Parenting dilemma...

[Moses]

My 15 year old daughter is having a rough time with her chemistry teacher. A little background; Anna is a very hardworking self motivated girl. She has never been "pushed" academically. In fact, I've asked her to consider a lighter academic load because it bothers me to see her work so hard. She's up late studying, up early studying. No disciplinary problems ever. My daughter is truthful and honest.

My daughter is taking advanced placement chemistry. It's a very challenging course. She currently has a "B" in the class, but is pretty close to a "C". (She is a straight "A" student). The reason she has a poor grade is because the teachers records indicate a very large assignment missing. My daughter assures me that she turned in the assignment. It would be incomprehensible that Anna would neglect an assignment, she's compulsive about these things. It is also inconceivable that she would lie about a missing assignment.

The chemistry teachers position is that if she had completed the assignment, she would have the graded papers in her files. My daughter insists that the teacher must have lost her paper. (He has a reputation for "losing things".)

The teacher is really not a very reasonable man. Once every two weeks he will pick a random students homework to grade. A typical score would be a "C" or a "D". The chosen student gets a poor grade and the rest of the class is arbitrarily given 100%. When questioned about the fairness of his system, he replies, "Life's not fair, Get used to it."

Anyway, I don't really care what grade my daughter gets. In the long run it won't matter much. But my girl is taking this very hard. She's tearful and upset. If you were her dad, what would you do?

This is Anna (in the middle)

[red-beard]

The teacher is really not a very reasonable man. Once every two weeks he will pick a random students homework to grade. A typical score would be a "C" or a "D". The chosen student gets a poor grade and the rest of the class is arbitrarily given 100%. When questioned about the fairness of his system, he replies, "Life's not fair, Get used to it."

Is there some sort of documentation of this? That is the most insane thing I've ever heard in my life.

I had serious trouble in school with AP Physics (not being challenged much up to that point), but OUR crazy Dept Chairman had nothing on the above description.

If you can get some sort of documentation about the above statement, I'd have a chat with the School Superintendant. Forget the Principal.

[stomachmonkey]

Doesn't she have the project notes and research to back up that she did the work?

In this day of computers I'm sure she printed it from her PC?

The final paper would be time stamped with the last modification date. Does not prove anything since my 2nd grader could figure out how to alter that but it be a starting point.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by red-beard

If you can get some sort of documentation about the above statement, I'd have a chat with the School Superintendant. Forget the Principal.

I'd have a chat with the rest of the classes parents then we'd ALL go have a chat with the Principal making sure he knew the rest of the days schedule included the Superintendent then the local news.

[gassy]

Set up an appt with the teacher--alone...I've done this and it has worked --they hate being one on one with a parent--
c

[Moses]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Doesn't she have the project notes and research to back up that she did the work?

In this day of computers I'm sure she printed it from her PC?

The final paper would be time stamped with the last modification date. Does not prove anything since my 2nd grader could figure out how to alter that but it be a starting point.

Funny, the teacher insists on hand written work. I'll ask Anna tonight if she has any other supportive notes.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Moses

If you were her dad, what would you do?
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Get mean and kick some a55! Not physically of course but she is Daddies little girl.

When we moved down here to TX I went to great lengths to make sure I got my daughter into the school that I wanted her in.

Because of some admin in the front office who it was obvious from day one had an issue with me, the day we took my daughter to enroll she was denied.

I am not proud of it but I got politely medieval.

Left and a few hours later got a call from the principal telling me i could bring her back for her 1st day of class.

[stomachmonkey]

Come to think of it, you are a Surgeon.

Maybe hint to the teacher that you "know people" and that if he ever has to go in for a routine procedure you can make sure he comes out missing a testicle.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Moses

Funny, the teacher insists on hand written work. I'll ask Anna tonight if she has any other supportive notes.

What kind of freak do they have working there?

Hand written work in 2008 in AP Chemistry?
Arbitrary 100% except for 1 singled out kid?
Lost papers?

No. This is not a "one on one" issue. This teacher has gone from eccentric to kook.

