Dropping a Class (Vanity)

Me

[MacMattico]

With all of the problems going on in the world, this is trivial, hence the vanity post. But an example of what's going on in our schools and who thinks they control our kids.

My niece signed up for what should have been a simple, easy "A" grade HS class. Purely an elective, having nothing to do with requirements or career. Turns out the teacher is a real piece of work. He's intimidating and creepy. (My nieces words.) I asked if anything had happened to make her feel "creepy" and she just said she doesn't like the feeling she gets when she's alone near him.

Her mother gave her permission to drop the class and take a study hall, as she is already taking a heavy load of courses and this may ease her workload. But the school refuses! They keep saying the add/drop period is over and if she doesn't show up she will receive zero's in every other quarter as well as on the final exam! Of course, they remind her, this will take her 90+ average overall and wreck that as well. Can a school do this? My sister doesn't have a lot of $ for an attorney and I just think this is wrong.

[b9]

it must be all about the teacher and not the child.

You are exactly right.
When our son was in middle school, his math teacher, an older woman, was having serious health issues, neither understood nor appreciated by the students, who were becoming as hostile as the teacher.

I called her and she stiffly spoke to me UNTIL I said, "I understand you're having trouble with our son. What can I do to help?"

She'd never had a parent ask that question, and proceeded to tell me of her health issues, etc., and she was even receptive to my comments about our son's frustration at not getting his questions answered, etc.

She actually ended up raising his grade because HIS attitude changed!

It's tricky politics, dealing with teachers. I 100% agree with you, Raycpa, that any interaction with them MUST have the appearance of what's most helpful to the teacher. Dr. Robert S. Mendelsohn speaks of this in his fabulous book, "Confessions of a Medical Heretic."

[MacMattico]

senior

[MacMattico]

Strange thing happened when we physically went to the school and wanted her removed from the class today. It's like the school started looking into this teacher and now all of the sudden my niece can drop the course and the course itself will be completely taken off the transcript and no grade recorded. It will be like she was never in the class at all.

I told the Guidance Office this made me even more concerned for the other people (girls) still in this man's classes. Why is the school doing a complete 360 on this? My niece is out of the class, I'm glad, but I worry
about others. They said they can not discuss personnel issues!

So on the way out I happened by the art class and got a look at the loser. Creepy is a good description. I'm only a 5'6” female but because the class was working independently I knocked on the door and asked him to step into the hall. He said this was a school in session why was I there and who was I? I said my nieces name and that I was her Aunt. He shut the door behind him and said “What?” My niece had went on to her other
class and my sister had left. I said she's out of your class now but others aren't. I have daughters. My niece is friends with people still in this class. Just know there's people watching you.

Another strange thing is he didn't say anything like I'm going to have you removed from the school or anything like that. Or asked me what I was accusing him of. Just stared at me. So I just gave him a look and left.

I e-mailed the Superintendent and cc’ed the BOE, not accusing him of anything specific but saying that the school had changed it's drop policy
for my niece so fast it made me wonder what was going on with this teacher, and that if something happens with him they can't say no one said anything as I was informing them something seems wrong, it seems like Guidance knows it, so they need to do what they need to do and look into this. Who knows.

[PapaBear3625]

I e-mailed the Superintendent and cc’ed the BOE, not accusing him of anything specific but saying that the school had changed it's drop policy for my niece so fast it made me wonder what was going on with this teacher, and that if something happens with him they can't say no one said anything as I was informing them something seems wrong, it seems like Guidance knows it, so they need to do what they need to do and look into this. Who knows.

Sounds like there were other complaints about his creepiness. In situations like this, they will tell each parent that they're the only one complaining, but a little chatting with other parents of his students will likely reveal other students with misgivings.

[b9]

Wow, you are one brave lady.
Your niece is very, very fortunate that you have her back.

My art teacher in HS was a total gem - I spent many, many lunch hours doing special airbrush projects and posters while he worked on free-lance projects of his own. I never, ever felt anything creepy and was so grateful he let me use that time and the school’s resources. He knew I was a serious art student - I became a professional illustrator - and I’ll always be grateful to that kind man for his generosity.

Looking back, it was probably inappropriate by today’s standards to be alone like that, but it was innocent and helpful.

Not all art teachers are creepy!

I tried to contact him many years later, only to discover he had passed away just a few weeks before. Devastating to realize I’d waited too long to thank him.