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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
 Posted - 10/08/2001 : 15:25:18
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...and I need help. Does anyone know why a teacher would tell me my daughter is doing *OK* for 6 weeks and then send home a D on her midterm report?
This to me, is completely unacceptable. A *D* is NOT an acceptable OK grade. Is there anything that I can do beside yell and scream and any research or statistics or studies or anything that I can take in with me for Parent Teacher conferences to support my position that a D is wholly and completely unacceptable and that failure to inform me that her grade was in such a position does not equate with doing OK? (Sorry for the run on.)
"Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith. I consider the capacity for it terrifying." ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
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The Bad Astronomer
Skeptic Friend
137 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2001 : 15:37:40 [Permalink]
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quote:
Is there anything that I can do [...] to support my position that a D is wholly and completely unacceptable and that failure to inform me that her grade was in such a position does not equate with doing OK?
Whether the grade is what she deserves or not is not the immediate issue, but the fact that the teacher didn't say anything is. You need no stats to say that a D is not an "OK" grade.
Did you query the teacher yoruself, or was this a midterm report of some kind? Once you have established why the teacher didn't inform you of a near-failing grade (which may be the way to phrase it), then you can tackle the issue of why your daughter isn't doing well. What subject is it, incidentally?
*****
The Bad Astronomer
http://www.badastronomy.com
"With tremendous respect to [the] BA, the problem isn't getting scientists to talk, the problem can be getting them to shut up." |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2001 : 15:43:13 [Permalink]
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I understand that it is not whether or not that is the grade she earned. My problem is with being told for 6 weeks that she was doing OK and to find on midterms that she has a D. I was not informed prior to this that she was doing poorly.
The subject is reading - her worst - I have trouble getting her to read anything.
"Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith. I consider the capacity for it terrifying." ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. |
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Slater
SFN Regular
USA
1668 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2001 : 15:48:50 [Permalink]
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Sigh...I remember when my son (now a cop) was in Jr High I came home from a parent teacher night and doubled the kids allowance. Just the fact that he could put up with the idiots that the NYC Borard of Ed hires meant he deserved a raise.
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The brain that was stolen from my laboratory was a criminal brain. Only evil will come from it. |
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Slater
SFN Regular
USA
1668 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2001 : 15:58:10 [Permalink]
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quote:
The subject is reading - her worst - I have trouble getting her to read anything.
That's easy enough to fix. In the early grades (before grad school) the kids are given the most boring things on earth to read.
Try something that seems a touch nasty--something school would never approve of and the kid will be reading with a flashlight under the covers. I don't know her age but here are some authors that would fit the bill, Daniel Pinkwater, Lemony Snicket, Roald Dahl and Edward Gorey.
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The brain that was stolen from my laboratory was a criminal brain. Only evil will come from it. |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2001 : 16:06:47 [Permalink]
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quote:
My problem is with being told for 6 weeks that she was doing OK and to find on midterms that she has a D. I was not informed prior to this that she was doing poorly.
I would have said, to stay in touch with the school and the teacher but it sounds like you had been.
On parents night and at open houses (that's what they call it here when we go to see what's happening in the classroom and the progress of the kids) I always informed the teachers to let me know if there's a problem. We'd check our sons work, etc., to keep 'on top' of what he was doing. I know you are probably doing that too. Sounds like you need to make it very clear to the teacher and maybe those in charge that you REALLY want to be informed.
I'd yell(politely) at the principal. If you get the answer I did, some nonsense 'form' speech, make yourself a pest until you get some satisfaction. I even joined some of the parent/school groups who were supposed to be monitoring and improving conditions, for what that's worth, trying to work from the inside out. Nothing seemed to change (in the school, over all) but at least I was visible and able to get 'inside' information about what was going on and act on it for my own kid. Teachers like to see a parent who cares. That's what they more or less said when we'd show up in the class room when other parents didn't. Here, we can go to the classroom and observe, that might help to let the teacher know you are serious. Not to mention for your child to know you care.
nlm
Rap Crap is to music what Paint by Numbers is to art.
Edited by - snake on 10/08/2001 16:08:38 |
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ljbrs
SFN Regular
USA
842 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2001 : 17:25:53 [Permalink]
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Trish:
I agree with Slater 100%. The only problem with under-the-covers reading (with flashlight) is that it can be lousy for your eyesight. However, under-the-covers reading may be great for improving reading ability. I, myself, never needed prodding to read (although many kinds of popular reading, comic books, for instance, were banned by my parents). I firmly believe that anything which can get a child to read is just fine.
