They did a study in the 1980s where they gave the same paper to 4 different English teachers. The paper got a D, a C, a B, and an A. Unfortunately language arts is incredibly subjective.

The teacher may not be biased against your kid per se. They just might be biased against your kid's writing style or point of view.

Anonymous wrote:There are definitely some horrible teachers out there, but in this case there are some parent red flags. First, how is it that the student doesn't know why he got a D? My B student who hates English can't even get a D. And if he gets a C, he goes and asks the teacher what he did wrong, and he's not a very outgoing kid. So if my kid knows why he got a low grade, then why doesn't OP's kid know? A D is very low, and isn't usually given for work that is turned in on time. So something is fishy here.

OP here. My kid did ask the teacher that how she can improve. The teacher now very well knows that my child always reaches out to her when she gets a low grade And resubmits her work. Interestingly the teacher doesn’t comment much on the assignment then how will the student know what to correct. I once checked one comment she wrote and it was making no sense. Not just my child many students have the same opinion.

^^^

Gonna get raked over the coals for my sausage finger phone typos in a grammar thread

Not an English teacher, but I am a teacher and grade writing. To be completely honest, I more often than not I don’t even look at the names of the documents when I’m grading (virtual rubric). You get 150 essays and you really got to get in a groove to bake progress. OP is why I use rubrics for everything, if you’re going to lose points you’ll have it explicitly stated why and it’ll be info that was available the entire process.

Truthfully I teach MS so if I get a parent really going to the May for a grade I just give it to them. What’s the point? The grade is supposed to be a metric at that point to let the parents know how the student is doing, if they want to break it and make it inaccurate that’s their call, I don’t get paid enough to argue about 8th grade C+’s.


The only time I’ve ever really been “biased” has been the inverse of what OP is suggesting. From time to time I’ll get a student who is breaking their back but struggling, if I’ve seen them really put the time in I have been more generous. To me it’s best practice, if you work your tail off and never get a W you’re likely to disengage. Even then I wouldn’t really say the grades I gave weren’t anything I couldn’t stand by, more like giving the benefit of the doubt on borderline infractions. I don’t know any teacher who cares enough to be punitive in their grading, I do know many who do what I do and try and reward earnest effort.

Why are people acting like grades fall out of the sky?


“No one could understand why it got a bad grade”, “It was perfect but got a D.”, etc.


What did the rubric say? What did the notes/feedback say?


If a teacher is handing back an essay and it didn’t meet the mark it most assuredly is stated somewhere explicitly why. Teachers don’t just write “D” on a paper and hand it back void if any context.

There is a zero percent chance that "everyone is getting Fs." Zero principals in FCPS would permit that. You are being played.

Has your student reached out to the teacher to ask why the grade was so low and what the student can do to improve?

I'm guessing no, I'm guessing he just came crying to mommy who wants to contact the principal. Ridiculous. Your high schooler should try to solve his problem by asking the teacher before he cries to you, big momma.

Anonymous wrote:Curious if this is JMHS?

My first thought as well!

Yes have a meeting with the teacher. Send an email and request a time to meet. Bring a copy of your son’s grades from schoology. Ask to see his assessments. Ask what you can do as a parent to support your child. Start there. Then, if there is no improvement and you don’t think that your kid is the problem, request a meeting with department head and teacher. You can escalate further depending on how egregious rather situation is and involve the principal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am having a very similar issue but in another district. I can’t understand what’s going on - at the beginning of the year all was good and now DC is getting low grades. I don’t know if it’s his fault or not. He doesn’t let me speak with the teacher. Should I override him?!

That's your real issue. Not the teacher. Since when do you take order from your child? If you are concerned, make an appointment to talk to the teacher. Be prepared for the truth though. I've had to break it to many parents that their kids don't turn in work when they tell their parents that they do.

Yea I am prepared for the truth, it might be my kid who doesn’t do the work.
I just wasn’t aware of the HS etiquette too, and I don’t know how much say DS should have on whether I speak with the teacher. DS keeps dragging his feet about going to ACT with this teacher.
So is it ok if I just email the teacher even though DS is against it? My problem is I can’t figure out what’s wrong, DS also claims to be confused (which may not be a teacher but a DS issue but I want to find out)

Anonymous wrote:I am having a very similar issue but in another district. I can’t understand what’s going on - at the beginning of the year all was good and now DC is getting low grades. I don’t know if it’s his fault or not. He doesn’t let me speak with the teacher. Should I override him?!

That's your real issue. Not the teacher. Since when do you take order from your child? If you are concerned, make an appointment to talk to the teacher. Be prepared for the truth though. I've had to break it to many parents that their kids don't turn in work when they tell their parents that they do.

Is this Woodson? My kid's grades are low in this class and I've heard stories about the teacher.

I am having a very similar issue but in another district. I can’t understand what’s going on - at the beginning of the year all was good and now DC is getting low grades. I don’t know if it’s his fault or not. He doesn’t let me speak with the teacher. Should I override him?!

Anonymous wrote:There are definitely some horrible teachers out there, but in this case there are some parent red flags. First, how is it that the student doesn't know why he got a D? My B student who hates English can't even get a D. And if he gets a C, he goes and asks the teacher what he did wrong, and he's not a very outgoing kid. So if my kid knows why he got a low grade, then why doesn't OP's kid know? A D is very low, and isn't usually given for work that is turned in on time. So something is fishy here.

I'm not referring to OP but the PP with kid in class with teacher giving everyone Fs. My kid was getting Fs in that class for classwork right after a topic was introduced. I looked at the feedback and did not understand what she wanted my kid to do. I looked at my kid's work and had no idea what else they could do. So, yes something is fishy here. This is an honors class. These kids, for the most part, want to do well. They are trying hard. It makes no sense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter said that most English teachers will grade on how well they like the kid, after reading this she might be right.

No. Sigh. This isn’t true.

Why would I grade in a manner that is going to put MORE work on my plate?

I use a rubric to clearly outline my expectations and I leave plenty of comments to illustrate why the student received the grade. This already takes most of my nights and weekends. Grading in a manner that’s going to bring complaints would take even more time.

And I’m actually rather offended by your daughter’s comment. I’m an adult and a professional. I don’t play silly games.

Triggered

I work extremely hard for my students and I do my job well. It’s completely reasonable for me to defend my profession.

Good teachers are quitting at an alarming rate right now. I’m curious: who benefits from driving more of us out?

You may think it’s just a harmless comment on an anonymous site. To a teacher, it’s just more negativity on top of the negativity we’ve already dealt with today.

I am a teacher too, and I don’t think it does us any good when we deny that there are others who are lazy, spiteful or just plain bad at their job. Every school I’ve ever worked in has at least one or two.

And yet the PP suggested MOST English teachers are bad and play favorites.

Sorry… not buying it at all. 1 or 2 in a school? Sure. Most? Not remotely true.