Lower grade given to "teach a lesson"

Parents Forum
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<p>jnsq: Best of luck to you all in your meeting. I am glad you have time to prepare and am sure you will plan out everything you say so that you don’t come across like I am going to right now!</p>

<p>I am so angry at this teacher. He “enjoys lying to colleges” by not giving grades that are earned, and he hates grades. Sounds like he’d prefer a job where he doesn’t have to give grades, and I wish he would go find one. Most schools that I have ever heard of have grades.</p>

<p>I see no reason why this shouldn’t benefit your D, because this teacher is way out of line in his treatment of her. I think you are doing the right thing by making your complaints known. The more people that complain about him, the better.</p>

<p>The district needs a uniform final grade policy. “For the most part” works most of the time. Unfortunately, there is the other part where it doesn’t.</p>

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<p>gladmom: Believe me, I have thought all you have written, and so much more! The guy makes my blood boil, but I have to remain composed and coherent. I can’t figure out if he believes all he says or is trying to get a rise out of the students. I, too, have wondered why he teaches since he seems to dislike so much about the profession, not the least of which is hard-working students?!</p>

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<p>Just want to add, my H is a teacher, and he is sputtering mad about what this guy is doing.</p>

<p>He said, personally, if it was his kid, he’d say just about enough to him to make him nervous about going back to his car that night.</p>

<p>Just kidding, mostly (I think).</p>

<p>We both agree, though, that if no satisfaction, it’d be the kind of thing worth saying out loud, in front of the general public, at a Board of Ed meeting.</p>

<p>Good luck tomorrow. Your D sounds like a gem.</p>

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<p>My freshman-year geometry teacher gave me a B my first semester and a C+ my second semester for the same reasons. Except, he tried to used technicalities to support his case. I had 95’s or higher on every single test and quiz in his class, so he failed me on my homework grade for handwriting the first semester. The next semester, I spent 5 hours each weekend re-writing my homework to make sure it was in perfect print. Then, when it came time to hand in my portfolio (he had us collect all of our assignments for the quarter in a portfolio, he then selected 10 problems at random to grade), I realized I had left it in a class I had previously taken a test in. I had shown up 5 minutes early to the class, and when I realized I had left the portfolio was in my last class and started to leave the class to get it, the teacher said, “What do you think you’re doing? I specifically said that the portfolios are due the minute you walk through the classroom door. It does not matter if class does not start for another 5 minutes.” I then cried through his class in what was one of the most humiliating moments of my high school career.</p>

<p>The next quarter, he was ordered by the Dean of Academics to change everyone’s grade to a 100% for the notebook project. Somehow, I still miraculously received a C+ in the class, so I went to the Dean of Academics to bring forth my case. I had collected every assignment, test, and quiz throughout the year, and brought all of them to the Dean’s desk. When I first spoke to him, he said that I was bringing serious accusations, but that nevertheless he was intrigued. I then felt like I was avoided throughout the end of the year and the summer (although, the end of the year is a busy time for a Dean, so it probably was not intended). I finally held another meeting with the Dean my freshman year in which he agreed to change my grade to an A- or B+ (I’m a rising senior now, so my memory is sketchy), but he refused to change the first semester grades or previous portfolio grades on the basis that “regardless of whether you are right, you need to learn to ask for what is within reason.” I did not argue at the time as I felt quite ebullient about the fact that I had succeeded in getting my grade change. That teacher was also subsequently fired after one more year of teaching, so I was quite happy that the Dean had taken the time to listen to student concerns. Nevertheless, to this day, I still regret not standing up for myself more about the issue. Had I not been an intrepid freshman boy, I would have made quite a ruckus about the situation and demanded just action, but I did not have the self-confidence.</p>

<p>So why exactly am I recounting this story here? The lesson is that you ought to stand up for what is just no matter what, because the B, even if it really is not that big of a deal (as a B 2nd semester senior is or a B freshman year), will bother you for quite some time and you’ll regret not being more assertive.</p>

<p>On a side note, my angst and regret over the situation led me to teach myself algebra 2, trig, and precalc that following summer. I finished out my sophomore year top of the calculus class, which was perhaps even more satisfying than having the Dean side with me over the teacher.</p>

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<p>I completely agree with your going to the principal with this, jnsq.</p>

<p>Here’s my caveat, having school admins in my family: the principal will likely not jump up and down, openly agree with you and change the grade in front of you. If he/she is any good, he will have to take detailed notes, listen carefully, and, of course, contact the teacher involved for his side, before any action is taken. </p>

<p>Try not to be disappointed by an undereaction from the P. You seem to be holding all the cards, but you will have to give the P time to check facts to get the result you want. </p>

