teacher problem, what would you do???

Parents Forum
1

<p>omigod.
I have this huge delimma with my teacher (for anom.'s sake i won't mention which one)
OK, so here is what happened. Basically, with extracurriculars and what else, I have been really, really busy lately. Once my teacher found out about it, she told me that i was stressed (accusingly) and said that i needed to stop dong so much stuff. NOw, once i even had to cram in a week's worth of science material in one day, and this is hard material. I pulled an overnighter and totally understood EVERYTHING. HOwever, for personal reasons, something bad happened that morning, and i was so messed up that i did not o very wel at all on the test, got a D. NOw, I usually get B's on tests, and everything else (homework, etc) is great. However, i hve ha this teacher for two years and she knowns that i have bad handwriting. so this all pilled up today, and this is what happened.
Today, we were doing a lab. about half the class didn't understand the lab. So, I went up to her and decided to ask her. You know what she said??
she SHOUTED THAT I NEEDED TO START READING THE BOOK AND STOP SLOPPING STUFF DOWN, AND THAT IF I ONLY READ THE BOOK, THEN I WOULD NOT NEED HELP. NOW, SHE SHOUTED TO ME IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE CLASS. btw, she has called me stubborn after i tried asking her questions. </p>

<p>and what's more, I have a grade that is right on the edge. We are not doing fianls (we are doing a final project), and so i am scared that something bad will happen. By that i mean that in my school, it's pretty much common practice among my teachers to give either an A- or a B+ for, say, 89.9% or 89%. (PLEASE DON"T BUG ME ABOUT THiS) SO, she will give the hard working students with those grades an A-, and the lazy ones a B+. </p>

<p>I am SO AFRAID THAT she will see me as one of those lazy students and give me that grade (B+). For important purposes, i really need a A- in that class. Please, please do not say that a B+ is not the end of the world, I KNOW THAT but for once, It's about the wrong judgments of a science teacher that have cuased me so much mental anguish that i DON'T DESERVE.</p>

<p>Of course, i really want to talk to her about this, but i'm afraid that she will just think that i am a stubborn, stupid girl for making up excuses. If you try to talk to her, she will just try to poke "fun" at me. I'm crying right now, it's just so unfair that i will get a grade based on how much she LIKES ME. If i talk to her, she will just say that i've done so much stuff, she really believes that I am stubborn and won't admit mistakes. I don't know what to do. </p>

<p>o, and one thing: she HATES HER JOB. she even said so.</p>

<p>THis world is so unfair. Is it even possible to try ad get through to her as a HUMAN??????? CC parents, what would you do if this happened to your kid?</p>

<p>I have been on CC for three years and this is the first time i have felt the need to do this. Again, for anoum's sake i am posting under a different CC name.</p>

2

<p>You don't want to stir trouble with someone like this.</p>

<p>Take your B+ and consider yourself blessed if the worst thing that happens to you in your life is getting yelled at and getting a B+.</p>

3

<p>If you earn 89%, you should get a B+ anyways.</p>

4

<p>my biggest advice would be to ace the final project so that you're no longer borderline. and try to act more "together" or whatever around your teacher so she doesn't think you're "sloppy".
good luck :-D</p>

5

<p>Is your final grade cumulative or is it simply a fourth quarter grade? If you got A's for 3 grading periods, you should get an A for the year even if you get a B in the fourth quarter.</p>

6

<p>Unfortuantely there will be teachers like that. I have a biology teacher and my semester average was a 101. But my brother, who is very obnoxious, is also in the class, and even though I"m not a bad student at all, she still embarasses me in front of the class for no reason really, and "tries" to deduct points from tests even though I get the highest grades. The only way to get through that is to be the teacher's friend. Go out of your way to help her out if you can. Your project is the last hope you have for creating a "together" appearance. Try to take leadership, be very responsible, turn in everything on time, and help others, in front of her if you can. Your teacher doesn't sound so bad, just be really really nice to her. You may get some teachers in the future who are actually biased toward a certain student, and the student won't be able to help him/herself, so this really isn't too bad. Try to get your questions answered from one of the smarter kids in the class, and make her seem like she's the best teacher ever.</p>

