Typing Daughter's Report
QUESTION 62: TYPING DAUGHTER'S REPORT
My daughter in 7th grade has a report to do for English.
The teacher said the students have to type it on the computer,
and that the parents shouldn't type it for them. I surmise
that the reason they want it typed on the computer is for
readability, and the reason they don't want the parents to
type it is so that the parents don't write the actual contents
of the report for the students. My daughter wrote the report
in long hand. She is an extremely slow typist, and it would
take her 5 hours to type it, which is time hard to find
considering how much other work she has. Can I type part of
all of it for her, and does she have to be totally honest
with her teacher about it if I do?
RABBI BELSKY
Perhaps the reason the teacher wants them to type it is in
order that the kids should have typing experience. Sometimes
the English teacher is in cahoots with the typing teacher.
I think it is worthwhile to call up the teacher. It's also
not a good idea to tell your child that you have a reason
why you want to conceal something from her teacher. Then
the child will understand that this is an acceptable way
to act in life. The teacher will say, "Did you type it?"
and your daughter will say, "Yes", which is not true.
It is worthwhile to call the teacher and explain that it may
take five hours for your daughter to type the entire report,
and ask if it would be possible for you to type part or most
of it for her. The teacher will probably say, "Of course you
can." But it is not at all a good idea for your daughter to
be involved in deceiving the teacher. A child should
never be involved in deceiving a teacher
NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION 63: COUCH FROM A GEMACH
A friend who works in a furniture gemach (an organization
that lends to those in need) called my wife, and said
someone wants to contribute a couch, but the gemach has
no one to pick it up and no place to store it. The person
at the gemach said that we would be helping them if we picked
it up and kept it, and that optionally we can pay whatever we
want. How do we figure out how much to pay for it? Should
it be based on the true value of the couch, or on our ability
to pay? Should we have it evaluated by a person who knows
couches?
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