To my daughter's algebra teacher

[sartre 0]

We've struggled with this guy all year long. He's a lousy teacher and he blames the kids for not doing well, rather than looking at his teaching skills. His latest-all of his classes underwent year-end testing to see what all they had learned/retained. This is what he said to the kids, "It's really sad that out of all of my classes, only 4 of you got grades of C- or better. This just goes to show that you need to be working harder and taking math seriously."

Anyone have any messages for him? I'd really like to have him read this thread. I won't really do it, but indulge me anyone. Teachers? Parents? Got any comments?

[turtlespeed 226]

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We've struggled with this guy all year long. He's a lousy teacher and he blames the kids for not doing well, rather than looking at his teaching skills. His latest-all of his classes underwent year-end testing to see what all they had learned/retained. This is what he said to the kids, "It's really sad that out of all of my classes, only 4 of you got grades of C- or better. This just goes to show that you need to be working harder and taking math seriously."

Anyone have any messages for him? I'd really like to have him read this thread. I won't really do it, but indulge me anyone. Teachers? Parents? Got any comments?

Just show him a Ben Stein / Ferris Beuller flick and then tell him to watch dangerous minds . . . ask him if there are any similarities.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[DougH 270]

Go above and beyond. Pen a letter so you can joint forces with the other mothers and fathers in the class, have your daughter give them to the other kids.

Go right to the principal, or better yet his boss.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[diverdriver 7]

Have him teach you one class. See if you can understand him. Then judge.

[sartre 0]

It's not about one class. Or one comment. Or one student. This has been his litany all year, yet he can give no concrete suggestions for what specifically they need to do. Work harder. That's his motto. I have spoken to the man, and I must say, I felt like he was talking in circles and saying absolutely nothing. And hearing absolutely nothing.

If 4 out of 60 or 70 kids scored above a D, when does the teacher have some accountability?

[DougH 270]

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Have him teach you one class. See if you can understand him. Then judge.

If it was just her daughter I would agree, but it sounds like the whole class is struggling.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[Misternatural 0]

Dear Mr Needledick,
Here is an excerpt from Pink Floyd's the Wall which I think sheds some light on your need to destroy our childrens future:

When we grew up and went to school
there were certain teachers who
would hurt the children any way they could
By pouring their derision on everything we did
exposing every weakness no matter how carefully hid by the kids.
But in town it was well known
when they got home at night, their Fat and Psychopathic wives would beat them within inches of their lives.

Hey teacher leave those kids alone!
signed: Hot mom who you could never handle- you wuss!

Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires.
D S #3.1415

[turtlespeed 226]

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Have him teach you one class. See if you can understand him. Then judge.

If it was just her daughter I would agree, but it sounds like the whole class is struggling.

He sounds like a vindictive, revenge of the nerds, noone ever liked him, never had any friend, lets just PICK ON THE LITTLE KIDS, kinda guy.

S.I.U.C.C.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[sartre 0]

I like it!!

[Misternatural 0]

Your welcome, it's a lot of work, but I do what I can to help out the hot moms, I have to go now.

Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires.
D S #3.1415

[diverdriver 7]

So it sounds like you've talked to him at length. Have you spoken with the principle or the school board?

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[sartre 0]

To be honest, I'm not particularly worried about my daughter's algebra grade. I'm worried about the number of kids coming out of that class not knowing what they need to know. It has been expressed to the administration, and I really believe the results of this year-end test will probably speak for themselves to the administrators.

I just wanted to entertain a fantasy of telling him what an ass he is in no uncertain terms.

[sartre 0]

Oh, and he's not a dz.commer, so I don't think I will get banned again for PA's!!

[jimmytavino 16]

Math is a tough subject.....

to teach AND to learn...
If the teachers skills are poor and he has an attitude,, where he simply 'presents' the info and then it 's Up to kids to learn it....
that often doesn't work.....

Students at that age,,, (i'm guessing we're talking, 8th, 9th, 10th grade??) have waaay lots of other priorities,, than Mathmatics class....
EVEN if they do have some interest in school subjects,,,, math often isn't at the top of the list.....

So it's extra important that math teachers develop certain techniques and strategies, which make the subject matter interesting...and the classroom atmosphere, a good one.. Not easy. But if done well,,,,the VERY important subject of math... can be fun,,,

Most students who dismiss it's importance, may sadly wind up learning later in Life, how helpful and valuable the subject is...We all likely use all sorts of math and arithmatic concepts,,, every day, in our work and in our daily activities....... best to learn those concepts at an early age...
jimmy....

[airtwardo 7]

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may sadly wind up learning later in Life, how helpful and valuable the subject is...

Yeah...take it from a guy that had to learn high school math IN COLLEGE!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[diverdriver 7]

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To be honest, I'm not particularly worried about my daughter's algebra grade. I'm worried about the number of kids coming out of that class not knowing what they need to know. It has been expressed to the administration, and I really believe the results of this year-end test will probably speak for themselves to the administrators.

I just wanted to entertain a fantasy of telling him what an ass he is in no uncertain terms.

