[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Spotted Dick & School...

[YasminOaks at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/8/2008 10:38:49 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
mwood005 at comcast.net writes:

melody_wood14

The project was to " go the England" or one of the  other
countries on their list. Two kids went to each one. They 
had to  do 3 project, all were listed and how to do them.
They all had to do a  treasure box and the teacher explained
to them how to do it. Then pick 2  other projects. His were 
Food mat and scrap book. Each were done on poster  board 
and with food mat he had to bring food. He printed 3 
recipies  with pictures and brought spotted dick and 
lemon biscuts. I found they at  H.E.B. For the scrap book 
he had Euros and pictures from the internet as  well as 
some fact about Stonehenge, Woodhenge, Brown Willy and  
platform 9 3/4. Then had to do and oral presentation 
in class over  everything. It was there end of the 6 weeks
test grade so it counted for  20% of the 6 weeks grade.
He still passed the 6 weeks even with the low  grade. 
The teacher is out sick for the rest of the year,4
more weeks.  So I can not ask her to explain how she 
came up with the grade. Three out  five family members
liked the spotted dick at our house. It a house of  picky
eaters that is not bad odds. This type of project
is not new to us  every year from 1st grade on up he 
"taken a trip over seas". To all  teachers out there
it is a wonderful thing for them to do. Last year he  
"went to Egypt" for a month.He had a journel and wrote 
in it every day  what he did and what it cost. From 
the plane flight there to the flight  back home. He is 
a pre-teen boy, 12. I have had a conference with this  teacher 
for other reasons and she told that he reads to much sci-fi
and  needed to read more historical books. That his head was 
to high in the  sky. My answer to that was at least he reads
1 to 2 hours a night every  night. He has not had a good year 
this school year and thank goodness it  is almost over. I just
feel bad because this is the first time that I have  tried to
help him or that he has let me help him on a project. Normaly
I  buy the supplies and just watch him do it. So maybe it was my 
help that  hurt his grade. Well with the teacher gone we will
never know. He did say  that with all everyones input it made 
research easier so for that thank  you everyone. We liked the
project so we decided the grade was to harsh and  to forget
the grade it made. 

> >
>  





I think he did an outstanding job. I realize that the title of "spotted  
dick" could be a bit controversial, but I don't see anything wrong with his  
bringing this British desert into school. The name isn't dirty or wrong and is  
totally acceptable and used commonly in England. It is only going to make the  
children think that it is something bad or naughty with the teacher grading him  
so low due to this. She is only emphasizing that it could be considered rude 
in  this country. She didn't take into consideration what it really means. She 
only  shows her own ignorance and is very unfair. Your son worked hard on 
this project  and it really upsets me to read how he is being punished unfairly. 
He did  everything right and if the teacher found the name offensive then it 
is her  problem not his. 
 
It is even worse that she is out for the remainder of the school year.  Maybe 
she wasn't feeling well when she was grading and took it out on him  
unjustly. It is all so wrong. I feel so bad for your son.
 
I have to admit that after reading all of the posts about spotted dick that  
I bought a can of it from the store. It was imported from England. My daughter 
 microwaved it and my whole family (including my elderly parents) enjoyed it. 
It  was something we will have again. I loved the raisins in it. No one 
thought  anything of the name either, although it did make my 12 year old daughter 
smile.  It was a very nice British desert that we all enjoyed.
 
Hugs,
Cathy who loves any and all deserts.



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