WWYD? No Physics teacher until "October" on 4x4 schedule

[Anonymous]

Hello. Our junior has not had a physics teacher yet. Science dept chair says the teacher will return in "October." They said that material will be uploaded into Canvas, but so far, it is just the textbook. Sub has no information and does not instruct. Kid sits there for 80 minutes each day.

Would you push to have your child moved to a physics class in the Spring? Obviously, they will not be able to do this for all of the students in this position. They've already said if you leave Physics, you will not be guaranteed a spot in the Spring semester.

[Anonymous]

On a 4x4 schedule, not having a Physics teacher for over a month and possibly two is ridiculous. I would push to have your kid put in a class where he/she can actually learn something, even if Physics isn't guaranteed in the spring. Your kid could take an online Physics course in the spring/summer, if needed. There are lots of accredited online programs that offer advanced courses like Physics, but they do cost, which is obviously a potential issue. Is this Wilson?

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. I don’t see a kid doing well in AP Physics when you have two and a half months to learn it. I already think the 4 by 4 is a major disadvantage but without a teacher physics is incredibly difficult.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Definitely push to move him. There's absolutely no learning taking place in that environment.

[Anonymous]

That is terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello. Our junior has not had a physics teacher yet. Science dept chair says the teacher will return in "October." They said that material will be uploaded into Canvas, but so far, it is just the textbook. Sub has no information and does not instruct. Kid sits there for 80 minutes each day.

Would you push to have your child moved to a physics class in the Spring? Obviously, they will not be able to do this for all of the students in this position. They've already said if you leave Physics, you will not be guaranteed a spot in the Spring semester.

Ask the Science Dept Chair how this supports the Carnegie Unit requirement for teaching.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry child is dealing with this- it seems to me this is a major problem with the 4x4; presumably, this is going to happen frequently at the start of school years, not to mention when teachers have maternity/paternity leave, jury duty, etc.

I have already written to downtown expressing my concerns with this schedule- I think we all need to push back hard against it.

[Anonymous]

The science curriculum used by DCPS is actually quite good and is widely used nationally. Students all have online access to it. So a department chair or someone should be setting up student accounts for it so they can at least access some of the readings and other self-paced activities in order. Even better would be to set the students up with an online physics course taught by an actual human teacher. Wilson staff are probably completely swamped. But these two steps would not be super difficult (well the latter could be tricky to find perhaps?) and it only seems fair.

[Anonymous]

Adding to above, while some of that material is probably linked in Canvas, the formatting of it last year was confusing. There should definitely be more than the textbook readings available. I think they need an online course during that block.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The science curriculum used by DCPS is actually quite good and is widely used nationally. Students all have online access to it. So a department chair or someone should be setting up student accounts for it so they can at least access some of the readings and other self-paced activities in order. Even better would be to set the students up with an online physics course taught by an actual human teacher. Wilson staff are probably completely swamped. But these two steps would not be super difficult (well the latter could be tricky to find perhaps?) and it only seems fair.

As a science teacher I disagree wholeheartedly. What I have access to in canvas is god awful.

[Anonymous]

There are many pathetic things about Wilson. But this is unconscionable.

Why even bother having a class? Just give them all As and let them sleep in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The science curriculum used by DCPS is actually quite good and is widely used nationally. Students all have online access to it. So a department chair or someone should be setting up student accounts for it so they can at least access some of the readings and other self-paced activities in order. Even better would be to set the students up with an online physics course taught by an actual human teacher. Wilson staff are probably completely swamped. But these two steps would not be super difficult (well the latter could be tricky to find perhaps?) and it only seems fair.

As a science teacher I disagree wholeheartedly. What I have access to in canvas is god awful.

OP here. Agree that what was done on canvas was God-awful. But the curriculum itself is not. Better to have an online course with a live teacher for sure though!

[Anonymous]

Tell Wilson you’re going to the media about this if they don’t come up with a solution now. Absurd. The only thing that fixes things is the threat of airing dirty laundry

[Anonymous]

Private tutor.