<p>You are doing the right thing for your daughter, and you are doing a service for your school. Believe me, the principal wants to hear this story, and hear it from you, if he is any good at all.</p>

<p>Best wishes tomorrow. Deep breaths.</p>

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<p>As a teacher, I sometimes wonder what in the world some of my fellow teachers are doing these days! I’ve seen some kids receive lower grades because the teacher did not like them or the way they said something in an essay or what they stated in a class discussion.</p>

<p>Case in point. About four years ago, we had a student who was an outstanding writer. She takes AP Lit her senior year. Now, this kid is the real deal in writing. The new AP Lit teacher gives her a C on her first essay. Nothing wrong with it. She just did not like the way it was written. The kid could not understand why but was willing to give the teacher a chance. The following week, another C. Again, nothing wrong with the paper. </p>

<p>The kid was so upset that she brought the essays to her AP Language teacher, who had her in 11th grade. The teacher found nothing wrong with the essays. She even showed them to the principal, a former AP English teacher. He found nothing wrong. The teacher refused to change the grades, so the student dropped the class. The story gets better. She did AP English Lit as an independent study. She got a 5 on the exam and is a straight A student at a top flight university.</p>

<p>I’m glad that this teacher no longer is at my school. She had it in for lots of our kids. Mainly because she was jealous of the relationship they had with that AP Language teacher. I’ve seen the same thing from other teachers. They cannot accept that kids are drawn to certain teachers for whatever reason. Maybe it’s because they are demanding but still love these kids to pieces. This AP Language teacher has kids still sending her birthday cards 10 years after she taught them. They have invited her to their weddings. She has cried with them when their grandparent dies. </p>

<p>Good teachers do not worry about their egos. They worry about their kids. Take the issue to the principal and save some other kid the pain your child feels. </p>

<p>Next time, this type of attitude could cost a child more than a grade. Maybe it will involve a scholarship.</p>

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<p>I’m picturing us with torches, like the villagers storming the castle in a Frankenstein movie. Can we do that?</p>

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<p>It just stinks that you are having to spend time and attention on this instead of celebrating your daughter’s accomplishments, graduation, and her upcoming college adventure. Hoping for quick resolution.</p>

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<p>bethievt, torches it is! Let’s storm the high school!</p>

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<p>jnsq - I wish you lots of luck today. You know we are all with you in spirit!</p>

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<p>owlice, I’ve got the lighters!</p>

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<p>Good luck, je ne sais quoi. S’s teachers emphasized that they could only grade the work that was turned in.<br>
Your D’s teacher introduced an element of subjectivity in his grading that makes hs grades so often difficult to evaluate.
Your D’s is done with this school, but other students, including your next child, would benefit from having the principal stress to all teachers the importance of grading according to accepted rubrics.</p>

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<p>Thinking of you and yours today and wishing you strength and courage!</p>

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<p>Dear CC Friends: We are home from our meeting with the principal and it could not have gone better. My daughter competently presented her case with her supporting documents. I chimed in here and there, but she really did it all herself. The principal changed her grade to an “A” and is going to handle the teacher. Without going into too much revealing detail, it sounds like things will change there and change fast. My second daughter will never be in his class; the principal will see to that. He was SO grateful for the “dry ammunition” my daughter had printed out for him. At the conclusion of the meeting, the principal told my daughter she had done a beautiful job, was a credit to the high school, and had added so much during her time there. He then turned to me and said, “You ought to be very proud.” I am!! </p>

<p>Mission accomplished. Thanks to all of you for the advice, support and for being with me in spirit today. I couldn’t have done it without you.</p>

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<p>Hoorrrayyyy!!!</p>

<p>Yay for smart, thoughtful principals (principals with principles! :))</p>

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<p>YAY!!! Oh, jnsq, I’m so happy for your D!! That’s great! </p>

<p>And what a benefit to other students!</p>

<p>Congrats!!!</p>

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<p>:: hands Chevda back her lighters ::</p>

<p>Thanks for those!</p>

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<p>Whether you get an under-reaction from the school administration or no reaction whatsoever, I truly believe you and your daughter are doing the right thing. I have one of those diligent meticulous daughters (rising 10th grader) and in reading your tale, I couldn’t help but think that my D would let it slide rather than make a fuss (just how she’s constructed), so I applaud yours for gritting her teeth and helping make life better for those who come after.</p>

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<p>Owlice–you mean we’re *not *going to get to see an angry mob led by Bethie? Darn!</p>

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<p>Kudos to your daughter for stating her case and congratulations on her success. And you get to check off the “standing up for herself” box on the “things to worry about when she goes off to college” list.</p>