Oh I would be worried about the grade about half way through the first quarter. Both of my step-daughters are straight A. We switched schools half way through the school year and in order for my older daughter to get into honors math she had to do ALL of the homework from the first semester. I tutored her. We were watching her grades closely so that she didn't sink or get frustrated. We wanted what was best for her and on the level she needed to be at. Honors math didn't matter to me. But if she could be there then I'd like to see her challenged. It was difficult getting through a whole semester worth of homework on top of what she was doing already which incorporated a lot of the first semester. And she pulled off an A anyway! I am so proud of her. Like it or not grades do matter when applying for the next level. I want her to have the best picture she's capable of having so she can go where she wants.

Get into that principle's office and protest loudly. If it's that bad this guy has got to go yesterday.

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[iluvtofly 0]

Sounds like a professor I had in college. I was in a class of 90 or so students. On the first test only 5 people got above an F. He lectured us on how we were all slackers and didn't take college seriously. In my opinion when only 4 out of 90 students can barely pass a test it says something about the professor and not the students.

[skycat 0]

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Sounds like a professor I had in college. I was in a class of 90 or so students. On the first test only 5 people got above an F. He lectured us on how we were all slackers and didn't take college seriously. In my opinion when only 4 out of 90 students can barely pass a test it says something about the professor and not the students.

I think that is why a lot of crappy professors grade on a curve. I was always near the top of the curve, but in most cases if it was off the strait grade I would have gotten a D at best.

Fly it like you stole it!

[iluvtofly 0]

That was the worst part...he wasn't willing to curve the grades at all. If he would have at least curved a little I would have been more understanding about it all.

[alterego222 0]

how about this for a math problem

bad grade in algebra for your child and 2596 posts (5.3 per day).


Time well spent?

It is always the idiots that yell the loudest

[skycat 0]

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how about this for a math problem

bad grade in algebra for your child and 2596 posts (5.3 per day).


Time well spent?

I beleive my troll-dar just went off.

Fly it like you stole it!

[monkey36 0]

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how about this for a math problem

bad grade in algebra for your child and 2596 posts (5.3 per day).


Time well spent?

I think that while not very tactfully written he has a point.

I fully understand how a bad teacher can discourage a student by not being there to help and not explaining the material well, but if education really matters to the student and in this case her parent why are they wasting time posting this on dropzone.com? When this time could be spent tutoring the child, or taking the child to an actual professional tutor?
I obviously know nothing (other than the brief information given) about the situation but if this is such a big problem perhaps something more productive could be done then whining on the internet.

I had a situation like this in my first semester of college, I almost dropped out because of one worthless teacher, but then I pulled my head out of my ass and realized that this was my life not theirs and if it mattered to me then I figure it out on my own, and ever since then I have been in the top 5 of my class.

just because it is the teachers job does not mean that he has to do it. Its not right. it shouldn't happen but no job will accept the "i had crappy teaching" excuse for being unable to complete a task.

Why is 6 afraid of seven?
because 7 eight nine!
it's funny, get it?

[alterego222 0]

troll or not
But i had plenty of tough teachers in my life one was even in algebra. Back then I did not care about math and hence did not put in the effort, my friend did though. He now has a PHD in algebra at UCLA and I cant figure out how to do a derivative (I dont really need to though in my line of work). But that does not matter I still regret the whining about my algebra related problems and the ones I had with the teacher rather then doing something about it when I could and should have done something.


Hey, maybe the guy is an ass. But it is not his job to make it pleasent...his job is to teach. The childs job is to learn, and Sartres' job as the parent is to facilitate that process and not whine about it on dropzone.com. I am putting it bluntly because, hey, her screen name is Sartre.

Trial by fire seems to work in alot of situations, and algebra seems condusive to it. You either get it or you dont. kind of like skydiving.

It is always the idiots that yell the loudest

[bazelos 0]

Don't go against the teacher, there's no point at this time, you could have your daughter ask him, along with the rest of the class that this teacher is so "sad" with to get down and cover the parts where they are having trouble with. Ask him to prepare a test, for example, to see what their weaknesses are, and accordingly give to each student feedback, specifying which part of the syllabus they need to cover.

He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

[VideoFly 0]

The national math teacher shortage has gotten worse for decades. Today, math teachers are hard to find. Additionally, many teachers leave the field after several years due to high stress levels, which are only compounded by the need to perform to incredibly high standards. As a principal, I have difficulty replacing more than half of my math teachers every year. Therefore, I rarely have an opportunity to work with teachers long enough for them to become proficient. I recommend that you involve the principal, however, you will probably not be telling him/her much that is not already known.
This year, my son has had difficulty with Algebra II after many years as a great math student. After listening to him and speaking with his teacher, it has become quite obvious that he is not the problem.
The problem goes well beyond the scope of what many of us remember as students. I wish I could be more optimistic, but as a former public school teacher, a university professor in a teacher’s college, and a school principal, it is clear that unfortunately, the problem is expected to get worse in years to come.