Is it normal practice for school to teach a unfamiliar subject

[Anonymous]

This school year, DC enrolled in Chemistry HR. The teacher used to teach biology for 20 years. This is his first year teaching chemistry at this high school. His class is not a good experience for students. What might be the reason that school admin assign someone to teach a subject that the teacher is not knowledgeable about?

[Anonymous]

Because they didn't have enough chemistry teachers.

[Anonymous]

The teacher has checked off the boxes to "qualify " to teach Chem.
Presumably, he has a BS degree in Bio which requires other sci components to achieve that degree so therefore he "knows " chem. Abd he's a teacher already. So in the eyes of FCPS he's good enough to teach Chem.

Fwiw, I have a BS in Bio and had to take 2 yrs of Chem, Physics, Environmental Sci. as part of the requirements.

[Anonymous]

I agree with what others have said. I also wanted to add that my daughter is a biology major and she's required to take 6 semesters of chemistry - 2 general, 2 organic, and 2 biochemistry- so the teacher may have more of a background in chemistry than you think.

[Anonymous]

The PP had the correct answer. There simply aren’t enough teachers anymore.

I’m an English teacher. I’ve taught out of subject before, covering a Geometry class. We didn’t have enough Math teachers, so there wasn’t really a better option. I just spent a ton of time relearning concepts so I’d be prepared to teach them.

[Anonymous]

If his license is for high school science, he's as qualified as anyone else on paper.

My license is math 6-12. I've only taught middle school, but technically they could reassign me to teach calculus tomorrow and I wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with what others have said. I also wanted to add that my daughter is a biology major and she's required to take 6 semesters of chemistry - 2 general, 2 organic, and 2 biochemistry- so the teacher may have more of a background in chemistry than you think.

My current bio major DC has similar requirements. In fact, at her school the biology major is part of the department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. There’s definitely a connection.

[Anonymous]

If anything, he's more qualified than a first year chemistry teacher. He's got the organization/classroom management piece down.

[Anonymous]

The problem here is likely not that the Bio teacher does not have sufficient Chem background to teach HS Chemistry (they do, as it's a significant part of a Bio major), but that they haven't taught it in 20 years.

I'm a Bio major, DD is in Chem Honors as well, and when I look through her stuff, I don't remember everything there, although with a little effort, I can come up to speed. The teacher might not have done that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If his license is for high school science, he's as qualified as anyone else on paper.

My license is math 6-12. I've only taught middle school, but technically they could reassign me to teach calculus tomorrow and I wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

Science isn't the same as math. You are certified for a particular area (Bio, Chem, Earth Science or Physics). If you are not endorsed in the particular subject, you can't teach it. But, once you are certified in one area, you just need to pass the Praxis in another subject to get endorsed in that area.

[Anonymous]

Yes. This is common for the county. Especially with the destaffing and involuntary transfers going on.

[Anonymous]

You're only now realizing that teachers can be vastly unqualified to teach the subject they're assigned to teach?

Well. You've been lucky so far, OP, I have to say!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If anything, he's more qualified than a first year chemistry teacher. He's got the organization/classroom management piece down.

that’s what I was thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This school year, DC enrolled in Chemistry HR. The teacher used to teach biology for 20 years. This is his first year teaching chemistry at this high school. His class is not a good experience for students. What might be the reason that school admin assign someone to teach a subject that the teacher is not knowledgeable about?

Is your child at Langley? If so, I hear you!