<p>Senior year, which I'll be starting in about a week, I'll have a math teacher who has a reputation for NEVER giving good grades - I've heard of people with straight As in the other most rigorous math classes getting Cs in this one. Everyone says she's the worst teacher they've ever had. I'm not too good at math so I don't want to have my gpa ruined, even if it is senior year. Or what if I actually fail? I am NOT going to let one bad teacher ruin my chances at my dream college(s).</p>
<p>I can try to request a change in teachers, but school policy says that they allow it only if the principal determines that there are "circumstances of a serious nature", so I don't think complaining to my counselor about the teacher's reputation would help.</p>
<p>Could you try to drop a class and then register for a class that is ONLY in the period your math is currently in so you would be forced to switch math classes? I did that one year to get out of a Spanish class.</p>
<p>I don’t know of any classes that are available in only one block…and I really like all the other classes I’m taking, I wouldn’t know which one to drop</p>
<p>The school probably just says that because they don’t want hoards of students bombarding them with teacher requests.</p>
<p>One option is to go to her class for a week, then continually visit your counselor asking to switch during the second week. Tell them that you take your education (even though it is senior year) very seriously and you feel that you cannot learn in her class. Be firm and persistent. Sometimes it works to bring your parents in. Don’t say that she is a “bad” teacher, tell them that you are struggling to understand the way she “teaches” and that it is ruining your study habits or something…</p>
<p>I was able to switch teachers after 3 visits to my counselor. My other friend got her parents involved and she switched teachers too.</p>
<p>I’m not sure I’m aware of your exact situation, but it’s math…it’s pretty objective, and unless your teacher artificially lowers grades or something (which I think is illegal, i’m not sure), or if the tests are too difficult, then you can complain?</p>
<p>if it’s like English, I understand, but math…eh, you should probably study the material on your own and you might be able to excel in the class.</p>
<p>Actually there were numerous occasions where I had teachers with bad reputations. Turns out they were the best teachers I’ve ever had. I found out those teachers know how to push you further than your limits. I really wouldn’t go with other people’s words. Stay in the class for about a week and see if she really is as bad as they say.</p>