<p>This might be kind of hard to relate to for those who did not attend a religious school. Our problem is that our entire senior class of 54 students (I know, it's small) dislikes our religion teacher. Our school is a Catholic school with nearly everybody being Catholic. The teacher that had taught the class for the last 21 years left after last year. A new teacher was appointed who often teaches things that blatantly defy Church teaching and everything we have been taught for the last 11 years. I don't want to say anything that she said that we disagree with specifically because I don't want to spark a religious debate. Our other problem is that she is very subjective in her grading system. One's grade entirely relies on whether or not she likes you.</p>
<p>The thing I would like advice on is the action to take in order to get her to change the way she is teaching. We have tried to talk to the principal but she sided with the teacher. I need advice on what we need to do next. We cannot continue to have her teach things that are against our religion and let her personal feelings about us dictate our grades. Any help would be appreciated.</p>
<p>rule of thumb for private schools #1- teachers don't give a crap about you because you don't matter. when parents are involved, they start to care because then they lose their precious little paycheck.</p>
<p>I am not particularly worried about my religion grade. What I am angry about is that she tries to make our lives difficult and teaches us things that are clearly against Church teaching.</p>
<p>I agree with princessbell's suggestion- often getting parents invovled makes a difference! Especially many of your classmates also have their parents complain.</p>
<p>I'm just curious about why you dislike her teaching things that are 'against Church teaching'? Even if what she says goes against your beliefs, wouldn't it be intersting to hear other sides and views, so you can discuss and debate with her? Just because she says something doesn't mean you have to believe it, after all!</p>
<p>Is the principal aware that she is teaching material that is against church teaching? I would think that parents who send their kids to your school would not appreciate that. But psychgirl has a point....it opens up an opportunity for debate. Just don't get on her bad side! Good luck</p>
<p>Okay, the thing is that she is not only going against Church teachings, but the things that she says are often blatantly offensive. She is being paid to teach things regarding the Catholic Church. She is not doing so. I didn't want to do this, but I guess I will have to give an example. A few weeks ago, we were studying the Creed. She told us that, "Aborted babies go to Hell." I don't want people responding to whether or not this is true. This is not intended to be an abortion debate. I just thought I would give an example of some of the things she will say to the class.</p>
<p>Can you talk to your priest and verify that what she's saying in against Church teaching (you may, after all, be misinterpreting what she says - contrary to popular opinion, Church teaching is not always black and white)? Or go to your local Bishop? The Church itself does have some sway in this regard.</p>
<p>If this was any class but religion, I'd completely disagree with you and say that you'll have to deal with this for the rest of your education...
but it is a religion class. If I were you, I'd get parents involved.</p>
<p>Being from a small private religious (though really only slightly religious due to the diversity of the student body) school I'd second involving the parents. Every time a poor teacher is unanimously pointed out by the parents (for good reason) the teacher 'disappears' or has sought a better employment option elsewhere... even at half year!</p>
<p>Since it sounds as if the teacher is neither teaching effectively (nor grading fairly) I would continue to pursue the issue. The quality of the education at my school has improved greatly from weeding out bad teachers like these (we are a fairly new high school so it happens quite often- in fact, the head of the math department cleared out most of the math teachers this last year because by the time students came to the upper maths their backgrounds were riddled with holes!)</p>
<p>On Tuesday, one of the students confronted her about not being willing to give us the information over which we are to be tested. We did not have class on Wednesday, but nobody thought that anything the student said was offensive at all and certainly nobody thought it would have any ramifications. Today, the teacher stopped this student before she could enter the classroom and told her that she could not attend class for the rest of the year unless she could prove that she could be respectful. The student said nothing wrong and was only pointing out that she did not think it was fair that the teacher was not willing to tell us any of the information. There was going to be a meeting after school with the student, her parents, and the teacher. I don't know about the results of this meeting. Hopefully we can get more parents involved and see some improvements.</p>