"Bad Teacher" barks up the wrong tree!!!

[Lorelei Lee]

We're not aware of what is going on this particular classroom are we? And that's all I'm saying. There is a lot of the whole story that we're not being told and I think it's important to keep in mind.



Not all schools handle these nights in the same manner.

True. and if the format included a session where the teacher addressed the parents, she could do so in general terms, i.e.e, "We seem to have a problem here, some of the students filed this assignment because...."

 

[skatalite]

Folks, this has nothing to do about laws indicating privacy issues or following a chain of command pursuing complaints.

This is about a lack of common sense and a lack of great teaching values.

The open house is never the place to show the parents and all guests entering a classroom how poorly a student did on a school project. The open house is a place where parents can see the classroom environment their child is in throughout the year and to briefly meet the teacher. Where does my child sit. What are the objects in the room the student has available to enhance learning. Where to they spend other parts of the day...

Issues with academics, conflicts, or behavior - the teacher has other avenues to address these issue. But not at the open house.

You're also assuming the OP is telling us the whole story and being absolutely truthful with us.

It's the only assumption one can make, however, since we're just outsiders looking in.

But, considering the OP keeps adding more the story and such, I'm inclined to not take everything she says as gospel.

It's like the old idiom says: There are three sides to every story: Hers, hers and the truth.

 

[mhsjax]

Folks, this has nothing to do about laws indicating privacy issues or following a chain of command pursuing complaints.

This is about a lack of common sense and a lack of great teaching values.

The open house is never the place to show the parents and all guests entering a classroom how poorly a student did on a school project. The open house is a place where parents can see the classroom environment their child is in throughout the year and to briefly meet the teacher. Where does my child sit. What are the objects in the room the student has available to enhance learning. Where do they spend other parts of the day...

Issues with academics, conflicts, or behavior - the teacher has other avenues to address these issue. But not at the open house.

Exactly.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Exactly.

The teacher showed very poor judgment here. The grades should not have been displayed. A note home to the parent, a phone call, a face to face conference, those are the formats the teacher should use to address poor performance in class.

Yes. Also, the communication style with the student left a lot to be desired.

 

[declansdad]

True. and if the format included a session where the teacher addressed the parents, she could do so in general terms, i.e.e, "We seem to have a problem here, some of the students filed this assignment because...."

That may have happened but the OP wouldn't have known because she stormed off to the principal.

 

[mhsjax]

You're also assuming the OP is telling us the whole story and being absolutely truthful with us.

It's the only assumption one can make, however, since we're just outsiders looking in.

But, considering the OP keeps adding more the story and such, I'm inclined to not take everything she says as gospel.

It's like the old idiom says: There are three sides to every story: Hers, hers and the truth.

Well if this is the case, why does anyone comment on anything. We will never know the whole story. We go on what the OP states and that is it. Yet people l here love to dig up old threads, accuse of lying.

 

[smitch425]

Well if this is the case, why does anyone comment on anything. We will never know the whole story. We go on what the OP states and that is it. Yet people l here love to dig up old threads, accuse of lying.

I mentioned the OP's previous discussions, but in no way accused her of lying. Just want to make that clear.

 

[OceanAnnie]

OP, I hope your son has a better experience in his new class. Every parent just has to do what they think it right for their child.[b/]

I also have a fifth grader with low self esteem that comes from previous years of classroom bullying. He teacher this year is not so great. There are bad teachers out there. Sometimes they are just bad, sometimes the teacher and child just don't mesh well. I figure you are going to get at least one teacher you just don't like. This is his year. We are trying to make the best of it and get through the rest of the year. I try and use this experience as a life lesson and teach him that we are going to have to work with/for people we don't get along with.

I hope so too. I agree parents have to do what they think is right.

Teachers have a hard job. On top of that personalities don't always mesh. But teachers and students should be respectful to each other.

 

[skatalite]

Well if this is the case, why does anyone comment on anything. We will never know the whole story. We go on what the OP states and that is it. Yet people l here love to dig up old threads, accuse of lying.

The reason we do it is because it helps us pass the day

 

[drclaws]

Interesting discussion and I will comment solely from a FERPA perspective. I am employed in higher education and have served as my institution's FERPA compliance official for way too many years.

People may agree or disagree with the intent of FERPA, which has nothing to do with the "softness" of students, but with safe-guarding the privacy of their education records (a VERY broad term, I might add). FERPA in the secondary education setting is a bit different that in college and universities, but the main difference is that parents have more access rights in secondary education.

