known bad teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody wants to be in this classroom, but have you considered that this is a learning moment for your child? We’ve all had this experience. Sometimes the learning is how to get through the difficult teacher/boss/etc and move on with life. You don’t need to clear every adverse experience from their pathway.

He has already had that learning experience numerous times in his life and always powered through.

This one is on an entirely new level. It's not personality/toughness, etc. It's pure incompetence. I don't pay to have my kid have to teach themselves the material since the communication is so poor in the classroom and is known far and wide, and has been for years.

With a tough Junior year schedule nobody has time to deal with this sh*t. 6 kids have dropped in the past few weeks and it happens every year--but not to the other 2 courses at the same level with different instructors. Nobody has an issue in those classes.

When parents complain and do nothing about it, that is a problem. You either have your kid drop, or you complain to administrators. Advice - don't just say the teacher is incompetent. Unless you have a PhD in the subject area and/or significant teaching experience in that area, "incompetence" is a meaningless description. You need to be specific when you say the students need to teach themselves. Does the teacher not give out homework? Does not grade homework? Does not say anything in class? Is the teacher available for office hours? Is the teacher factually incorrect? As kids move up in high school, kids are generally expected to take on a more active role in their own learning. They should not be spoon-fed information and led by hand from assignment to assignment.

Some people may be very smart, but they were never meant to be teachers. They don't have the knack for it.

I have a PhD in science and I would be an awful teacher. I don't have patience and I can't stand explaining things. I just 'do'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you do when there is a teacher known for being awful in instruction and expectations? When in the same subject there are huge differences in the amount of work, the lack of actual instruction (kids expected to basically TEACH themselves the material) than the same course by other teachers. Particularly, when this reputation is known far and wide and has been a problem for years. When the class average on tests is consistently in the 60% range. And this is not due to the intelligence or lack of work on the students' part, straight As in all courses and certainly capable of the subject matter and would excel in the same course/different teacher. And, when more than 1/2 the class is cheating on tests to try to get by and encouraging it to others--and the student is upset by that fact but not a rat and not a cheater so obviously won't do it too. And kids are dropping the class like flies after the first few weeks of school when it's an appropriate level and they would succeed in the same level course with a different teacher.

Any recourse? Does anyone have that at their school--a teacher with tenure that they obviously aren't going to terminate but know it's a big problem? Trying to be diplomatic, but severely pissed we pay $ for this kind of crap. I'd expect it in public school but not a private. And, kid has never in his entire academic career ever had a problem with any teacher (even tough ones) and just soldiered through. It's not a matter of the teacher just being 'tough and grades harder', it's a matter of incompetence.

Why would you expect this in public school but not private school? I have kids in both public and private school and there are dedicated, fantastic teachers as well as horrible teachers in both. And clearly from the responses you've gotten here in this forum there are plenty of these types of teachers at private schools. Yes, it sucks for both public and private school students who get these teachers. It happens at college as well - you'll be paying even more for that and you will have absolutely no control over the professors (or in many cases TAs) that your kid will get. With bad teachers, my kids just taught themselves (lots of internet videos) and worked together with other students to figure out the material. My oldest became quite good at helping other students after his experience and he now works at his college's student math and stats learning lab providing additional help and tutoring (provided to student at no charge). Turns out there are plenty of PhDs who are very smart people but terrible teachers and the colleges know this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you do when there is a teacher known for being awful in instruction and expectations? When in the same subject there are huge differences in the amount of work, the lack of actual instruction (kids expected to basically TEACH themselves the material) than the same course by other teachers. Particularly, when this reputation is known far and wide and has been a problem for years. When the class average on tests is consistently in the 60% range. And this is not due to the intelligence or lack of work on the students' part, straight As in all courses and certainly capable of the subject matter and would excel in the same course/different teacher. And, when more than 1/2 the class is cheating on tests to try to get by and encouraging it to others--and the student is upset by that fact but not a rat and not a cheater so obviously won't do it too. And kids are dropping the class like flies after the first few weeks of school when it's an appropriate level and they would succeed in the same level course with a different teacher.

Any recourse? Does anyone have that at their school--a teacher with tenure that they obviously aren't going to terminate but know it's a big problem? Trying to be diplomatic, but severely pissed we pay $ for this kind of crap. I'd expect it in public school but not a private. And, kid has never in his entire academic career ever had a problem with any teacher (even tough ones) and just soldiered through. It's not a matter of the teacher just being 'tough and grades harder', it's a matter of incompetence.

