High School Life: Bad teacher.

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Hi Everyone, </p>

<p>So, I'm not sure where to place this thread, so I'm deciding to put it here.</p>

<p>Anyway, I'm a good student, don't get me wrong. This semester (Junior Year) is a backtrack for me, but still. I usually excel in mathematics (over 100% in Geometry, 800 Math section SAT, 2300 total, etc.) but, my current teacher is (excuse my french) an a*sswhole. Basically, he doesn't teach anything and gives us quizes and tests with subjects never taught to us. I wish I were kidding, too. The class originally had 30 people, now it's down to 20, and only two students have A's in the class (6 with B's, everyone else with a C, D, F). I know that I'm content in math. I've even taken Algebra I three times, so I have a great foundation (aced it every time, long story). This semester is a huge slip for me, 4.0 to a 3.5 in three APs. I'm planning to apply to UPenn, Cornell, and all of the UC's, but I'm worried that a B in a normal, Algebra II class Junior Year will shake my chances.</p>

<p>Again, this teacher isn't just bad, he's the worst teacher that I've ever had (not kidding when I say that everyone agrees with me). I'm not sure if he's tenured or not, but he just recently got his degree in his mid 50's. He's called me names, harassed us as a class, and I can easily get recordings of him cursing at us (or more specifically, me).</p>

<p>Is there any way I can fightback/revolt against him? Maybe get him fired? I'm writing an article about the contra-positives of tenure for my school's newspaper, with a heavy emphasis on "one of my teachers."</p>

<p>I'm not being sour because I have a B, I'm being sour because I'm one of the few with that grade, and that it may heavily impact my chances at Cornell/UPenn. Also, I go to a decently good school (1700 average SAT), so the school would heavily benefit from better teachers and might actually listen to a general input from a collection of my peers.</p>

<p>Thank you for your time and comments, CCers.</p>

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<p>Do you want to know why the class went from 30 to 20? It’s because 10 jumped ship. Overall, a single B won’t make or break your application (how’re you for course rigor? Not sure about the Alg 1 thing). If he’s actually verbally harassing his students, then I’m assuming your school’s heard a lot about this guy, and they haven’t done anything. </p>

<p>Overall, my advice is to see what you can do to file a complaint to the county, and to self-teach a lot of the lessons. If it’s possible, jump ship. Switch to a different teacher. Switch up to Honors Alg II. Get out of his class and forget about the guy. If not possible, go to the county/state board of education with recordings of him cursing at your class/(non-jokingly) calling your classmates names.</p>

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<p>Half the kids have mid C’s to fails. With a low B, I’m considered to be at “the top of the class.”</p>

<p>I was in honors for a few weeks, but I dropped it (too much stress). I had a better teacher, and a better grade.</p>

<p>I’m in AP Chem, AP USH, and AP English Lang. Next semester, I’ll be picking up CC ASL II, and CC Psychology 101.</p>

<p>I’m planning to take AP tests for
Chemistry
USH
Environmental Science
Human Geography
English Lang
Psychology.</p>

<p>Is there any way of self studying you are able to suggest? For example, Khan Academy, HippoCampus, etc…</p>

<p>I’m not too worried about the one grade, but the semester as a whole (3.0/3.5, I know, I was an idiot the first half. I jumped from all normal, to mostly AP, so I was using old habits in new classes).</p>

<p>But, I want to be ready for AP Calc AB next year (self studying MA and testing into Calc, again, I do well in math).</p>

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<p>It’s more the 3 B’s than one B.</p>

<p>Probably nothing you can do about the teacher except try to get through the class. Is there a sylabus or book? Do you have proof he gives questions on tests on material not covered? Talk to your parents. Keep a diary recording incidence of cursing and who else was present. And other relevant things, nothing petty. In case your parents want to go to the office with you. Do you have a counselor to talk to? Probably the cursing should be reported, are others also willing to step forward?</p>

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<p>Every single high school student has that one teacher who is “out to get everybody” and “grades so unfairly.” I remember being assigned to a notoriously strict AP Lit teacher who graded much more harshly than any other-- so many people requested a teacher change that the class got down to 11 people and they had to put everyone back because it was getting ridiculous. You seem very dramatic about this, too. You want to “revolt against him?” I promise you won’t get rejected on the basis of one B if you’ve proven your competence in math in other ways.</p>

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<p>…he spent twenty-five minutes today talking about a Senior in the class, and how he hopes that he won’t get accepted into any college he’s applying to. Then, he proceed to spend more class time telling us that we are all going to “barely get into our local community college.” Everyone failed a chapter exam, and his solution was to make us learn it ourselves and come back when we’re ready.</p>

<p>I don’t mean an actual revolt, lol. And yeah, he’s my one bad, “out to get everyone” teacher, haha.</p>

