[Whisper of help]

I'm dealing with a new school, and all of the screw-ups during transfer that come with it. Halfway through high school, I'm in a new school with different requirements, and I'm frustrated by it. In my old school, Juniors took chemistry, but here, it's a sophomore class. A sophomore ONLY class. To the point that I'm put in Chemistry B/C simply because I'm not a sophomore. Not only that, I'm stuck in a 10th grade English class, when I was in Honors last year!! I almost had to take Algebra I again, too, because I need credits for Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and one other math class to graduate. Let me put this into perspective: I'm a very bright student. I've always excelled at math. AND, I'm currently taking Precalculus. So, I pretty much start to feel like my intelligence is being insulted when I'm almost forced to take the prerequisite of a prerequisite of a class that I'm currently taking.

On top of that, I'm I'm stuck with a teacher that grates on my nerves. She's like a robot, I swear. She's always got this little smile on her face, even while she hands out two or three things for us to do, one of which is generally a packet four or five pages long. And these packets are a whole other thing... ugh... grammar comparable to your typical Youtube comment, with misspellings, improper or nonexistent punctuation, QUESTIONS IN ALL CAPS LIKE THIS BUT WITH one or two WORDS IN LOWERCASE, wrong dates (I was asked what key event of the Spanish-American War occured in 1998), wrong names (such as Eugene McCarthy; his name was JOSEPH!!!), and the occasional missing gap between questions in which to put the answer. I've talked to her about them multiple times, and she swears that the packets aren't her fault. But I've noticed multiple similar mistakes in our daily questions (which she hand-writes on the board every day) and in our notes, which I'm pretty sure that she makes too. The errors are also present when she writes on the board. So, I really don't think she's telling the truth about the packets.

The way she talks, the way she screws up (she even gave me a 30% on a quiz because she graded my answer sheet with the wrong quiz paper!!), the way she rambles on and on about something in class, gets off topic, then hands us a massive homework packet as we head out the door... I hate this feeling, but everything she does seems to touch a nerve with me. I've tried to like her, or at least grin and bear it, but it's getting to me.

Am I the only one that has this kind of issue? I've never felt like this about a teacher. I'm constantly frustrated in her class, not because the work is hard (well, I've actually had to ask her about a few questions on the packets, because they literally made no sense. Sentence fragments that ask you to describe- and then it just goes to the next question, without telling you WHAT to describe), but because of the way she bugs me. The worst part about it is, I DON'T KNOW WHY I FEEL LIKE THIS. And now I'm getting frustrated just thinking about her. Ugh!

I think this might be better in the emotions forum

[objtrbit]

Man, that really blows; I have wondered myself how some people get these jobs; there seems to be no filter!

I'm sorry that you are stuck in this situation; I don't really know the right chain of command through administration, but I would try to appeal this situation if at all possible. What strikes me though...have you talked to your parents? It's so much easier to have support and backing, I hope they are involved in your life, cuz damn, that's a lot to handle on your own.

It truly is not fair or a good situation for you, they basically put you in a box that is threatening your ability to excel. Makes me say keep the packet she's handing out for evidence..then again, I really don't know how that school operates;

I donno, try and sorround yourself with people who will listen and support you;

Take care,
-obj

[IceCreamKid]

I knew him as Eugene McCarthy. Joseph McCarthy, the guy who thought everybody was red -- he was Joseph McCarthy. Eugene was known as Eugene, even though one of his names was Joseph. Now when she starts asking you about Charlie McCarthy -- well, I know who he is too. I'm no dummy. If you are really concerned, tell your parents. As taxpayers and as your parents they have the right to demand competent teachers. The fact that you are so very bright should be brought to the attention of one of your other teachers and enrichment should be provided for you.

[Whisper of help]

Yes, my parents know. I'm saving every one of the packets, and as soon as we get another working printer, I'm copying all of them and highlighting the mistakes. These papers are gonna be one big pile of yellow by the time it's all said and done :/

Well, IceCream, we're working on Joseph McCarthy, the namesake of the McCarthy Era. Not Eugene. Sorry for the confusion. It also named General John J. Pershing, but the packets called him George Pershing. People in my class have said that it's not an issue, since we still know what the packet's asking, but my point is that it still detracts from the quality of the education that we're receiving, it gives the message that proper grammar and spelling doesn't matter, and it shows that the teacher(s) doesn't(don't) care enough to correct blatant errors in the work that they give their students.

