Should I try the "I'm a good person" card or just say yes to inschool suspention?

[lizzy16]

So on school on Friday I was feeling really overwhelemed (with my whole friend dying thing.)

And, I left. I just walked out after 2nd period. (We have 4 periods. So, I missed 2 classes.).

So, i may get called down to inschool. From what I've been told.

I could play the "I'm an innocent and good person and was having a mental breakdown moment" card or the "oooh. I've never been to inschool this could be interesting." Card.

I'm pretty well liked and if i did the "i'm a good person. Had a mental breakdown" card I most likely would talk to a counselor about my 'issues'. and go back to class.

Inschool or my good girl card.

It's kinda a hard choice

Oh, and my parents are well aware I walked out.

And, they probably won't do much if I get inschool.

But, I really think it would be an interesting experince.

I'm graduating in 2 months. I want to see how this 'in school' thing is!

My friend says i'm crazy. Then again, he's been to inschool.

It's kinda a teeny issue compared to most :.

[Dravin]

Tell the truth?

[lizzy16]

Tell the truth?

well the 'good girl' card is the truth. Maybe I'll try the "I was having a breakdown but please give me inschool, I want to see what its like' path....

[Dravin]

In my experience in-school consists of sitting in a room all day quietly doing school work with no social interaction. Great if you're anti-social like me, if you enjoy the social interaction at school not so much.

[JThimm88]

When I was in high school, a situation like that would have gotten the police called due to truancy. In-school suspension isn't an option there, no matter the reason for leaving, so you'd be considered lucky if that's the consequence of leaving!

I'd tell them the truth, like Dravin said, but expect an in-school suspension regardless. They'll most likely have to follow school policy despite it. Who knows, could prove to be okay. If you're just sitting in a room all day quietly, you might have a chance to clear your mind. :)

[Wingnut]

I would stay away from the phrase "mental breakdown." Let the administration (or whoever calls you in) know that you had a close friend die and you're overwhelmed right now. Admit that it maybe wasn't the best choice to just walk out and leave school, but you really didn't know what else to do right then.

[Mute]

I had to go to in school suspension for weeks at a time. It's not the most fun in the world but it's ok. I wouldn't go just to see it though. If you want, just walk past the room it takes place in. For mine, it was a small room where every seat had black walls on both sides of our desk. You weren't allowed to talk at all.

[lizzy16]

Well, I'm not anti social. I'm quite social. But, it takes so long to cover things in class. I'd be faster on my own.

And, I'll avoid 'mental breakdown'.

[prisonchaplain]

The "in school" might be an interesting experience, but, considering you had a friend died, and, totally out of character, left the school...perhaps seeing the counselor for an informal session would be more productive.

[Maureen]

So on school on Friday I was feeling really overwhelemed (with my whole friend dying thing.)

And, I left. I just walked out after 2nd period. (We have 4 periods. So, I missed 2 classes.).

So, i may get called down to inschool. From what I've been told...

Are these the only two classes that you have missed voluntarily in all your years of High School? If so, it doesn't seem like a big deal to me. Would it be disappointing if the school did nothing and didn't view your missed classes as that serious?

M.

[slamjet]

Why would you want to take a punishment just to see what it's like? It seems to me it's like having someone hit your hand with a hammer because you want to know what it feels like. Counterproductive. Plus remember whatever punishments and/or punitive actions you get stay on your record and can affect your admission into colleges.

It just seems silly and counterproductive to me.

[MarginOfError]

I think that you tell the truth. You were feeling overwhelmed by the events going on in your life, decided you couldn't take it, and gave yourself a mental health day (that's what we call them in the professional world). Then state that you understand your actions violated a rule and that you're willing to accept the appropriate disciplinary measure.

The action of explaining your decisions, your understanding of the rule violated, and willingness to accept the consequences say "I'm a good person" much more strongly than just saying that you're a good person. Such honestly and accountability also has the pleasant side effect of softening hearts and bringing lighter disciplinary measures (just so you know).

