# This is going on your PERMANENT RECORD **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2002, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-going-on-your-permanent-record/109501 "2002-05-17T05:09:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![heptapod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@heptapod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heptapod)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-going-on-your-permanent-record/109501/1 "2002-05-17T05:09:41Z")
Okay, I’m going to figure everyone’s heard this once in their life. How permanent is one’s permanent record? Is there such a beast in public schools? Has anyone ever tried to gaze upon this fabled document to see every petty kid thing immortalized in purple mimeo ink? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-going-on-your-permanent-record/109501/2 "2002-05-17T05:17:31Z")
Of course you have a [permanent record](http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Track/5572/cokepepsi.html) . ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-going-on-your-permanent-record/109501/3 "2002-05-17T05:52:19Z")
Permanent record? Oh yeah? well don’t get so distressed. Did I happen to mention that I’m impressed? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-going-on-your-permanent-record/109501/4 "2002-05-17T10:02:17Z")
Well, a while back I got a notice from the State of Illinois to inform me that my permanent record was going to be destroyed and would I like a copy? ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-going-on-your-permanent-record/109501/5 "2002-05-17T13:56:16Z")
Sure, you have one. I got mine after graduating high school, I went back and asked for a copy. It definitely exists. But it’s boring. Mostly transcripts/grades. Certainly nothing like the time I skateboarded off the roof of the school at reccess or sassed “Swollen” Smollen the french teacher. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-going-on-your-permanent-record/109501/6 "2002-05-17T14:48:58Z")
School administrative person here. Yes, you have a “permanent record”. Schools are required to keep it until you are graduated/turn 21 (depending on state). It’s boring (as muttrox said). The main purpose is to have information on you as you matricualte through schools/grades. Yeah, some discipline information is in there. No biggie. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-going-on-your-permanent-record/109501/7 "2002-05-17T16:38:41Z")
Don’t listen to them- it’s SERIOUS! Six months ago, I was up for a promotion and raise at my job, but they read my Permanent Record, and found out I chewed gum in class back in 4th grade. Needless to say, there went my raise. Then they read how I once ran in the hallway, and… well, I’ve been unemployed ever since. ---
**Author:** ![bobk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@bobk2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobk2)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-going-on-your-permanent-record/109501/8 "2002-05-17T16:43:43Z")
Just by coincidence, the weekly community paper here (in Massachusetts) just ran a notice that the town school system was about to destroy the permament record for anyone 5 years past their graduation-year. You could get yours if you wanted to. It implied they do this every year. (Also, nit-picking, they didn’t mention drop-outs but I assume they’re handled the same.) Actually, I read all this as yes, you do have a long-term record, but no it isn’t permanent. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-going-on-your-permanent-record/109501/9 "2002-05-17T17:09:46Z")
Oh, thank the Lord! ---
**Author:** ![Stellablue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@Stellablue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stellablue)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-going-on-your-permanent-record/109501/10 "2002-05-17T22:05:37Z")
My brother in law was busted for (nevermind) and they pulled up his permanent record from school. The judge had in his hand notes from his 6th grade teacher that “Joe should apply himself to his studies and not draw during class.” No kidding! ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2002, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-going-on-your-permanent-record/109501/11 "2002-05-18T05:20:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astorian \* > \*\*Don’t listen to them- it’s SERIOUS! > > Six months ago, I was up for a promotion and raise at my job, but they read my Permanent Record, and found out I chewed gum in class back in 4th grade. Needless to say, there went my raise. > > Then they read how I once ran in the hallway, and… well, I’ve been unemployed ever since. \*\* And that is why you went into real estate. Right? 😉