Why would you expect this in public school but not private school? I have kids in both public and private school and there are dedicated, fantastic teachers as well as horrible teachers in both. And clearly from the responses you've gotten here in this forum there are plenty of these types of teachers at private schools. Yes, it sucks for both public and private school students who get these teachers. It happens at college as well - you'll be paying even more for that and you will have absolutely no control over the professors (or in many cases TAs) that your kid will get. With bad teachers, my kids just taught themselves (lots of internet videos) and worked together with other students to figure out the material. My oldest became quite good at helping other students after his experience and he now works at his college's student math and stats learning lab providing additional help and tutoring (provided to student at no charge). Turns out there are plenty of PhDs who are very smart people but terrible teachers and the colleges know this.

Private institutions have more leeway in firing. The government and county government do not. Strong teacher unions in some places make it almost impossible to can a public school teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you do when there is a teacher known for being awful in instruction and expectations? When in the same subject there are huge differences in the amount of work, the lack of actual instruction (kids expected to basically TEACH themselves the material) than the same course by other teachers. Particularly, when this reputation is known far and wide and has been a problem for years. When the class average on tests is consistently in the 60% range. And this is not due to the intelligence or lack of work on the students' part, straight As in all courses and certainly capable of the subject matter and would excel in the same course/different teacher. And, when more than 1/2 the class is cheating on tests to try to get by and encouraging it to others--and the student is upset by that fact but not a rat and not a cheater so obviously won't do it too. And kids are dropping the class like flies after the first few weeks of school when it's an appropriate level and they would succeed in the same level course with a different teacher.

Any recourse? Does anyone have that at their school--a teacher with tenure that they obviously aren't going to terminate but know it's a big problem? Trying to be diplomatic, but severely pissed we pay $ for this kind of crap. I'd expect it in public school but not a private. And, kid has never in his entire academic career ever had a problem with any teacher (even tough ones) and just soldiered through. It's not a matter of the teacher just being 'tough and grades harder', it's a matter of incompetence.

Why would you expect this in public school but not private school? I have kids in both public and private school and there are dedicated, fantastic teachers as well as horrible teachers in both. And clearly from the responses you've gotten here in this forum there are plenty of these types of teachers at private schools. Yes, it sucks for both public and private school students who get these teachers. It happens at college as well - you'll be paying even more for that and you will have absolutely no control over the professors (or in many cases TAs) that your kid will get. With bad teachers, my kids just taught themselves (lots of internet videos) and worked together with other students to figure out the material. My oldest became quite good at helping other students after his experience and he now works at his college's student math and stats learning lab providing additional help and tutoring (provided to student at no charge). Turns out there are plenty of PhDs who are very smart people but terrible teachers and the colleges know this.

Private institutions have more leeway in firing. The government and county government do not. Strong teacher unions in some places make it almost impossible to can a public school teacher.

That is not the case as often as you think it is. Bad teachers get shuffled around to other schools - they don't necessarily stay in the same place. And they absolutely can and do get fired (several were at my kid's public MS and HS). And if private schools have more leeway and can get rid of these teachers so much more easily, why don't they do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you do when there is a teacher known for being awful in instruction and expectations? When in the same subject there are huge differences in the amount of work, the lack of actual instruction (kids expected to basically TEACH themselves the material) than the same course by other teachers. Particularly, when this reputation is known far and wide and has been a problem for years. When the class average on tests is consistently in the 60% range. And this is not due to the intelligence or lack of work on the students' part, straight As in all courses and certainly capable of the subject matter and would excel in the same course/different teacher. And, when more than 1/2 the class is cheating on tests to try to get by and encouraging it to others--and the student is upset by that fact but not a rat and not a cheater so obviously won't do it too. And kids are dropping the class like flies after the first few weeks of school when it's an appropriate level and they would succeed in the same level course with a different teacher.

Any recourse? Does anyone have that at their school--a teacher with tenure that they obviously aren't going to terminate but know it's a big problem? Trying to be diplomatic, but severely pissed we pay $ for this kind of crap. I'd expect it in public school but not a private. And, kid has never in his entire academic career ever had a problem with any teacher (even tough ones) and just soldiered through. It's not a matter of the teacher just being 'tough and grades harder', it's a matter of incompetence.

