i need your advice!

[skizzy the wonder lizard]

okay, so as i mentioned here before, i'm going to paris for spring break. my dad called me tonight with my ticket information. the problem is, he booked the flight for 3pm on thursday, thinking break started that day, when it actually starts friday.

my last class on thursday is from 2pm-3:40pm. normally, i'd totally just skip class. the problem is, it just has to be the class with the crazy, crazy teacher who is obsessive about attendance. even more upsetting is the fact that i find her very hard to approach. she makes me uncomfortable. i think it's because of the fact that she THREATENED MY CLASS on the first day of school, tellign us that if we tried to take advantage of her, she'd make sure we paid.

yikes.

furthermore, i already missed two classes this semester! one was due to sickness, and the other one was because i had to help out a person in need. i talked to her about the second one, but i'm afraid that if i try to talk to her about the paris one, she'll think i'm trying to take advantage of her because she allowed the second one.

what, what, what do i do? i'm going to try to change the ticket time, but what if i can't? please help me!

also, if you have any tips for switching a plane ticket time, please let me know.

[Wolven Spirits]

get your dad to write a note. Tell her that if she has any problems, then she should phone your dad. Tell her that your dad thought that the break ended that day, and booked it for then, not friday. Explain that you don't want to miss class, but you don't have a choice; you've already booked the flight. Smile, though, be nice about it, but don't try to look smug or anything. Try to make it seem as if you don't want to miss her class^_~ hehehe.

[Twisted Sanity]

Teachers have no control over your social and out-of-school life. Add that to the fact that your dad payed money for this and your teacher has no right to say 'you can't go'.

Like wolven said, just get your dad to write a note. And if she's not satisfied with that, well, just don't go to class anyway. Your dad payed money, and she has no right to make you lose that money. Besides, it's the last day. Most last-days are complete wastes of time.

Reminds me a bit of the teacher I've got at school. A real communist if I ever saw one. Anyway, just go. Get a note, tell her the truth, be good about it, and no matter what she says, just go anyway.

[Qanda]

Teachers have no control over your social and out-of-school life. Add that to the fact that your dad payed money for this and your teacher has no right to say 'you can't go'.

This is an in-school matter though. Skizzy is talking about skipping classes.

On the other hand, I believe your teacher would give the green light over something like this. A plane ticket is a very valid reason. Go ahead and get your dad to write that letter.

[Igg]

Get your dad to write a letter.]
Here, they sincerely dislike us having to skip school for holidays, and encourage our parents to make holidays in break time, but if you have to leave earl, they don't mind so long as you have a note/letter explaining it.

[DiscordantNote]

A note from your father will help you with this, I'd know since a note is mandatory at my school for any reason you're out of class. If she did threaten your class though, maybe you should alert someone of higher powers, just in case. You should also ask them if you can be dismissed as well, since thier say is usually better than hers.

[Asthaloth]

skip class, one wont hurt.
skipping all but two like my friend richard however, may hurt your chances.

[Phlameseeker]

You could take the note to your Head of School/Year rather than just that one teacher. Thats what I would probably do. Stuff the nutty cow

[skizzy the wonder lizard]

okay guys, after discussing it with about fifty friends and one of my other teachers, i sent her an email. this is what i wrote:

Hello Ellen.

I would like to speak with you about my presentation. First thing, the date. As you know, all of the presentations were shifted a day due to the Dubus cup runnuthing over. My presentation used to fall on the Tuesday before spring break, and now it falls on that Thursday.

The problem with this is, my parents bought me a plane ticket overseas for spring break. My father got the dates confused and booked my flight for 3pm that Thursday. I called the airline in an attempt to change it, but the cost of doing so was astronomical.

So I spoke to Richard, who has the presentation before me, and he said it would be no problem to switch as long as it was okay with you. We are both willing to discuss this with you in person at class tomorrow.

I will be turning my midterm paper in early as well, and I hope that will be okay. Please keep in mind that I am not at all asking that this absence be excused, but rather that I still be given a chance to give my presentation, which I am quite excited about giving.

About the presentation itself: I've read both the stories, and I would really like to give my presentation on both of them. I think I will be able to speak about both gender representation and the notion of childhood shame without losing focus. I would like to speak with you sometime next week about tying them in together, if you have time. Also, as you know, I tend to go all over the place when writing my papers, and would greatly appreciate your help in tightening my ideas.

Thank you very much, Ellen. I'll see you in class tomorrow.

-sarah u

oh god. somebody tell me that was a good email. i'm literally shaking.

[Fiddelysquat]

*shrieks like a 3rd grader at the first line*

BIG mistake to use "Ellen" when addressing her. Judging by your post, she's not your friend. She's your teacher. It's very rude to use first names with someone in a formal letter, which that most definetly is. ALWAYS use "Mrs." or "Miss"!

[skizzy the wonder lizard]

at my college, teachers expect you to use their first names. it's be almost offensive to call her Ms.

[Taco]

Yeah...

You'll get away with it, unless your teacher is a total monster.
(Which, at this point, I'm not doubting).

You addressed her very intelligently, and pointed out exactly what you should have.

Well done.

[skizzy the wonder lizard]

thank you, taco, thank you.

i just wish i could calm down.

[Knives]

And if she didn't believe you, you could also attach a scanned copy of the plane ticket if you have it in person.

The letter is very well written, and I think she will be swayed by your understanding of your situation and know you are not trying to take advantage over her.

[Full Metal Alchemist]

Even better, send her some fast snail-mail, get a cold, and THUORGHLY cough, hack, whatever all over it.

She'll be struck down with dis-ease!