7

<p>Your teacher reminds me a little bit about of math teacher I had thirty plus years ago. He wrote on the board on the first day of class, "God helps those who help themselves. Mr. C. helps those who help themselves." A friend turned to me and asked, "Is he equating himself with God?"</p>

<p>Anytime anyone asked Mr. C. a question, he'd glare at them and tell them to read the book.</p>

<p>I've had a couple of conversations since then with my younger brother, as well as some former classmates, and the consensus is that Mr. C. was the worst teacher we ever had, at any level.</p>

<p>What did I do? I passed his class with a lower grade than usual for me, and started another year of school with a better math teacher.</p>

<p>I suspect you'll do something similar. Sometimes the most valuable thing a teacher can teach you is how to deal with someone who doesn't wield authority well. Keep repeating to yourself, "this, too, shall pass." You'll look back someday and realize that any power this teacher had over you was extremely fleeting. It takes substantially more than one disappointing grade to derail someone who's headed for success.</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
Unfortuantely there will be teachers like that. I have a biology teacher and my semester average was a 101. But my brother, who is very obnoxious, is also in the class, and even though I"m not a bad student at all, she still embarasses me in front of the class for no reason really, and "tries" to deduct points from tests even though I get the highest grades.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm not entirely sure, but I think you can get her in trouble for that. If you got every question right on the test, then you get a 100 right? So I don't see how she can deduct points from correct answers.</p>

9

<p>You've received some excellent advice here (terrific post, Greybeard!). If you can do an outstanding final project and avoid giving this teacher any reason to consider you stressed/stubborn/scattered/whatever, you can walk away from the class with the result you want.</p>

<p>I'm troubled by the fact that she shouted at you in class for asking about the lab. Unprofessional behavior is never okay (especially from folks on the public payroll) - personal problems or not, bad day or not, "dumb" question or not. There are times when I hate my job, too, but I wouldn't have it long if I berated the people I'm supposed to help or told them, "Do it yourself." Then again, I don't have a tenured position ..... oh, never mind.</p>

<p>I'm also troubled by the inconsistencies in grading. Does your school have a written grading policy? It should, and I'd be surprised if the rules permit teacher discretion based on character assessment in rounding up. Perhaps your GC or a favorite teacher would tell you what the guidelines are (I suggest not mentioning the problem you're having with teacher #1 when you ask). You and/or your parents are entitled to this information, so ask politely, but firmly. You may be stuck with a B-plus, but at least you'll know that you have the grade you earned.</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
I'm also troubled by the inconsistencies in grading. Does your school have a written grading policy? It should, and I'd be surprised if the rules permit teacher discretion based on character assessment in rounding up. Perhaps your GC or a favorite teacher would tell you what the guidelines are (I suggest not mentioning the problem you're having with teacher #1 when you ask). You and/or your parents are entitled to this information, so ask politely, but firmly. You may be stuck with a B-plus, but at least you'll know that you have the grade you earned.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I also thought that you had to get the grade based on what you earned (ie: your test scores, attendance, homework, etc. add up to an A, therefore you earned an A and not a D, right???). I've seen some people mention on the boards that in college a professor gives you are grade, but that makes no sense to me. If your actual grades add up to a certain letter grade on the scale, then you get that grade...</p>

11

<p>If you were my daughter, I would probably do two things:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I would call the teacher and get her side of the story. I may or may not bring up the shouting incident, depending on how the conversation was going. If I did bring it up, it would be in an inquiring, nonconfrontational manner. </p></li>
<li><p>I would ask you to consider seriously with me whether there is any truth to what the teacher is saying about your workload and study habits. It is possble for a person to be difficult or obnoxious but still perceptive or correct. With regard to the all-nighter, I would say that the facts that an all-nighter was connected with a D. At a minimum, pulling the all-nighter left you tired and vulnerable to whatever happened the next morning. With steadier study, you would understand better and more deeply and perhaps would not be (so) badly affected by whatever problem came up that morning. As in music and sports, daily, steady work gets better results than sporadic but lengthy practice.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>FYI, in our schools the teachers are specifically instructed not to fudge the numerical grade. Here, 89.9 is supposed to be a B+, period. </p>