So, take Slater's advice, posthaste!
ljbrs   
*Nothing is more damaging to a new truth than an old error.* Goethe
Edited by - ljbrs on 10/08/2001 17:27:28 |
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Zandermann
Skeptic Friend
USA
431 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2001 : 19:28:38 [Permalink]
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Trish:
Speaking as someone who has to track the progress of 120 different students on a daily basis, it's easy to miss one student's performing below expectations *for a short while*.
I'd suggest talking to the individual teacher, but not going in with six-guns ablazin'. Let him/her know just what you said here (that D level work is far from "OK" in your book). You might ask if there's some mechanism at the school for sending home progress reports in shorter increments than 6 weeks. Or you might tell her/him that you'll be calling on a weekly basis to check on your daughter's status.
As others have said, once the teacher knows that you are dismayed and that you'll be following up, you should get more frequent feedback.
Some parents are apparently apathetic enough that they don't respond to any word from school, though. Unless your daughter happens to have a really poor teacher, the fact that you follow up this report with a conversation will make some difference. |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2001 : 08:25:17 [Permalink]
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Z, the school sends a progress report home every week. For 6 weeks on the progress report I was informed that she was doing OK. Then Yesterday when I see her grades on her progress report for midterms I see a D.
I spoke with this teacher over the phone for 1 1/2 hours about her math. He never once mentioned her problems in reading, never once sent a note that she was having problems. That's in part why I'm so pissed. He still hasn't responded to my request for what she needs to know math wise in 6th grade so I can work at home with her on math, to fill in the holes left by the math program she was in before. Despite my repeated requests.
This is almost as bad as the second grade teacher my daughter had that said she had been *too lazy* (her words not mine) to work with students more advanced than the rest of the class.
"Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith. I consider the capacity for it terrifying." ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2001 : 15:39:57 [Permalink]
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quote:
I spoke with this teacher over the phone for 1 1/2 hours about her math. He never once mentioned her problems in reading, never once sent a note that she was having problems. That's in part why I'm so pissed. He still hasn't responded to my request for what she needs to know math wise in 6th grade so I can work at home with her on math, to fill in the holes left by the math program she was in before. Despite my repeated requests.
OHhh Kay! Time for action.
If this helps:
I called and wrote EVERYONE, they kept telling me I have to talk to someone else. If I went above the person in charge I was told I needed to go back and talk to the head of the department. I even went as far as filling a formal complaint after calling all the way to Sacramento.
So be prepared for a battle.
After getting back the results of the complaint investgation....it was in the teachers favor, I was a bit more then angry.
Sorry, I think I was venting. Or maybe warning you to be on guard.
Take notes of conversations, dates and times. Plan a report, send in a complaint, to the highest authority.
Are there any other parents who have had problems?
If your schools are anything like California, Good Luck! I'm still livid although my son is now out of the system. But the anger goes back to when I was a student. Would you consider protesting outside the school with a sign?
You might want to go through the motions of sending your child to school because it's the law, and supplement outside school.
I know it's frustrating, it has been going on a long time, poor management, that is.
I felt they had the upper hand and I was only one person, many people don't like what's going on but the politics are overwhelming. Those people don't listen to anyone.
So in conclusion:
Grades aren't everything, if one is knowledgeable it will show through.
As a side note:
The principal, not an old man and only at that school for 4 years, he started just around the time my son got there, although I didn't know that at the time. At my sons graduation, the principal announced he was retiring from that job. Gee, I hope my years of nagging wasn't a factor!
Give 'em Hell!
ps. I think what I'm saying is, do all you can and be oganized not angry. Go about this in a systematic way. Then if you don't get what you want.
'Don't get MAD, get EVEN, heh he.'
Edited by - snake on 10/09/2001 15:47:42 |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2001 : 09:26:53 [Permalink]
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quote:
ps. I think what I'm saying is, do all you can and be oganized not angry. Go about this in a systematic way. Then if you don't get what you want.
That's my problem - I am angry about this.
"Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith. I consider the capacity for it terrifying." ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2001 : 16:16:52 [Permalink]
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quote:
That's my problem - I am angry about this.
Perhaps what you wanted here was to express that anger because I think you know what to do.
No one in the system is going to listen to someone who is only emotional, you know that. You have to present facts and possible solutions or what you want out of the confrontation.
Have you ever been in a store when someone is trying to return something and they are yelling at the manager. Where do they get, doing that? It puts people on the defensive.
People stare at the one who is yelling and think she's 'nuts'.
That's why I said, don't get mad, get even.
I don't know how old you are but it's been said that the younger generation wants everything NOW. But there is satisfaction in being patient. I don't think Americans understand that, guess one has to have an Oriental mind.
Calm and steady is what gets you what you want.
Hey! I'm just trying to help.
nlm
Rap Crap is to music what Paint by Numbers is to art.
Edited by - snake on 10/11/2001 16:23:27 |
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