This would probably be a good time to mention that she didn't start to correct them until after I had complained to her, about halfway through the first semester. And even after that point, there was an appalling number of mistakes.

[Travelinglady]

I'd be frustrated to the max, too. I definitely don't think anything is wrong with YOUR emotions in this case! My son tells me about mistakes his teachers make. I even went into an English classroom one time and noticed that the teacher had used improper grammar on a poster on the wall!

Alas, changing schools from one state to the next, etc. can lead to the kinds of difficulties you mentioned. Having to repeat stuff is bad enough, but that incompetent teacher is really appalling!

[IceCreamKid]

Sorry I was being a bit facetious. If I were your parent I'd ask for a meeting with the principal and the teacher, lay out the egregious errors (someone teaching history who doesn't know the names of historical figures is an example) and say I expected my child to be placed with a competent teacher forthwith or I'd be going to the school board next. I have zero patience for stupid teachers. You deserve better.

[Whisper of help]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

I'd be frustrated to the max, too. I definitely don't think anything is wrong with YOUR emotions in this case! My son tells me about mistakes his teachers make. I even went into an English classroom one time and noticed that the teacher had used improper grammar on a poster on the wall!

Alas, changing schools from one state to the next, etc. can lead to the kinds of difficulties you mentioned. Having to repeat stuff is bad enough, but that incompetent teacher is really appalling!

My English teacher had an issue with that, too. I pointed it out to him, though, and unlike my history teacher, he fixed it.

[(JD)]

I am assuming they placed you in classes according to your level and their offerings. Changing schools is really tough. I never went to my folks for help after they moved me around a few times. I wish I had. (I had a teacher that truly hated me, the counselor discovered, because her husband had died on the road I moved to. ) I never could obtain a good grade from her and nothing I did was satisfactory in class.

You can kick and scream if you wish, but it won't get you far. If you can't change classes from that teacher that grates on your nerves, then try the psychological ploy of befriending her! She might be a math teacher and (gasp) failed at English. She might be dyslexic. She might just not be in the right job for her, but it pays the bills. (Don't get me started... )

You need to figure out the best way for you. How can you learn more while at school? Maybe instead of critizing her papers (but I hear you on that, teachers should provide excellent work) you can offer to type them up for her? If nothing else, talk to her about how you can get the best out of her class that's possible. Asking another for advice is a type of flattery and she may need that "hug"....

I would try and discuss this like an adult with your mom. See if the two of you can come up with better solutions that fit your needs.

Good wishes!

[Whisper of help]

Originally Posted by (JD)

I am assuming they placed you in classes according to your level and their offerings. Changing schools is really tough. I never went to my folks for help after they moved me around a few times. I wish I had. (I had a teacher that truly hated me, the counselor discovered, because her husband had died on the road I moved to. ) I never could obtain a good grade from her and nothing I did was satisfactory in class.

You can kick and scream if you wish, but it won't get you far. If you can't change classes from that teacher that grates on your nerves, then try the psychological ploy of befriending her! She might be a math teacher and (gasp) failed at English. She might be dyslexic. She might just not be in the right job for her, but it pays the bills. (Don't get me started... )

You need to figure out the best way for you. How can you learn more while at school? Maybe instead of critizing her papers (but I hear you on that, teachers should provide excellent work) you can offer to type them up for her? If nothing else, talk to her about how you can get the best out of her class that's possible. Asking another for advice is a type of flattery and she may need that "hug"....

I would try and discuss this like an adult with your mom. See if the two of you can come up with better solutions that fit your needs.

Good wishes!

It's not that she hates me. I'm better in that class than a lot of the other kids. Of course, that's not saying much, because they're mostly flunks that didn't care enough to pass the first/second/third time around, and just enjoy stirring up trouble.

She hasn't used the packets at all so far, this semester. I think she may have started replacing them with other worksheets. It's helped me in the class, because I think those packets were the source of a lot of my frustration. She still makes quite a few more mistakes than other teachers, but it's not nearly on the same scale as the packets.

[lastyearisblank]

My only advice right now (other than the good advice that's been given so far) is to befriend some of the "good" teachers. If you a junior in high school, that means you do not have time to waste with bad teaching. You should be focused on COLLEGE, the next step where you don't have to waste time with nonsense people like this= court the good teachers, get rec letters.... So anyway try to identify who seems smarter among your teachers, because they are usually the same people who make the best mentors... Sorry you are stuck with a bad teacher.