Posted on 11/20/2009 1:23:02 AM PST by MacMattico
OK, I'm really wrestling with this and need some sane minds to help me decide what to do. I know this isn't a world wide major issue effecting us all, but I value the opinions (most of them!) I read on Free Republic so here goes. And there is a political element to the story if you can bear with me for a minute.
I have a daughter in middle school and report cards just came out. She received a 95% or above in all classes but one: Math. In advanced math, she got an 84. In order to stay in advanced math, you have to maintain a 90 or above. She can stay in the class now, but needs to bring it up to a 90 or next year she drops down to regular math, which means she can't take Algebra in 8th grade (a year ahead) and would then mean no Calculus Sr year which had been her goal. We do not put a lot of pressure on her to acheive high grades, she does it all herself and I applaud her for wanting to do her best when she is capable of so much.
So I told her to buckle down next quarter and do the best she can. End of story, right? Not so fast.
I had a parent/teacher conference and asked her Math teacher why the 84, when at the mid quarter (5 week) report she had a 93 average? I look at all her work as it comes home, good grades. He said "Let me check" and brought out a print out of all her grades-- home work average, 88, quiz average 94, test average 75.
Huh? 75? Oh yeah, did I mention that He gave ONE test during the whole semester? And that my daughter kept all of her other grades up despite missing 7 days of school with swine flu? Then she comes back in and is handed a test she knows nothing about and is told to take it right then and there. Still not feeling so great, and missing the previous 7 days of school, I said, hey, a 75 is ok, you can make it up with all of the other grades you've gotten in math, don't worry. It was never specified this was an all important test, it just covered the last 2 weeks of work. Little did either of us know this teacher decided to count this grade as 43% of her course grade (why 43%?-- he gave me no reason) and that the other kids had been preparing all week. For some stupid reason he gave a 10 point bonus question that was-- wait for it-- "What are my (his) daughters names?"-- WORTH 10 POINTS! (remember this is 10 points on a test worth 43% of her grade.) My daughter was not in school when he gave the class their names (the week she was sick), and what the H*** does that have to do with math? His explanation-- a "fun" way to have a bonus that could help the kid's overall grades-- but not my daughter because she "got it wrong". He then says to me that she should have told him she wasn't ready for the test or asked him if she could "fix" it after the fact before report cards and maybe he could have "given" her some more ponts, like he did for other kids. (Should have asked to be "given" a higher grade? Like he did for other kids that "asked"?!!)
Huh? She's 11 and wants to earn her own grades, and was handed a test and told to take it. She didn't ask for free points, but I want some fairness here. Do I go over his head? I want my daughter to be self reliant, but I'm really mad.
One last point, and I hope this isn't the case. His wife ran in a local election a few years back with some seriously crazy democrats. I was the republican chair. Needless to say in our little part of the world things got nasty, fast. A local internet forum gone awry, lies were told, people attacked by her supporters and vice versa. Could this be payback? If so I feel responsible to my daughter, although I personally never even posted on this local forum. What do you all think?
Do talk to him about the bonus question — or better yet, have your daughter do it if you think she’s capable. Like I said, I bet that grade can be changed.
Grades and subsequent changes are on computer system and can be part of a challenge with administrators. Getting a grade changed in our school system is a very difficult process, mainly due to past athletic dept issues.
Well, I didn’t mean to slur you. I learned to give better tests only after students lined up to argue with me about test questions they didn’t think were clear enough, asking for extra points to make up for their confusion. Sometimes I agreed with them and gave them the added points.
I believe this is what the teacher was referring to. Perhaps I am wrong, but I’ve never heard of a teacher who gives out points after a test is completed just for the sake of giving them out. That would be corrupt — and stupid.
Yes, yes, changing grades is difficult — because people have to go to a little extra effort. But it’s not impossible. And I think the student in question should press for this. It’s never too late for fairness.
freebilly,
I mean no disrespect towards your daughter and I am sure she is a wonderful young girl.
But what freebilly says is a good idea.at least you will know if she is taking a day off for an abortion.
What I am trying to point out is how terrible public education is, not saying anything about your daughter.
your daughter was sick when the bonus question and answer was given. It has nothing to do with math and is an ego trip for the teacher.
I would demand and alternative for the 10 points or take it up with the principal, which will fail, or the board.
Can’t believe the teacher, of math, would involve a personal issue that makes some 20% of a score.
She’s in for a lot worse when she gets to college.
I would check into the school’s policy regarding school work when a student is out sick. I know the high school I taught gave the students 5 days to make up missed work. Also, it was not the student’s responsibility to tell me they were not ready for the test due to being absent, it was my responsibility as a teacher.
You just learned a valuable lesson about public schools, didn't you? And not just about math education, but about character education. If you truly want the best for your daughter, you should be looking into private schools and homeschooling.
No offense intended, but your vanity reads like a "but, but, but.....it's not my fault!". Heck, the title of your vanity includes a "be kind to me" comment.
My mother-in-law always said, "it's an easy lesson when no one gets hurt".
Private school is expensive and if we could have afforded it, we would have pulled our son from public school so very fast....
I had this problem with all 3 of my kids going through school....do not back down, the next step is the counselor or principal...lay out all your evidence and ask what the names of the teachers daughters has to do with math...stick to that point, show the grades and grade level and what this stupid question has done...be prepared to get some left wing political crap out of the principal, and maybe some outright lies. Stick to your guns, and if need be, go to the school board...if you do not back down, and do not lose your cool, you will prevail....your children can get a quality education in the public school system, but it will require due dillignece on your part, you will have to de-program them every day ( it only takes about a half hour a day to deprogram them )and always stick to your principles.....good luck
Garbage, total garbage. Mac, do NOT let your daughter listen to opinions like this. Many girls are very gifted in math, I was, and being told "girls don't do well in math" (all they hear out of a statement like the above) just offers a reason not to try.
Specifically, no advice except if you can, get her out of that school and into private or homeschool. But that's the same advice I'd have for any parent. Perhaps write an email to the teacher outlining your concerns about the test portion of the grade and cc it to the principal?
Was there any reason you could not contact this teacher during her time out sick and be sure to get the course work for her to do at home?
It’s funny how this has changed. I grew up in the 70’s and I can clearly remember it was always said that girls did better in school than boys. Girls were better at math than boys. Girls were called on more than boys..The libs rewrite history in such a way for them to then come in and save us from problems that never existed.
Homeschooling is a good option. We homeschool our three kids for under $3000 a year. Of course that is in Illinois where HS does not have a lot of restrictions. The cool thing about HS is its flexibility. Not feeling well? We can take that test at 8pm next week. There are no June deadlines to end either. We HS throughout the year, incorporating trips and vacations as "field trips".
For an advanced student it is really good too. They can work at an accelerated pace in what ever subjects interest them. Our 15 year old son will have 20 credits of college after this semester.
Homeschool! My wife and I have done it from the beginning with our three children.
The speed at which they learn is fantastic...your daughter would be taking college courses by the time she was 14.
No need to wait ‘til senior year for Calc!
Home school her or put her in a private school.
How advanced can “advanced math” be if they haven’t even gotten to algebra?
Don’t go over this teacher’s head. Ask him if we will reconsider her grade given the circumstances surrounding the test she did poorly on.
get over it.
I think all these FReepers who are advising you to go to the principal or the school board are blowing this all out of proportion. From your description, your daughter is very gifted when it comes to math and self-motivation. This can be used as a life lesson for your daughter. It can teach her to put herself into the mindset that when you are treated in what you believe is an unfair manner, you work a little harder to overcome it. This is a lesson in how to use your own talents to find that way around or over the obstacle in front of you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.