Why would you expect this in public school but not private school? I have kids in both public and private school and there are dedicated, fantastic teachers as well as horrible teachers in both. And clearly from the responses you've gotten here in this forum there are plenty of these types of teachers at private schools. Yes, it sucks for both public and private school students who get these teachers. It happens at college as well - you'll be paying even more for that and you will have absolutely no control over the professors (or in many cases TAs) that your kid will get. With bad teachers, my kids just taught themselves (lots of internet videos) and worked together with other students to figure out the material. My oldest became quite good at helping other students after his experience and he now works at his college's student math and stats learning lab providing additional help and tutoring (provided to student at no charge). Turns out there are plenty of PhDs who are very smart people but terrible teachers and the colleges know this.

Private institutions have more leeway in firing. The government and county government do not. Strong teacher unions in some places make it almost impossible to can a public school teacher.

Have never seen an underperforming, complaint-laden teacher fired or even pushed out in a DC area private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody wants to be in this classroom, but have you considered that this is a learning moment for your child? We’ve all had this experience. Sometimes the learning is how to get through the difficult teacher/boss/etc and move on with life. You don’t need to clear every adverse experience from their pathway.

He has already had that learning experience numerous times in his life and always powered through.

This one is on an entirely new level. It's not personality/toughness, etc. It's pure incompetence. I don't pay to have my kid have to teach themselves the material since the communication is so poor in the classroom and is known far and wide, and has been for years.

With a tough Junior year schedule nobody has time to deal with this sh*t. 6 kids have dropped in the past few weeks and it happens every year--but not to the other 2 courses at the same level with different instructors. Nobody has an issue in those classes.

When parents complain and do nothing about it, that is a problem. You either have your kid drop, or you complain to administrators. Advice - don't just say the teacher is incompetent. Unless you have a PhD in the subject area and/or significant teaching experience in that area, "incompetence" is a meaningless description. You need to be specific when you say the students need to teach themselves. Does the teacher not give out homework? Does not grade homework? Does not say anything in class? Is the teacher available for office hours? Is the teacher factually incorrect? As kids move up in high school, kids are generally expected to take on a more active role in their own learning. They should not be spoon-fed information and led by hand from assignment to assignment.

Most of the posters on here have advanced and/or professional degrees from top universities. They understand higher learning. Most have more than one child. By high school, they aren't new to this rodeo. A teacher with a reputation known far and wide for being irrational and a problem is not about not 'spoon-feeding'. We are talking about advanced students in a college-level courses. Some doing independent study.

I agree, offer specifics. However, these teachers are never let go. You unfortunately drew the short straw.

My one son was like Charlie Brown, if there was a notoriously bad teacher in a grade, he was always assigned to his/her class. Always. I came to see it's most likely that we are a family that NEVER complained or raised an issue and he is an agreeable kid that was always an A-student. These type of kids are often the ones sh*t one year after year. They aren't the squeaky wheel.

OP has not offered any specifics. Who knows what “incompetence” means?!

[Anonymous]

My family experienced this last year. My child is an A student and struggled in one class because of a particular teacher. And I say it was a FAMILY experience rather than just my child’s experience because it was a huge ordeal and family effort to get the poor thing through the year. It was a daily rally to keep my child’s morale up due to the constant beating they took. it was terrible. In our case, the teacher is the head of the particular department. Firmly placed and going no where. When talking to admin. We were told my child could get help from an upper class man/student tutor or an on-campus tutor. We paid lots for an adult tutor on top of tuition. It made a huge difference regarding final grades. However it took lots extra time and work and LOTS of extra money for the wonderful and encouraging tutor. Sad that it was a subject my child liked prior to that class.

[Anonymous]

Very tough.

[Anonymous]

Is the teacher in a STEM subject? They are just very difficult to replace.

I had a teacher colleague who wore jeans to work one day in a school with a very strict teacher dress code. He joked, "I teach AP calc, what are they going to do, fire me?"

Obviously, incompetence is on a whole other level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family experienced this last year. My child is an A student and struggled in one class because of a particular teacher. And I say it was a FAMILY experience rather than just my child’s experience because it was a huge ordeal and family effort to get the poor thing through the year. It was a daily rally to keep my child’s morale up due to the constant beating they took. it was terrible. In our case, the teacher is the head of the particular department. Firmly placed and going no where. When talking to admin. We were told my child could get help from an upper class man/student tutor or an on-campus tutor. We paid lots for an adult tutor on top of tuition. It made a huge difference regarding final grades. However it took lots extra time and work and LOTS of extra money for the wonderful and encouraging tutor. Sad that it was a subject my child liked prior to that class.