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<p>Khan Academy. My D has an Algebra 2 teacher that supposedly is the worst teacher ever. Well I made a promise at the beginning of high school that I wouldn’t approve transfers since she would likely end up with sucky professors in college so needed to deal with them. One of the other parents is supposed to sit in on the class (rumor has it and yes I talk to other parents) so we will see if she is as bad (she’s got a few hits on ‘rate your teacher’ website). Anyway D is looking at an A- or B+ in the class (says she just said eff it and taught herself algebra). You should be able to do that (teach yourself the material) or you might not be Cornell material, especially for a regular Algebra 2 class. Good luck. D poo poo’ed Khan Academy but finally saw the light this year so here we are heading into the 2nd semester…</p>

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<p>Wow, great advice, cmgrayson!</p>

<p>I have a 4.1ish right now, so all I can do is hope to get in (ranked Salutatorian, but a 4.1 is still very low for Cornell).</p>

<p>But thanks! Yeah, I used to view Khan as kind of boring; but, anything beats my teacher’s method of teaching (which is not to).</p>

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<p>Okay, something like that, you could probably report if people are willing to back it up. I think it’ll depend on the school administration though, which you know better than any of us. I know it sucks, it’s really unfair that your grade should count on what teacher you’re given. As someone getting a master’s in teaching (at UPenn actually, hopefully I see ya there), I can’t even tell you how frustrating it is that people like that get jobs and have seemingly no interest in helping the students. But it’s very, very hard to complain about teachers being tough graders or putting things on the test that they never taught. Actually harassing students is another story though.</p>

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<p>I agree with you, rebeccar.</p>

<p>I have had a word with my counselor. I now get to record all conversation on my phone (not that I wasn’t able to beforehand, now I’m just encouraged). Obviously, though, with my luck, I lost my phone when he had his “— won’t get into college. And I damn hope he won’t. He’s McDonald’s material, etc” rant was expressed. </p>

<p>Yeah, hope to see you there! :)</p>

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<p>You should be grateful you have a bad teacher (being serious).</p>

<p>Those are the only classes where you can actually get a higher grade than other people and move up class rank.</p>

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<p>Why are you only in Alg 2 as a junior if you are such a great student? By now, you should at least be in pre-calc if not actual calculus. As smart as you feel, there are tons of students who will be applying to the same schools who were in Calc. by sophomore year, etc, etc. I would worry less about the teacher. A talented student can learn on their own in spite of a bad teacher…lots of students do it all the time.</p>

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<p>Yeah, maybe at a small school where everyone has that teacher. The thing is, though, my school doesn’t rank, and he is just one of many math teachers at my school. It’s a 1/5 chance that someone will ever have him for math. So, my B in his class is worth less than someone’s A in another Alg 2 class.</p>

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<p>UCschoolsftw, I just thought I should probably add that colleges put much more emphasis on your unweighted GPA (out of 4) than your weighted, so that’s usually what matters for admissions purposes :)</p>

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<p>Yeah, 3.75/ 3.77 UC unweighted GPA.
I don’t suppose that it matters too much, though. I mean, I’m still most likely to be Salutatorian! So, I guess that it shows that my school is very hard.</p>

<p>I mean, I have some nice extra-curricular activities that will stand out quite nicely, and would hint at either a Psychology, or English major.</p>

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<p>I was this teacher. OP doesn’t report how the students in his class act, but trust me, they’re not innocent. The problem is, this guy, as a new teacher, has standards. He hasn’t gotten the word that the way to deal with students and parents in this school is to just hand out A’s and B’s like they’re water, like every other teacher does.</p>

<p>OP, you’re not as smart as you think you are. You’re in regular Algebra II in 11th grade. Your chances at UPenn and Cornell are close to zero.</p>

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<p>I wouldn’t say “close to zero”; I’d want to hear more about the long story as to why you’re in reg. Alg II in 11th grade…there are people in my school who’ve taken multivariable Calc (Calc III) by that time…</p>

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<p>Yes, you are on the same track as my lovely D who’s quite ‘middle of the pack’ and not looking at Cornell or UPenn, not saying don’t apply but also interested to hear why you are in Algebra 2 as a junior - nothing wrong with it but it’s just not competitive at the ‘Cornell’ level. Also have a friend, MrMom62 who is a math teacher and reports the same issue (bratty kids and parents PLUS administration who complain about the number of C’s, D’s, and F’s).</p>

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<p>Why Algebra I three times? That has to be pushing the GPA up and I doubt colleges will count that three times. On another thread I saw you had a 2.5 for freshman year. Schools outside the UC system will count that in your GPA.</p>

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<p>Why am I reminded of that old Bill Cosby routine where he goes to Rome and is convinced he could speak Italian because he had three years of Latin I?</p>