OTOH, have you watched Breaking Bad? Has the teacher recently shave all hair off?

[tabs]

Moses center of gravity is pretty serious and his appraisal of a situation is pretty realistic. He also has a responsible occupation that lends creedence to his claims.

Go through the chain of command and document that you did so. Teacher, Principle, Super, School Board.. This if all else fails will teach you and your daughter to CYA...document doucment document...

The fact that your daughther has the REPUTATION of being an excellent student that is responsible will give creedence to her claim.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by red-beard

What kind of freak do they have working there?

Hand written work in 2008 in AP Chemistry?
Arbitrary 100% except for 1 singled out kid?
Lost papers?

No. This is not a "one on one" issue. This teacher has gone from eccentric to kook.

OTOH, have you watched Breaking Bad? Has the teacher recently shave all hair off?

U dum fk...he is taking CHEMO....so better to cut than to fall out in clumps.

[Dueller]

I believe I'd stop in and explain to the teacher you know she did the project because you reviewed it (just a lil' white lie, maybe) and if there was any concession he could make. Tell him its completely out of character for her not to turn in her work. Ask if she has failed to turn in other assignments.

If he says "no way Jose'" I'd quietly walk out and go right on up the food chain. Of course the danger is retaliation against her. OTOH, she only has 3 weeks or so left. Do nothing and be understanding about whatever grade she gets.

[tabs]

The very fact that you will back your daughter up in this matter is being VERY SUPPORTIVE. This is what being a good parent is all about. with that support she can accomplish wonderfull things. Without it, she will have a tougher time.

[tabs]

U boyz have the idea of how things work but you don't know the WHY of it. It is not because you are stupid or ignorant gits...it is simply because none of you have sat down to figure out the mechanics of it all. That in the long run leaves you pretty much in the dark and susceptible of being blindsided. I have long preached to you all to sit down and figure out the why, the attention to little details pays off in the end.

[Gogar]

He's an angry high school Chemistry teacher.

In not so many years, she will be a happy well-adjusted ER surgeon/astronaut/physicist or she'll work at CERN or something, and

He'll be an angry, possibly retired, high school Chemistry teacher.

Tell her so stop worrying; photocopy her work for the rest of the year, and soon he will be a distant memory for all of you.


It's kind of like that DRUNK GUY - FAT GIRL joke.

Good luck!

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Dueller

I believe I'd stop in and explain to the teacher you know she did the project because you reviewed it (just a lil' white lie, maybe) and if there was any concession he could make. Tell him its completely out of character for her not to turn in her work. Ask if she has failed to turn in other assignments.

If he says "no way Jose'" I'd quietly walk out and go right on up the food chain. Of course the danger is retaliation against her. OTOH, she only has 3 weeks or so left. Do nothing and be understanding about whatever grade she gets.

This is New England, she has 7 weeks left! Classes run to June.

She should take her AP Exam, get a 5 and then work towards getting the teacher run off.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Moses

This is Anna (in the middle)

You let them drink beer?

[Laneco]

Originally Posted by Dueller

I believe I'd stop in and explain to the teacher you know she did the project because you reviewed it (just a lil' white lie, maybe) and if there was any concession he could make. Tell him its completely out of character for her not to turn in her work. Ask if she has failed to turn in other assignments.

If he says "no way Jose'" I'd quietly walk out and go right on up the food chain. Of course the danger is retaliation against her. OTOH, she only has 3 weeks or so left. Do nothing and be understanding about whatever grade she gets.

Solid advice. Even if it goes down badly and she winds up with the lower grade, he can only make her xxx miserable in the next 3-7 weeks. You standing up for her and escalating it when needed will be worth more to her than any A/B/C the wacko could hand out.

Go to the mat on this one Moses.
angela

[Moses]

Originally Posted by red-beard

You let them drink beer?

My beer. (I'm a BAD example!)

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by Laneco

Go to the mat on this one Moses.

Agreed. One on one with the teacher. They tend to bend when faced with a parent.

Ian