Student B, let alone by someone not involved at all in the situation.