I would ask why it was critical that your student get an A in this class. I’m not sure this case is poor teaching or parent expectations.

I

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family experienced this last year. My child is an A student and struggled in one class because of a particular teacher. And I say it was a FAMILY experience rather than just my child’s experience because it was a huge ordeal and family effort to get the poor thing through the year. It was a daily rally to keep my child’s morale up due to the constant beating they took. it was terrible. In our case, the teacher is the head of the particular department. Firmly placed and going no where. When talking to admin. We were told my child could get help from an upper class man/student tutor or an on-campus tutor. We paid lots for an adult tutor on top of tuition. It made a huge difference regarding final grades. However it took lots extra time and work and LOTS of extra money for the wonderful and encouraging tutor. Sad that it was a subject my child liked prior to that class.

I would ask why it was critical that your student get an A in this class. I’m not sure this case is poor teaching or parent expectations.

I

Prob. a white male with no hooks/not first Gen/not URM so has to get straight As to even be considered anywhere. Reality.

[Anonymous]

At first I got into all this tutoring for As. Then I realized private school and other students could help kid learn. Kid needed to take the initiative. A little bumpy but so, so much better. Let the high schoolers know they can manage academic difficulty.

If your kid is failing or really struggling across the board you might need to step in. But at high school level the kid owns the grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At first I got into all this tutoring for As. Then I realized private school and other students could help kid learn. Kid needed to take the initiative. A little bumpy but so, so much better. Let the high schoolers know they can manage academic difficulty.

If your kid is failing or really struggling across the board you might need to step in. But at high school level the kid owns the grades.

Sure fine. It’s relative.

Just know that at SFS and GDS there is tons of tutoring and parents helping with homework.

My coworkers kid was top of class and every discussion was how did he get through all the material and get As with no tutoring.

Answer: his stem Phd parents (from overseas where everyone does stem), basically relived high school with him, helping him through the work and concepts. Got him into an Ivy and then focused on the younger sib the same way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At first I got into all this tutoring for As. Then I realized private school and other students could help kid learn. Kid needed to take the initiative. A little bumpy but so, so much better. Let the high schoolers know they can manage academic difficulty.

If your kid is failing or really struggling across the board you might need to step in. But at high school level the kid owns the grades.

My kids always owned their grades. We never did tutors, quite frankly because the only kids that used tutors when my husband and I were growing up were the kids that were failing/falling behind. The rest of us powered through, tried to get extra help at office hours.

We soon realized in accelerated middle school math our kids were only a few that did NOT have a tutor.

I think you are making the assumption people are talking about tutors. The start of this thread was about an outlier, particularly known 'bad' teacher. In those instances, anyways, tutor isn't even helpful. If they aren't clear and nobody can understand what they are asking for and they aren't even sure themselves, all the tutoring hours in the world aren't going to help on tests. You just got a bad apple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At first I got into all this tutoring for As. Then I realized private school and other students could help kid learn. Kid needed to take the initiative. A little bumpy but so, so much better. Let the high schoolers know they can manage academic difficulty.

If your kid is failing or really struggling across the board you might need to step in. But at high school level the kid owns the grades.

Sure fine. It’s relative.

Just know that at SFS and GDS there is tons of tutoring and parents helping with homework.

My coworkers kid was top of class and every discussion was how did he get through all the material and get As with no tutoring.

Answer: his stem Phd parents (from overseas where everyone does stem), basically relived high school with him, helping him through the work and concepts. Got him into an Ivy and then focused on the younger sib the same way.

My sons are way smarter than me! And that started by middle school. Lol. I am no dummy. I have a graduate degree in STEM too. But, especially my older son, my kids are on an entirely different level. Frankly, I'm too old to remember a lot of what they are learning as well.

I am not reliving my high school. Spouse and I are the parents that have no idea what Canvas is and never had kids open it. But, we are very lucky that they both were always self-motivated with no learning difficulties. And, I credit their elementary school Principal who none of us liked at the time for getting the kids self-sufficient and self advocating at a very young age.