I was having some problems with my partner for a science project, so I e-mailed my science teacher about it. This was the e-mail:

Hi, this is (my name). For this tower project, me and my partner, (my partner's name), agreed to work on it at school after school. I made myself available 3 days a week for the first two weeks of the project (on the other two days of each week, I had chess club, which I was willing to give up the third week, and I also had something that I absolutely had to do on Fridays that made me unavailable then). On the 6 days I was available in the first two weeks, my partner was only available to work with me once, and we only were able to work for about 30 minutes. This week, I made myself available Monday-Wednesday, but my partner did not work with me. Yesterday (Thursday), I was able to go over to his house to work for two hours, and while there he agreed to work with me after school today. In 2nd period today, I asked him if he brought the supplies so we could work on the project. He said that he couldn't work on the project today. He gave no reason why. So I asked him if I could work at his house on the weekend. He said no, because he is usually "very busy" on weekends. So I told him that he would have to finish the project by himself since I couldn't come over. But what happens if he doesn't finish the project? It seems unfair that I get 0 when it was pretty much entirely my partner's fault for the project not getting finished? Do you have any suggestions?

That was the e-mail. If you were my science teacher, how would you have responded?

I would tell you that you should have come to me sooner with this situation and I would have gotten you a new partner. I would then remind you that you could submit your own project as you could probably successfully do the project yourself. I *might*, under the circumstances give you a few extra days, but you did have three weeks and could have let the teacher know part way through the second week what was going on. You should also bring your parents and your partner's parents into this and explain how your partner is affecting your chance at success and acheivement.

If this is the same partner from the pendulum incident last month, he is also your "friend", but it sounds like he isn't much of a friend and was a bad choice for a partner. Never pick a partner base don friednship. Pick who you think will contribute and help make your projects a success.

It would depend on past experiences with you and the other student. I'd want to talk to him as well. I however, know you as a reasonable guy so I'd give you the benefit of the doubt. I also know teenagers happen to be the flakiest pieces of shit in the world, so I have no trouble believing you.

@Draugnar: It's a different partner, and we are absolutely not allowed to do the project individually. It has to be with a partner. My teacher actually mentioned that in the actual e-mail.
I was a bit naive, I thought that me and my partner would eventually work together more, and I didn't need to tell the teacher what was going on. I didn't even consider it a problem until the third week. It seems that was a mistake.

Oh, I fully believe what CM says. The issue is he waited until the last minute to ask the teacher and that could hurt him. Then there is the question of the teacher. Is this the same one from the pndulum incident? Is it the same partner from that incident? Seems a pattern may be forming, or at least the teacher may see it that way.

@Draug: Different partner, same teacher. Here is the actual reply from my teacher:

It’s a team contest. There’s only one grade for the team, and both partners get the same grade. You got to pick your partner, and it’s up to you to work out the arrangements so both of you can work on the project. I suggest you contact Jose Luis and make sure you’re both in agreement about how your tower is going to be finished.

This is part of your grade. Chess club is not. Maybe on the next project you should be more willing to work on any day, and not limit the days you’re willing to work because of chess club. You might also want to use your house for part of the work time, instead of expecting to do it all at your partner’s house.

OK, the teacher has official changed to bordering on ass. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but you were giving plenty of opportunities to Jose to work with you. I somehow suspect you could have given everything up and this lazy-ass teen would still have had an excuse to not do the project.

*"I gave him the benefit of the doubt on the pendulum incident" is what that should have read.

damn, your teacher's a douchebag, tell 'em I said so too if it makes ya feel better

Conservative Man:
I really think your teacher hates you, just throwing that at you, and B, just do a project and put both your names on it.

My mom has a theory that the reason that my partner keeps flaking out is because he wants to do the entire project himself and not deal with a partner. That also seems to be a common theme among other partnerships too.

do they have like "instructor reviews" at the end of your course?

if so give the teacher low marks and comment about these incidents

@killer: That's probably what I'll end up doing. I called my partner to see if I could pick up the project at his house, but I got his voicemail, so if he doesn't call me back I'll have to do the whole thing with my dad.

selfish jerk

@killer: You know, he really might actually hate me. Now that I think about it, he always does seem to talk and act a little different than usual with me.

Sounds like maybe a parent-techer-pricipal conference is in order to here to get to the bottom of this teacher's attitude.

and by 'he' I mean the teacher, not my partner.

grrrr parent-teacher-principal

@Draug: You know, the 1st quarter is almost over, and that usually = Parent-teacher conferences. That should be interesting.
Anyway, I have to go to bed now.

Time for some angry parents to storm the school, eh?

I agree with Draugnar. This teacher is being unreasonable. You've shown sufficient effort in trying to work with this partner and the teacher is giving you not latitude. Any partner project should have a certain amount of wiggle room for these issues. IMHO. And parent/teacher conference isn't good enough. You need a school counselor or principal involved. A counselor might be the better route, guess it depends on how your school works.

You should really discuss it with your parents, so at least your parents could contact his parents so you could pick the project up. And to give them a heads up about the issue.

Yes, this needs to have an independent third party from school administration involved. Be sure to take copies of all the emails; the teacher's, yours, your partner's. You never know what will be needed to show you put forth the effort.

And while I agree in principle that the class is more important than chess club, he comes across as if had you been talking about another class he would have thought you should sacrifice it for his class. Suffice it to say, he sounds like one arrogant science teacher and I wish I could meet him to remind him that "Those that can, do. Those that can't teach."

This is a different case than the pendulum case a few weeks ago. On that occasion, you were in the wrong. However on this occasion, it does seem your teacher is being a bit unhelpful.

If it helps, at least this is helping to prepare you for adult life after school. At various times in your life, you'll probably find yourself working for an employer/manager who is an asshole.

I agree it sounds like your partner is being a jerk. As for your teacher I can't help but wonder if your previous disagreement(s) with him has not poisoned his attitude about you. That maybe unprofessional on his part but teachers are only human, and subject to the same faults as anybody else.

Yeah, I'm on CM's side this time. Your email was very professional and you tried to solve the problem ahead of time.

Your teacher's response, on the other hand, was completely unhelpful. He acted like a jerk and tried to blame you for your partner not doing work.

Now, again, we don't have the full story. It is possible that the teacher knows your email is inaccurate, but I'd be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt on this one.

Now, the question is what to do about it. If you think you can do the project yourself, I'd say do the best you can. Don't tell your partner anything. When it comes to the presentation, it will be clear who did the work. That's probably the best you can do.

However, *don't* publicly announce that your partner didn't do work. It's unclassy and even if it's true, it will make you look like the bad guy.

take his book and piss in it

you're only crazy if you're and Anglican