Okay...need some advice... please? ~~ -- *sigh*

[Breeze54]

My son applied for a job (He just graduated high school in June with an electrical certificate)
and the guy/owner asked if he was a student of so & so, and my son says yes and the guy says he'll
talk to the former teacher and get back to him and he does call back and then says he won't hire my
son because the teacher told him that my son was late in turning in his last school project!!

:wtf:

Should I call that teacher, (I want to! :grr:) or let it go and tell my son not to use him as a reference again?

Or what?

I know. He should apply elsewhere but why would the teacher be such a shithead? :shrug:

I mean, the electric co. guy has training classes etc. before the new guys actually go on the job.

My son was not a behavior problem in school at all and he passed the class with a B and graduated.

[LibraLiz1973]

1. Umm, I'd be calling that teacher

There is nothing to be done about the guy that didn't hire him
but my god was the teacher an asshole.

I might even call the principle and report that shit

That person should NOT be working with young adults

[Breeze54]

3. He's the same teacher who told the whole class that

"You don't NEED college!!" :argh:

Maybe I should stay out of it but what kind of teacher won't back his own graduated students up?

I mean, gheesh, at least give the kid a chance!!

[Kali]

2. You should let your son handle it.

He might want to talk to the instructor, but it really isn't your place.

[Breeze54]

4. Well, it isn't my place to talk to the employer but

the teacher is a different story, imho.

The whole idea behind this school was to train these kids for jobs right out of high school, which
means that this teacher is saying my son wasted four years in that class!!! My translation! :grr:

[Breeze54]

5. Meant to say thanks but forgot in my aggravation.

You both gave two different perspectives and so, I'm still stuck.

Maybe I'll call the Dean. She's pretty savvy, and see what she thinks.

[Breeze54]

6. I just remembered what happened when my son went on a

job practicum, through the school. You know, a work/study job.

They paired him with a guy who was not into safety and my son was 'let go' after one day on
the job because the guy had him climbing a ladder to a second story and then the guy LEFT!
No one was there holding the ladder and it was windy and wobbling, according to my son and
he got concerned (scared "my term") and it shook him up and that guy got pissed and let him go.

Could it be that the teacher told the possible employer about that?

Even that doesn't seem fair to me or acceptable under OSHA.

Seems right down like a dangerous practice to me.

I don't know. I never worked on a ladder.

[Colorado Progressive]

12. Nothing you have described sounds like a legit program. IUnsafe working conditions need

to be called out!!!! Let me guess, there is a Good ole Boy System in place???

[Breeze54]

16. Isn't there always? Especially in 'the trades'??

That's what I'm talking about, I guess.

Teacher didn't like my son, for whatever reason, and so, shit on him.

That's just my instinct. I have no proof other than the shitty reference.

[skygazer]

7. I agree with Kali that your son should handle it

I understand your frustration but these are the sorts of situations he'll be confronting in the real world of jobs, references, etc. and now is probably a better time to learn to deal with it than later when he may have more at stake.

If it were me, I would advise him to talk to the teacher and ask point-blank if he should or should not use him as a reference. It may seem harsh, but one thing a potential employer wants to know is if a person is reliable, punctual and gets their tasks done - if a person has no job history, that's going to come from school. Depending on what the situation was - did he know in advance when the assignment was due? Did he have a valid excuse for it being late? etc. - it may very well have a bearing on his expected performance.

I would advise using it as a learning experience - not learning that mom would fight his battles but that situations arise that need to be ironed out and that employers want to see initiative and reliability demonstrated.

[Breeze54]

9. I see what you mean but I have stayed out of it, as far as school, in the last two years, as

that was the consensus. That he needed to take responsibility for his decisions. I was there
for back up and consultation but I made him make his own decisions. I did help guide him, as
that is my job, as his parent but so did the teachers and his guidance counselor.

The "late" project was only late because the teacher didn't like the first one because he said
it needed more detail. He had to build a small city with buildings that had lights and streets
and plants, etc.

My son has been holding down a part-time job since 9th grade!! The same job!

And he has been promoted twice in four years and been given raises at least twice a year!

He is dependable and has proven that through his job performance. They love him at his job!

They offered him a full time position but it's not in electrical. It's in retail/grocery.

He didn't want to take it because he wanted an electrical job and they asked him to stay on
part-time, even if he went full time at an electrical job!

So, I think he deserves a chance and I don't meddle in my kids affairs but I do give my opinion, when asked.

