<p>So Ive started my junior year of highschool taking two APs- English lang and comp and U.S history, the rest of my classes are either advanced honors. Im currently getting a C+ in English, my teacher has given me a D on every single essay so far.Writing has always been my strong suit and im not a stranger to AP style writing. Its her first year teaching an ap class and honestly she's a complete moron. I wont go into detail but the entire class is not pleased with her and she's extremely unhelpful and condescending . I've been trying to switch around my schedule so I could continue to take the class while changing teachers but I'm afraid it's to far into the school year. My other idea was to drop the class altogether. I have a very high Gpa as of now and im worried staying in that class will ruin it. I had also planned to apply to very selective schools and I'm worried that only taking 1 AP junior year will hurt my chances, especially considering I took 2 sophomore year. I plan on taking 4 APs next year(senior year). How bad will it look if I drop AP English? Someone please respond because I need to make the decision soon/I'm freaking out</p>
<p>Don’t do it. Just finish the class. I don’t know if your school is like mine but having a high A in an advanced class still weighs less into your GPA than a C in an AP class. Basically, you’re trying. And when you make a higher grade on the AP test at the end of the year than was expected based on your grades, that usually says something about your teacher.
I’m in the same boat. Currently I’m taking AP Calculus and even though I’m terrible at math, I’m sure if I didn’t have the teacher I do, I’d be making at least a mid-B (right now: a low C). He is literally fresh out of college (graduated 2013!) and he was intended to take on Algebra 1 and remedial Algebra 1 but instead decided to take on every class the other teachers didn’t want. And he is doing a terrible job in each one. He is also very childish and that annoys me. If you’re barely more mature than I am, why are you teaching?
Stick it out though. You’ve come this far and all you can do is try your best. However, if you start failing, don’t be scared to speak up to an Assistant Principal or whoever your teacher’s supervisor is. Make it clear you’re not trying to get them in trouble but that they’re not doing their job properly. Or maybe they’ll step up first. The grades of her students will reflect her work.
It’s frustrating. I know but it’s just a blip on the mass that is high school. And it’s important. If you drop it, you’ll regret it.</p>
<p>Is it even possible to drop a class at this point in the semester? What is the overall grading pattern in the class?</p>
<p>It would be bad to have no English at all - colleges really want 4 years of English at HS.</p>
<p>Maybe a group of you could talk to the department head about this teacher?</p>
<p>I would switch-out -even if it means dropping down from AP. Protect your GPA.</p>
<p>A couple of observations:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Are you sure it’s the teacher and not you? Just because you’ve always been a good student and are now taking an AP class doesn’t mean you automatically get an A or B. Perhaps the whole class is dissatisfied with her because they’re being asked to work for a grade for the first time in their life. An AP class is supposed to be like a college class, training wheels off, no hand-holding.</p></li>
<li><p>Sometimes first year AP teachers have unrealistic expectations. Take one of your papers that you think was graded unfairly and go ask an experienced teacher what they really think. (A fresh copy without the grade would be a good idea to prevent bias.) Be humble, and ask for a totally honest appraisal, not accusing the other teacher of anything. If the experienced teacher gives you a much higher grade or thinks the grading is unfair, then you might have a case, otherwise, it’s you and your classmates.</p></li>
<li><p>Students and parents love to blame a teacher when students start failing, but often times it’s a teacher not fitting in with the culture of a school. And that culture often does not involve hard work, it involves low standards, getting at least a B for just showing up, not going beyond parroting what was said in class, and thinking that a teacher can just pour knowledge into your brain. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard from parents or students, “Mr. X can’t teach”, when the truth is Mr. X is an excellent teacher with standards and you don’t know how to study. Give it a few years, the parents and students will grind them down and they’ll be mediocre just like everyone else. When they start handing out As and Bs like water, you’ll be amazed at how much better everyone thinks they are at teaching.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I went to the head of the language arts department and she told me all of my essays so far have been deserving of a 9-8 level mark which is highest on the AP english lang scale. Ive taken ap classes and actual colleges classes before and I have had to work very hard to get the grades ive gotten so I think I’m pretty accustomed to the type of work and work ethic needed to be successful in rigorous classes. For the past 10 years the teacher has been teaching a drama class, an honors sophomore english class and a supplemental english class for people who need extra help in the subject. Shes gotten terrible reviews not for her grading but due to her attitude towards the students and overall awful personality. I would be fine with getting a low grade if the teacher actually explained my mistakes and told me where i need to improve, that way i could try to grow as a writer. Unfortunately none of that has happened. I’m not looking for the teacher to baby me or coddle me in anyway im just looking for an efficient teacher. I don’t want her to start handing me As, I want feedback and an appropriate grade rather than what’s happening now.Also my school is known for its exceptional teaching staff and demanding honors and AP courses, it just seems like they may have made a mistake with this one.</p>
<p>Feedback is the one thing a teacher absolutely needs to give. If they don’t, especially when asked point blank, there is no way for the student to improve. Since you have evidence the grading is unfair, you should start going up the ladder, even if it’s to transfer to a different section. Sounds like they either need to tell her to adjust her grading standards or you just need to get away from her.</p>