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?
Pull her, put her in a private school....
Other than what Freebilly said Suck it up and let her earn her grades it will be the best thing for her. It sounds like she won’t have much of a problem making it up!
Cheers
Mel
Can't beat that idea.
I say go discuss it with the principal.
From a former (college) teacher: Other than the stupid bonus question about his daughters, the teacher did nothing wrong. My advice would be to press the teacher about this, and insist he give your daughter the ten points. That would bring her test score up to 85 percent, which perhaps would be more acceptable.
If that fails, I would follow the earlier advice and stay out of it. When I was in 7th grade, I was put in an algebra class, which was normally a ninth grade class. The teacher pulled me out of it and told me I would do fine in algebra the next year. She was right.
If your daughter has to repeat a year, so be it. Sometimes that happens when sickness is a factor. And sometimes even when it isn’t.
Most girls don’t do as well in math as they do in wordy subjects. She’s just going to have to work really hard. Also, I would suggest asking the teacher for sample tests to practice with.
That’s what a big part of me is thinking— suck it up. She’s already learning a lot more from this math test then math. But another part of me wants to smack the “I’m in control here ha ha” look off her teachers face!!! To think this one test could effect her placement for the next 6 yrs.... she’s only 11!!
As for the private school, I think I might need a voucher...(Oh wait can’t have that...)
I have a test.
Passing = A bright and happy future.
Failure = A fate worse than death.
You have as much time as you need.
Which one of the following doesn’t belong:
A) Public School
B) Public Toilet
C) Seashell
Correct answer below:
.
.
.
.
Correct answer: C
Great for your daughter to want to pursue Math.
So many things the teacher could have done that would have had a better outcome for your daughter considering the fact she was out because of illness. He didn’t.
By your statement, your daughter appears bright and excluding any illness that keeps her from class, she will be able to make the grade up in the next quarter. Answering any bonus question Bozo throws at her.
Hope your daughter is feeling better.
I can’t speak for most girls, but she’s always done well in math. Last year she was one of only a few in her school to get a perfect score on both the state math and English language arts tests.
You miss this part?:
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 points, like he did for other kids.
Bottom line is the teacher is corrupt. Pressing the teacher to change the grade by giving unearned points is wrong!
After having a child that missed lots class time because of leukemia my advice is:
Meet with the Principal and see what the guidelines are for a make up test.
And next time the kid misses school get with teachers for study materials.
If they test and it includes questions not covered in the study materials bring it to the teachers attention. Ask for those materials and a make up test.
My oldest daughter aced math all through HS. She is a senior in college now. Going to graduate at the top of her class and be a CPA. 1 class left for this fall and she is done.
Press for a make up test for your daughter.
Actually, I did miss that part the first time I read it.
Apparently you are unfamiliar with some of the grading practices in public high schools. “Bonus points” are a big hit with students, and, in my opinion, what that teacher was essentially saying was “If you had called this problem to my attention before the final grades were due for the report card, I would have corrected it, as I did for other students.”
From my experience, it is ALWAYS possible to change a grade, even long after the class has disbanded. I’m not certain this is true at the junior level, but I’m pretty sure she can get the test grade changed with the bonus points, as explained above.
In my opinion, “bonus points” are a bad thing. But they have been widely used to essentially keep everybody happy. Teachers are always painted as the bad guy, sometimes rightfully so. But if teacers have to teach a class and make up a new test for every student that ever misses a class, they wouldn’t be able to perform their regular duties. And that is not an exaggeration.
Exactly what I was thinking about the “fixing” of the test. And thanks for the other advise—she was kind of blindsided by the test, didn’t know anything about it in advance. I thought they’d tell her on her first day back what she missed and how to make it up, giving her at least a little time to prepare. She made sure she went to each teacher and asked what was missed.
I hope your child that had leukemia is well.
All the best - Yeah I know that look that some teachers give. Get a punching bag for that because it gets worse as they get into higher schooling!
Blessings
Mel
He is doing great, coming up on 2 years off treatment.
And is in advanced classes in middle school.
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.