I'm not a "nanny" hovering type Mom. I just want to make sure they know the ropes. ;)

Ya know? :shrug:

[skygazer]

18. He sounds like a great kid

Whatever you decide to do, it sounds like you've done a terrific job so far. :hug:

[Breeze54]

22. Thank you for that! It's just this one

more hurdle, I guess and I'm getting tired! :P

"C'mon mustard!! Ketch up!!" :rofl:

[Fleshdancer]

8. Correct me if I'm wrong.....

The potential employer asked your son if he was a student of Teacher but your son didn't claim Teacher as an actual reference? I didn't think potential employers could choose references for employment from people who weren't referenced on the application.

Keep in mind that we don't know how the conversation between the employer and Teacher went. For all we know, Teacher commented on the late paper in an honest but passive way "Yes, he was a great student, passed with a B, and was respectful. Aside from being slightly late on turning in a paper, Student was a stellar pupil" See what I mean? Granted, it could be the opposite of this, but we don't know that yet.

At this point, I'm more concerned with the employer calling Teacher in the first place.

[Breeze54]

11. That's right.

He asked my son where he graduated from and was he a a student of so & so.
My son only filled out an online basic info. inquiry application. And it didn't
ask for references. More like an interest card, online. Name, address, phone #
and relevant experience.

I'm also concerned about that and he told my son that he knew his teacher really well.

[regnaD kciN]

19. Unfortunately, employers can check up however they want...

Former employers, former teachers, credit bureaus, police records, military records, driving records, whatever. If they know about it (if the information to access it is on the job app or mentioned in the interview), it's fair game. Welcome to the United Free Markets of America. :-(

[Colorado Progressive]

10. Your son is an adult now, its his ball to play. He is the one

who needs to call not just the teacher but the school, and let them know what type of job recs this guy gives his former students.

[Breeze54]

14. I'll encourage him to do just that but

as he just graduated, I thought maybe my calling the Dean might give us some insight.

I think he got a raw deal.

[liberaltrucker]

13. Your son appears to have his shit together

IMHO, he'll the situation just fine. As I said soooo many years ago, "C'mon, Mom, I'll
take care of it". Does the 54 in your screen name indicate your birth year? If so, mine too.

[Breeze54]

15. Yes! lol! September 4th, 1954!

He does have his shit together, in a lot of ways, but he is still naive'.

I've worked in manufacturing and the trades and I know what an "inside"

job can be like and how to get one. It's who you know, not just what you know!

You know? :rofl:

[liberaltrucker]

17. March 11, 1954 here

We were all naive, weren't we? But we survived, and in many ways, thrived.
You and I made our mistakes (God, did we!) and so will he. He'll learn the
ropes, get shafted, get disappointed, and in the end he'll be fine, just like
us. I'm the 3rd of 4 boys. My Mom is STILL giving advice! And I'm freakin' 53 YO!

[Breeze54]

20. Agree to a point but

he and I are sharing an Apt. now and he's not making enough to pay his share. (unless he budgeted)

In fact he's not paying his fair share and I'm drowning.

It's not just the job but a money thing, sorry to say.

Besides that, I want him to go for it!! I want him to be happy and pursuing his dreams!

We made a deal that he'd live with me for at least a year, so he could save money and get

on his feet, buy a new car/truck. I wish I was a rich parent but I'm not and he has to help

with the rent or we're both screwed. I financed his car, (made him save for it and kicked in

the last $200 and got him a deal with my cousin, "the car dealer") insurance, registration,

paid his school dues ($200) etc. but I'm drowning. He's paid back some of the insurance $$ but

he seems to think he can 'forget' the little I asked for ($40 a week) to help pay the electric

and some food costs. (Went out and blew over $200 this week and I didn't get any help!)

He could be making really good $$ as an electrical apprentice but this seems to have upset him

and I'm afraid he'll give up trying to get an electrical job.

I guess I am more worried than I realized and we have to move soon and that costs $$!!

[liberaltrucker]

24. OK to PM?

[Breeze54]

25. Of course. I don't block people....

usually. :P

[uppityperson]

26. 9/18/54 Happy late birthday virgos

[Breeze54]

27. Happy Birthday, uppityperson!!

I hope you had a great birthday!!! :D

Looks like we three are all almost the same age! Cool!!

But...I'm older than you by two weeks!! You baby, you!! :rofl:

:hug:

:toast:

[uppityperson]

29. Yes my respected elder (old fart)

[gateley]

21. I think the best thing for YOUR SON is what someone else suggested -- that

he be the one to contact the teacher and the Dean. If my mother would have encouraged me to do that when I was your son's age rather than her calling the teacher/Dean (which is my mom all the way) I probably would be more confident in my approach to standing up for myself today.

[Breeze54]

23. Thanks gateley! I will talk to him tomorrow about it.

I know he has to deal with it himself, I guess, but he needs a place
to start and if this teacher keeps this up, he won't get anywhere!

:dilemma:

[gateley]

28. We're rooting for you both!! nt