[Superman]

Moses, you have my highest respect. That was the case before you helped me through a difficult time during the months leading up to my granddaughter's birth. That girl is a charmer BTW, and as healthy as any kid ever was.

Here is my input. First, no matter what you do your daughter has set herself up for a certain victory. Regardless of what happens with her current Chemistry class, she will enjoy extraordinary success. This poor excuse for a Chemistry teacher is of no consequence.

Except that he stepped on the wrong toes this time. I suspect you will do something and here is my best advice. Don't follow the Thermonuclear War model that some have suggested here. At least, not initially. These things are more like a bullfight than a duel. Make an appointment to see the teacher. Take your daughter with you (assuming she can suffer the emotional roller coaster that will be). And take a friend. A third party witness who will be willing to also come to your (if necessary) subsequent meeting with the Principal.

Lay the groundwork first. Announce that the purpose of the meeting is fact-finding. Mention that a large homework assignment is missing. Your daughter does not have possession of it. She has never, ever failed to turn in a homework assignment. She is up late studying each evening, and up early the next morning for that same purpose. She is quite upset. She has never lied. Her grades are straight "A"s. She reports turning the assignment in. You hope the people in the room right now can either find the assignment or at least find a remedy for this tragedy. If not, then the right people to solve the problem are not yet in the room.

Then ask questions. Take notes and have your friend take notes. Stay calm. If a resolution does not come fairly quickly, then broaden your questions. Ask about how grades are determined. What are the components of the grade? How are the assignments graded? Who grades them? Are all homework assignments graded, or are they spot-graded. (here, you are circling in on his interesting practice of assigning arbitrary grades and demeaning students one at a time). Ask if homework assignments are returned to the students. "And so.....if I ask other students whether they have received all their homework assignments back, they will report that these assignments are reliably returned?" This last line of questioning happens only if a resolution looks like it will not happen. At that point you will be asking hard questions in preparation for your meeting with the Principal. Indeed, if your daughter has a friend whose homework assignment has also turned up missing, it would be nice to have her in the meeting also, if allowed. Make this guy solve the problem. Stay calm. When the meeting is not, and can no longer be, productive.....draw the meeting to an abrupt but cordial end and excuse yourself, thanking him for his time. Walk straight to the Principal's office and make that appointment.

Deal with the Principal in much the same way. If the gloves need to come off, it is the Superintendent who sees the bare knuckles, and the school board. If your state has a Superintendent of Public Instruction, that office should be copied right after the Principal fails to get resolution.

But again, your best bet is with the teacher. Without making threats or displaying disrespect, make him feel certain that getting this resolved in Meeting #1 will be BY FAR the easiest course of action for him. BY FAR. Your daughter's sterling academic performance to date can and would withstand this disappointing experience......but it won't have to. Because it will get resolved. Make sure he understands that part. This will get resolved. The only mystery is how many people will it take. That of course sounds too much like a threat, but he needs to be sure that the matter gets resolved in his office......or it continues through a series of additional meetings where his dirty laundry gets hung for all to see.

Indeed, perhaps if the meeting is not successful, hand him your card and ask if he would have the Principal call you to make another appointment. Thank him for his time and make a beeline for your car.