Sunday, January 28, 2007
How Do I Deal With A Terrible Teacher?
Dear Guidance Guy,
I'm having some difficulties with my civics teacher. He's a really nice guy but a terrible teacher! I have not learned a single thing from him all year! He has us read our textbooks and take notes, but he never goes through and explains what we read. During class, he allows kids to watch movies, play on the school's laptops, listen to iPods, and make calls on cell phones: all the things that are against the school rules.
Also, I feel like he's been trying to find ways to mark me down for things because I'm one of the only students that check their grades and double check for grading errors. For example, we took a test on a scantron a couple weeks ago, and I got three answers wrong. I asked him for the test to see which answers I got incorrect. It turns out that the three I got wrong were right. Even though he knew that, he wouldn't change my grade because "it wouldn't help me". But it turns out that's all I needed to go from an A- to an A. After he finally did correct my grade, I asked ifhe was going to change it for his other classes. He wasn't going to! Isn't that wrong?! If he knows that students got the right answer but marked them down for it, he should inform them, shouldn't he?
Anyway, the other day, I asked him when he was going to mark in my extra credit that I did. He said he wasn't going to enter it in... Ever! Sure, I can see where he's coming from because I have an A right now, but I need a really high one to get an A for the semester. So, I was pretty upset when he said this. We got into a little dispute that involved him threatening to not grade any of my work and give me Fs instead! It ended with him saying "The important thing is that students are learning, not the grades they get because those are just letters." My come back to this was "Tell that to the colleges your students apply to!"
This behavior isn't uncommon for this teacher. There have been many stories passed down that he is sexist, anti-Semitic, and impossible. Apparently, students have been trying for years to get him fired, but he's already been there for twelve years; in my opinion, that's eleven years too long. I really want to do something about this, but I don't want to talk with him. I don't have time during school to talk to any advisors. I'm just overwhelmed with frustration and anger. Please help.
College Bound
*** *** ***
Dear College Bound,
If everything you say is accurate, your teacher is way out of line. To have students simply read and take notes, not to fix mistakes when they're found and ignore all the school rules is unprofessional behavior. And to threaten not to mark your work and give you F's is beyond comprehension.
Let's assume that everything you say is exactly the way it's happening. I say that again because what you're describing is so unusual and inapprorpriate. Almost all teachers are really interested in helping kids and improving their own skills. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be one of them. You should be taking notes in class, including informaton about your teacher's behavior. Be specific about what happens, exactly what is said, when and where...even down to the date and time it happens.
It will be important that your parents become involved in this. You can try to do this on your own, starting with the principal, but it will work much better with adults being part of the process. Bring your complaints and notes to the principal and be specific about what's happening. Just because a teacher has been there for a long time doesn't mean they aren't accountable for their behavior. And if the principal isn't responsive, your district probably has a superintendent. Your state or province has a department of education that will hear complaints as well. Again, take detailed notes each time you meet with someone.
I saw in your last couple of sentences you don't have the time during school to meet with your advisors. You DID have the time to sit down and write a letter to me. Are you nervous about approaching someone with this? If so, I understand. But taking the next step is the only way things are going to change. You have the passion and I just gave you the "how-to." This is what education is supposed to be all about...preparing for life after school!
Best of Luck,
The Guidance Guy
I'm having some difficulties with my civics teacher. He's a really nice guy but a terrible teacher! I have not learned a single thing from him all year! He has us read our textbooks and take notes, but he never goes through and explains what we read. During class, he allows kids to watch movies, play on the school's laptops, listen to iPods, and make calls on cell phones: all the things that are against the school rules.
Also, I feel like he's been trying to find ways to mark me down for things because I'm one of the only students that check their grades and double check for grading errors. For example, we took a test on a scantron a couple weeks ago, and I got three answers wrong. I asked him for the test to see which answers I got incorrect. It turns out that the three I got wrong were right. Even though he knew that, he wouldn't change my grade because "it wouldn't help me". But it turns out that's all I needed to go from an A- to an A. After he finally did correct my grade, I asked ifhe was going to change it for his other classes. He wasn't going to! Isn't that wrong?! If he knows that students got the right answer but marked them down for it, he should inform them, shouldn't he?
Anyway, the other day, I asked him when he was going to mark in my extra credit that I did. He said he wasn't going to enter it in... Ever! Sure, I can see where he's coming from because I have an A right now, but I need a really high one to get an A for the semester. So, I was pretty upset when he said this. We got into a little dispute that involved him threatening to not grade any of my work and give me Fs instead! It ended with him saying "The important thing is that students are learning, not the grades they get because those are just letters." My come back to this was "Tell that to the colleges your students apply to!"
This behavior isn't uncommon for this teacher. There have been many stories passed down that he is sexist, anti-Semitic, and impossible. Apparently, students have been trying for years to get him fired, but he's already been there for twelve years; in my opinion, that's eleven years too long. I really want to do something about this, but I don't want to talk with him. I don't have time during school to talk to any advisors. I'm just overwhelmed with frustration and anger. Please help.
College Bound
*** *** ***
Dear College Bound,
If everything you say is accurate, your teacher is way out of line. To have students simply read and take notes, not to fix mistakes when they're found and ignore all the school rules is unprofessional behavior. And to threaten not to mark your work and give you F's is beyond comprehension.
Let's assume that everything you say is exactly the way it's happening. I say that again because what you're describing is so unusual and inapprorpriate. Almost all teachers are really interested in helping kids and improving their own skills. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be one of them. You should be taking notes in class, including informaton about your teacher's behavior. Be specific about what happens, exactly what is said, when and where...even down to the date and time it happens.
It will be important that your parents become involved in this. You can try to do this on your own, starting with the principal, but it will work much better with adults being part of the process. Bring your complaints and notes to the principal and be specific about what's happening. Just because a teacher has been there for a long time doesn't mean they aren't accountable for their behavior. And if the principal isn't responsive, your district probably has a superintendent. Your state or province has a department of education that will hear complaints as well. Again, take detailed notes each time you meet with someone.
I saw in your last couple of sentences you don't have the time during school to meet with your advisors. You DID have the time to sit down and write a letter to me. Are you nervous about approaching someone with this? If so, I understand. But taking the next step is the only way things are going to change. You have the passion and I just gave you the "how-to." This is what education is supposed to be all about...preparing for life after school!
Best of Luck,
The Guidance Guy
# posted by Larry Hochman : 5:13 AM
