Teacher doesn't actually teach anything

[Anonymous]

8th grade DD has struggled with art throughout middle school and now has a C-. She completes all the work on time, tries very hard, and has a great attitude according to the teacher himself. But her art is not great from a technical perspective, and her biggest complaint at home is that he doesn't teach and simply gives assignments, only to critique them pretty harshly - I've see her grade rubrics. I'm not sure how to help! Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t worry about the grade as it won’t go into her transcript for colleges. It’s art.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t worry about the grade as it won’t go into her transcript for colleges. It’s art.

Of course it will.

[Anonymous]

Really all you can do is ask to meet with the teacher. A C- for art that is technically meeting all the criteria seems overly harsh. Not everyone is an artist.

Fwiw, MS art made my kid swear he'd never take another art class. And this is a kid who loves drawing and is quite good at it. He's just very slow to get to the finished product, which didn't work for the teacher's expectations -- so he'd rush to finish and miss items on the rubric.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t worry about the grade as it won’t go into her transcript for colleges. It’s art.

If this is a kid applying to HS vs simply moving on to public, a C- would have impact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really all you can do is ask to meet with the teacher. A C- for art that is technically meeting all the criteria seems overly harsh. Not everyone is an artist.

Fwiw, MS art made my kid swear he'd never take another art class. And this is a kid who loves drawing and is quite good at it. He's just very slow to get to the finished product, which didn't work for the teacher's expectations -- so he'd rush to finish and miss items on the rubric.

This is what gets me - I tend to agree with you, but the teacher insists everyone can be taught. But he doesn't lecture on technique, just demonstrates for five minutes and lets them at it. A math teacher would never get away with that.

[Anonymous]

Does she have to take art?

Some people are natural artists, some can learn, and some (like me) can’t draw a stick figure. This doesn’t seem like her place of strength.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she have to take art?

Some people are natural artists, some can learn, and some (like me) can’t draw a stick figure. This doesn’t seem like her place of strength.

Yes, all three years in middle school and a year in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does she have to take art?

Some people are natural artists, some can learn, and some (like me) can’t draw a stick figure. This doesn’t seem like her place of strength.

Yes, all three years in middle school and a year in high school.

Is the requirement not a "fine art"? Usually music/theater/drawing & painting/ceramics all count.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t worry about the grade as it won’t go into her transcript for colleges. It’s art.

Of course it will.

lol. In 8th grade? Sure, Jan.

[Anonymous]

That's messed up. I would contact the department chair.

Here if you try hard and behave in MS Art you get 100.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t worry about the grade as it won’t go into her transcript for colleges. It’s art.

Of course it will.

In what world does an 8th grade art class go onto a high school transcript? High school transcripts have only high school classes on them, beginning with Algebra 1 and first year of a language. Art from 8th grade won’t be on there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's messed up. I would contact the department chair.

Here if you try hard and behave in MS Art you get 100.

I agree. There is a tacit consent in this country that if you demonstrate goodwill, you get good grades in PE and art. I mean, my son with a fine motor disability got an A in digital art in high school for pieces that his little sibling could have done better!!! Not because the teacher knew of his disability - he didn't even tell him - but because he handed in everything on time, paid attention in class and was a polite student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t worry about the grade as it won’t go into her transcript for colleges. It’s art.

Of course it will.

lol. In 8th grade? Sure, Jan.

Art in high school will. This isn't complicated.

[Anonymous]

You need to complain to the head of school. I'm assuming this is a private. No public would do this.