[JudoMinja]

What MOE said. :)

Admitting you know you've done something wrong is a great quality- one many people don't have. I work at a middle school right now, and as part of my job I give the AP secretary her lunch break and the ISS teacher a 15 minute break. Usually, when kids get called into the AP office they deny up and down that they've done anything wrong- even if they've been caught red-handed. Some will try to weasel their way out of the consequences and others just don't care. Being honest is your best bet, whether it results in you getting ISS or not.

In our ISS room, the students have to sit up straight in their desk, facing forward, and working on their class work, without talking to or interacting with anyone all day. If they finish what they are working on, they have to raise their hand to turn it in and get more work. If they finish everything they have from their teachers, they get "busy-work". They do not get to read books, take naps, or do anything that they would "like" to do. They cannot leave the ISS room for anything and get only two bathroom breaks (the entire class is escorted to the bathroom and has to walk single file with their hands behind their backs). If they break any of the ISS rules, they get written up and three strikes earns them an extra day in ISS. Another three-strikes gets them OSS (out-of-school suspension). It is not fun in there, even if you don't mind just sitting at a desk and being left alone to do your work because you do not get to relax at all. That is the whole point of ISS- it is supposed to be unpleasant so students don't want to end up in there.

I had to step out of a class once when a friend's parents died. Now, I didn't exactly do it the same way you did- I didn't just walk out and not go back to school. I asked the teacher if I could go to the counselors office. He gave me a pass, and I just sat in the counselor's office until I could manage going back to my schedule (I was in there for about 2 classes worth of time). Depending on your school's staff and rules, you may or may not get into any trouble over this. There is typically some lee-way for students dealing with the death of a friend or family member.

Just be honest. Tell them you know you were wrong to walk out, explain why you did so despite knowing it was wrong, and tell them you are willing to accept whatever consequences they deem appropriate.

[Backroads]

Ooh... I really can see the allure of the in-school suspension, just to try it out. ANd heck, maybe it's what you would need. This close to graduation, I wouldn't worry about it affecting your college admissions.

[Wingnut]

This close to graduation, I wouldn't worry about it affecting your college admissions.

Definitely not, since for most high school seniors, yesterday was D-Day (Decision Day, or when they had to notify their schools of intent to attend.)

[lizzy16]

I was accepted back in January. And, they didn't even call me down today! I was really irritated. My friend got inschool for the first time he skipped. Maybe tomorrow. We'll see.

[Backroads]

You can do it! You can get that inschool suspension!

[Canuck Mormon]

Missing 2 classes and you get in trouble?!?!?!

I can't count the number of classes I skipped and never got in trouble. We were even cought sneaking out by the band teacher and he let us go!!!

Times certainly have changed. I feel old now.

[Dravin]

When I was in high school, a situation like that would have gotten the police called due to truancy. In-school suspension isn't an option there, no matter the reason for leaving, so you'd be considered lucky if that's the consequence of leaving!

I find that schools (and districts) are really variable in how they handle truancy. The second half of my Freshman year I only attended school 3 days a week (on average) and never talked with a truancy officer or even faced anything like ISS or OSS. And when my younger brother started doing the same thing here in Utah my Mom had to nag the truancy officer and school officials to do something, she basically pushed them into getting him into the Juvie court system (he got court ordered to attend and when he didn't he was given Juvie Detention for contempt of court, a couple times actually, spent Christmas break in there).

[Jennarator]

Missing 2 classes and you get in trouble?!?!?!

I can't count the number of classes I skipped and never got in trouble. We were even cought sneaking out by the band teacher and he let us go!!!

Times certainly have changed. I feel old now.

me too. I was never in class. I spent my time at the beach! Of course I always had permission from my teachers. Guess they thought I was doing ok just showing up for the tests. I did have a good GPA, too. Oh well.....maybe that's why I haven't figured out how to study, yet. >.<

[Guest]

In my days, you go truant the teacher punches you in the solar plexus. No kidding.

Then you go home and dad sends you to bed without dinner after 5 lashes with the belt.

We had to learn to be very sneaky...