What to do about incompetent teacher?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>This is gonna be a rant...sorry.</p>

<p>So I'm taking 4 APs this year, the most of anyone in the school (except this one other Asian kid in my grade), and I'll be self studying 5 more. I'm completely ready for the work, and I'm good at grasping material. So the first day of school, I walk into AP Physics B and the teacher hands us all his "syllabus" and "calendar" for the year. I read the syllabus and get to the grading part...and see that tests are 85% of our grade...ok... That didn't worry me too much back then because I'm a straight A student and I barely study for tests anyway. So for the ENTIRE first week of school...all he does is talk about the "rigor" of the course. Emphasis on "rigor". He probably used that word about 500 times, no exagerration, that week. </p>

<p>Then comes the second week, and he assigns us 5 homework problems. No big deal I think, and then I open my book and see they are "III" problems. (The book [Giancoli] sorts homework problems by difficulty, I are the easiest and III the hardest). So I read through the chapter and have NO idea how to do the problems at all (this is my first ever Physics class). I call up my Senior friend, who took a regular Physics class last year, and he has no idea... So I come in the next morning (he makes us turn in our homework before school....) and turn in homework with just the diagrams drawn, and a little explanation on how I had no idea where to start the problem and how hopefully we can discuss them in class.</p>

<p>So it gets to class, and he assigns us more problems, then goes to sit back at his desk doing w/e he does on his computer. I go back to his desk and inquire about the homework, and he gives me an unrelated answer on that night's homework... Ok... so I go back to my desk and start trying to do the homework again...and no luck, I don't understand any of it.</p>

<p>So about 2 weeks go by and we've gone through 2 chapters (which I barely understood). Out of the blue, he tells us that we are gonna have two tests this week, two on both the chapters on back to back days... So I go home, try to study, and come in the next day. Needless to say, I bombed both of them (not really "bombed", but 1 C and a low B). Wow... luckily he told us we're allowed to retake tests. In the meantime, he assigns us more homework. NOTE: He doesn't TEACH us anything. He just assigns homework and goes back to sit down (sometimes he patrols the classroom looking over our shoulder, but not saying a word). So I'm basically just trying to teach myself Physics and I've never had it before...</p>

<p>More weeks go by and I get another C on the third test. So I go in the next day and ask when I can retake the tests. He starts babbling on about some random garbage and then tells me that he's never given a retake... Then he tells me that tests are 85% of the grade (ok..) and that he's gonna make the final 400 points (tests are 200 points). So I just turn around and leave because obviously he's a moron. </p>

<p>It's almost the quarter break (quarter ends September 31st), and the final is next week. After about a month of doing ridiculously hard homework, I've basically learned the first two chapters and now I want to retake...but his answer to "When can we schedule my retake?" was "I'll make the final 400 points."</p>

<p>OK...so we (the entire class doesn't understand anything) are magically going to understand a quarter of Physics because you made the final 400 points? ????????? </p>

<p>What do I do about this teacher? This guy just assigns homework, doesn't explain ANYTHING, and gives tests that are worth 85% of my grade. I've always been great at everything in school but I'm not smart enough where I can teach myself AP Physics with no background in the subject... Should I talk to the principal? </p>

<p>Help =/</p>

<p>[/rant]</p>

2

<p>Have you asked him to explain? Some teachers just ignore notes and letters and things like that- they just need you to outright say "I don't understand." If he doesn't wnat to explain in class, ask him how else you can get help. Have you asked people who had him last year for APB? Have you approached someone who is doing well in the course? It's not his fault if everyone's too afraid to approach him. He's not a moron. You're sort of at fault here.</p>

3

<p>What are you talking about? Like every single day kids are asking him over and over to explain and he just rants about random garbage unrelated to ANYTHING. </p>

<p>He's a new teacher this year, he replaced a Physics teacher who went to teach at another school, so no one has had him yet. </p>

<p>And NO ONE is doing well...even kids who took Physics last year.</p>

4

<p>That is so lame. You seriously need to get it into his thick skull that no one understands what the heck is going on...Maybe he'll realize it when everyone flunks his final. If it continues, you need to say something to the administration and say that he is not doing his job. I hate teachers like that.</p>

5

<p>Yeah...like when we ask him to explain a homework problem he assigns...he responds with, "Well that's why I assigned it."</p>

<p>OK....</p>

6

<p>lol this guy is hilarious on top of being a moron. just dont worry about it man...I never worry when it's my peers and me not doing well as a whole...it's only if I start falling behind as a single individual that I tend to start worrying...BUT....this guy obviously sucks...I don't know what type of person you are, but what I would do in that situation i just go in there during some time and demand a retake...if he's smart ass replies about a 400 point final, then be like, what does my question have to do with a final? You said we're allowed to take a retake, and I'm here for that, I don't care about the final....</p>

<p>I wouldn't do this alone though...bring a friend who also has the class w/ you to back you up....good luck with this one</p>

7

<p>Have your parents call the district office. They should be able to get his teaching style called into question. Make sure you have at least 5-10 friends/classmates do the same. This is what our teachers always tell us.</p>

8

<p>^I agree. You could go to an administrator, but we tried that with a similar problem last year (except it was with this completely incompetent Spanish teacher who barely understood English), and they didn't do squat for us. Get the parents involved and you'll really see what a school board can do.</p>

9

<p>switch out! idk what else to do if that's not possible. maybe you should have your parents call and ask why..</p>

10

<p>I have a feeling you're not telling the whole truth. If he truly does nothing during class time, he would never have been hired. </p>

<p>Also, AP demands you teach yourself a lot of material. This is nothing new. You have to take the extra step and make sure you understand the material. The burden is on you, not the teacher. This is how it is for all AP classes.</p>

<p>I understand that you're still in high school and believe everything you think is right. I've been there. But you need to relax and focus on your studies not ranting. Everyone has had bad teachers. That shouldn't stop you from learning. Twain's quote comes to mind.</p>

11

<p>I think your class should raise a complaint to the head of the department. A couple years ago, my school got a new teacher who everyone thought was a horrible teacher. One of her classes complained, and the administration started to keep an eye on her. She wasn't as bad as your teacher, though.</p>

<p>It probably would've been better in your case to take honors or college prep physics before attempting AP, since you've never taken it before. Maybe your teacher just assumes that everyone has prior knowledge of physics and therefore can work out difficult homework problems on their own. In this case, it may very well be your responsibility to teach yourself what you're expected to already know. I've always been under the impression that when it comes to AP science classes, you shouldn't take them unless you have prior knowledge.</p>

<p>Clearly, you're not benefiting from this class, so if the teacher isn't going to change his ways anytime soon, you may have to reconsider your own plans. Is he the only AP Physics teacher? Can you drop to a lower level?</p>

12

<p>It's almost the end of the first quarter so I can't drop. And yea, I go to a really poor school and they only have him as the AP Physics teacher. I found hippocampus.org last night that has some really good interactive AP Physics lessons so I'm starting that now.</p>