<p>My personal view is that an adolescent needs time to dream, relax, play, read, imagine. Those times, IMO, are important for mental and physical health. While IMO they are more important for your future life than admission to an elite college, they also IMO can actually enhance your chances in college admission by allowing for that authenticity, depth and originality in thought and/or deed that can show the best in you to the world. :) If you were my daughter, I would be trying my hardest to make sure that you have opportunities for such time and experiences.</p>

12

<p>I have a different take on what (I think) I might be hearing from you.</p>

<p>Sounds like the teacher is at the last straw of students taking advantage of her course and neglecting it in favor of whatever else is more attractive. Asking for special attention to have things explained wears very thin on instructors if they haven't seen any real initiative or desire to engage the topic.....only a desire to try to extract "brownie points" for being interested by asking questions.</p>

<p>I don't teach, but I do a little coaching. The players I coach come in all shades of ability. But there are some who have a genuine interest, and others who make it clear by their attitudes and actions that they couldn't care less about what we are trying to do, or at least it falls to a distant fifth or sixth place behind the "interests of the week". Sometimes these are the better kids in terms of ability. Every once in a while, one of those players decides to ask some questions or do some investigation.....usually in front of the others, and often as a tactic to have a little discussion rather than doing anything that might fall into the work category. Adults who have been around for a while have this wear thin on them. THe old, "gosh, we don't understand any of this stuff, (how about doing it all for me)" really wears thin. IF thats what happened, you got a little wake up call. </p>

<p>We recently had a coaches meeting and the fellow who runs our sport in the state noted that at our tournament, all the competing coaches said they'd stay to help with the equipment and cleanup, and yet this director ended up doing it all with his own kids, adding hours to his workload, with only two other coaches remaining. One of the coaches attending the meeting explained "Well, Dan, the reason I couldn't stay was........". Dan replied that "Look, everyone who left instead of helping had a reason. That's not the point". Everyone who gets a D has a reason, whether its more the extra curriculars, or the "what else" that you mention. </p>

<p>None of us can know the exact facts here,as you do, but you should consider that possibility that You are the one who needs to take a hard look at herself. [PS. This sounds harsh, and could be taken personally, but should't be. Many of us sometimes recognize some of ourselves or our kids in certain posts.] Its just possible that its time to grow up a little. Good luck.</p>

13

<p>as I learned from a great psychiatrist, the truth always lies somewhere in the middle. so yes, I would sit down with this teacher, parent, AND principal and discuss the situation IN TOTAL. remarks made, inappropriate behaviors etc etc. I have this problem: I never roll over and take anything. I fight until the end. yup, gets me in trouble sometimes, but in the end I feel better that I fought and spoke up for myself. what's the next roll over she should take, and the next. no, speak up, with the support of your parent, and the teacher's boss present.</p>

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<p>We had this problem with one high school teacher, and we had it only once in 12 years. This teacher played favorites and took a dislike to my son for reasons unrelated to the class. The teacher publically made negative remarks to him and to other students (some shockingly unprofessional), and graded his papers very unfairly. It was the only time in 12 years that intervention was required. After my son was unable to resolve the conflict, we parents spoke to the class teacher. When we gained no satisfaction, we met formally with the principal. We brought notes with examples of specific improprieties and dates, along with several examples of hostile grading. That meeting must have resulted in some discussion, because the problem was fixed. DS finished out the year uneventfully and received the grade he deserved. We later discovered that there was a long line of folks having problems with this teacher.</p>

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<p>Lkf725...we had a similar problem with my D's science teacher in ninth grade and did pretty much what you did about it. Unfortunately, after no improvement in the situation, though my D had offered to stay the course and hope it would change, we had to switch her out of the class. There was only so much unprofessional "abuse" a kid has to take. And yes, found out later that there was a history of the same exact behaviors/experiences some other GIRLS whom this teacher did not like had had in the past and where parents had submitted complaints in writing to his file. While we have had some good experiences at our school and some fine teachers, this is one experience that I will not miss at all. </p>

<p>Susan</p>