Lower grade given to "teach a lesson"

[Youdon'tsay]

I would like to compliment YOU for going out on a limb. Yes, your daughter took a risk, but she never has to return to that school. You, however, have to get another one through there, and I am proud and impressed you were willing to rock the boat rather than lay low out of fear of retribution toward your younger child.

Our HS principal always tells parents to put it in writing if you have a complaint about a teacher, counselor or other staff member. Hardly anyone ever does. How is a principal supposed to get rid of the dead weight without knowledge/proof of some of the things are happening?

So, congrats to your daughter but a hearty bravo to you as well!!!

[LIMOMOF2]

Congratulations on your successful outcome. You're daughter did a brave thing by going to the principal, and you did too. I'm glad it worked out so well.

[riverrunner]

Hurray!!!!
I have to say, I was pretty pessimistic about things happening fast on this one, but as others have said, there is probably a history with this teacher. Your case was so well presented and possibly consistent with other student complaints/rumblings, that resolution was instantaneous.

WOW, and congratulations to you and jnsq daughter.

[HarrietMWelsch]

Hooray and congratulations to your daughter and to you, jnsq. And now I hope those end-of-the-year celebrations can begin in earnest!

[NorthMinnesota]

WOOHOO!!!! Congrats all around! I have goosebumps for you! What an accomplishment to go in and stand up for her principles! Great result!

[wjb]

I'm late to this thread, but I want to add my congratulations to both you and your D, jnsq. Great plan of action, great result.

[marite]

Oh wow! Ditto Garland's post #75. A principal with principles is how I illustrate the different spellings.
I'm so glad the principal will not only correct your D's grade but will make sure that other students are not affected by this teacher's erratic grading practice.

Our HS principal always tells parents to put it in writing if you have a complaint about a teacher, counselor or other staff member. Hardly anyone ever does. How is a principal supposed to get rid of the dead weight without knowledge/proof of some of the things are happening?

We did once mention to my S's GC that his Honors English teacher was way too slow covering the curriculum (the book they'd started reading in September had still not been finished in January. The GC encouraged us to write a letter to the principal. Within one week, the teacher had been re-assigned, another one had taken over, and the book was finished! The first teacher was not bad but she was not appropriate for that particular class; the GC knew it, but thought that this observation would carry more weight coming from a parent. It obviously did (and avoided bad feelings between the GC and the teacher).

[gladmom]

I am SO HAPPY for you and your D, and for your whole family! You/she handled it so well and now you can celebrate joyously the end of the school year.

I firmly believe that a complaint should be made to the person who has the power to remedy it. I have done this on several occasions throughout my childrens' schooling and was usually pleasantly surprised that appropriate action was taken. I must say that they are probably happy to have me officially out of their hair now that my last child has graduated high school!

It helps to present the complaint in the right way, and it sounds like your D did just that. Way to go!

[huguenot]

Congratulations!

This is such an important lesson our children need to learn: how to stand up for themselves and how to make an appeal. One of our younger children had to deal with an issue with a store recently (returning an low quality item). The management was shocked he did it himself, but I was so proud of him!

What a fantastic outcome! Gives me hope!

[dufay]

You must be bursting with pride! Sounds like this was a long time coming, and your daughter's courage will have repercussions down the line. And thanks to the principal- I have seen for myself how a principal can stick up for a teacher and discount a parent's concerns.

[NJres]

I see the issue has been resolved, which is great, but the initial post did raise some interesting issues. I was on the verge of thinking that the teacher may have a valid point in his effort to demphasize the importance of grades, but then I thought of the analogy:

Why not give the teacher a 50% paycut so he can learn not to place too much importance on money?

[nngmm]

joining the chorus of congratulations. This must have been a very empowering experience for your daughter!

[Lafalum84]

JNSQ, I am now more emboldened to approach my D's English teacher's dept head. She has a bad habit of failing to return graded papers. The kids never know what their grade is, and how are they supposed to learn and improve if they don't get feedback on what they turn in? Kind of hard to prove a negative, though - she didn't give the graded assignments back to the students so we can't show him what we don't have!

Congrats anyway, your D may have saved many more students from unneccessary pain!

[kelsmom]

Adding my kudos to you & your D!

S had a teacher in 5th grade that enjoyed giving lower grades than kids deserved. S's class had her for science. S's friend had all A's on assignments and tests. The teacher gave him a B on his report card. She told his mom that he wasn't working up to his potential. Huh??!! The mom let it go, saying that a 5th grade science grade was not worth getting upset over. I wish she had pushed the issue, because this teacher often picks certain kids to "teach a lesson to." I hope that someday a parent and child will stick up for themselves as j_n_s_q and her D did. It's never too young to stand up for what is right.

[mom in virginia]

Good for you guys! Congrats all around!!