It's always an "interesting" discussion with any parent who contacts me wishing information on their child enrolled in our university. I've had more than my share of "I pay the tuition and I have the right to know his/her grades!" it's not an enjoyable conversation for the most part. I sympathize and don't necessarily disagree, but the fact of the matter is the law prohibits disclosure unless the son or daughter has provided written permission for us to have that discussion. There are a limited number of exceptions to the law...student who is not yet 18, for one.

From what I've read here, the teacher did indeed violate FERPA by publicly displaying the students' project grades. ...and I shuddered when I read the one poster's comment about the instructor who passed around the final grade sheet to the entire class. You really want to avoid receiving a phone call from your President's Office after they receive correspondence from the Department of Education Compliance Office stating that a FERPA violation complaint had been filed.

My two cents on the FERPA aspects....

 

[Sanchez]

Well if this is the case, why does anyone comment on anything. We will never know the whole story. We go on what the OP states and that is it. Yet people l here love to dig up old threads, accuse of lying.

I will never understand this line of thinking - the notion that we must accept everything one says as true. Reasonably intelligent people can make inferences and detect biases. When things happen in a classroom the parent is usually not getting the entire story from the child. The parent then comes to DIS and tells the story in such a way that they, and their child, look better. Sometimes it is a lie, sometimes an embellishment, but always from their point of view.

I think that it is reasonable to infer in this situation that given the scenario we are not presented with the complete story. Nevertheless, in the remote scenario where everything presented actually happened I still would disagree with how this parent handled the situation. I would guess that this teacher is quite happy that mom and son are no longer her problem.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

A couple thoughts:

1. That teacher is an idiot for displaying names AND grades at the open house.
2 Kudos to your son for trying to handle it on his own (asking the teacher not to dispel the grade) before getting you involved. No one has given him credit for that, and it was probably hard for him given his history with that teacher.
3. Being a teacher must he hard, and there are lots of great ones out there who don't get enough credit. However, there are bad teachers, even if some people on the Internet like to make it seem like all teachers are perfect angels and only the parents and kids are the problem.

 

[lukenick1]

I find it very funny that people choose to comment on here without reading all posts. Assumptions are made that way. I also find it flattering that people choose to go to my history and read past discussions.

I guess it's my bad for even posting this topic in the first place. Thanks for the entertainment I guess.

I appreciate those of you who offered their opinion politely whether you agree or disagree.

I am happy with my decision but just wanted to share my experience and vent.

 

[okeydokey]

Every time I read a post like this, I thank my stars I no longer teach.

 

[Talking Hands]

If every child had their project displayed good or bad you really have no complaint. now 50% having a poor grade tells me that the teacher did not explain the project sufficiently and should probably grade it on a curve as most of the students obviously misunderstood. as far as others seeing his grade. I never went to open houses to see anything but my own children's work. He didn't want you to see his grade. better you see it and work with him to improve that grade.

 

[Liberty Belle]

If every child had their project displayed good or bad you really have no complaint. now 50% having a poor grade tells me that the teacher did not explain the project sufficiently and should probably grade it on a curve as most of the students obviously misunderstood. as far as others seeing his grade. I never went to open houses to see anything but my own children's work. He didn't want you to see his grade. better you see it and work with him to improve that grade.

It's against the law.

 

[dreamin_disney]

We always display the childs best work for open house. If she wanted you to know he got a low grade she should have called a conference not display it for other parent and kids to see. Other parent will look around the room and look at your son's project. Your child telling her he didnt want it displayed she should have seen it bothered him . I think it just opened the door for other kids and peole to see your childs grade and some kids will make fun of other kids who got a failing grade.

Personally I think you should have went to the teacher and talked to her about it and explain why you didnt want project displayed . #2 if she still displayed it then i would have went to principal. #3 i probably would have removed it at open house .

 

[sam_gordon]

How's this......had my child not told me about it, I would have walked in, saw the grade and have been angry with him for getting a bad grade. The fact that he was ashamed of the grade, asked the teacher not to display it is what upset me.

This is what jumped out at me. If I'm reading this right, if the OP's son hadn't said anything beforehand, she would have seen the grade and gotten upset with the son for the bad grade. BUT, since *HE* wasn't happy with grade (and it being displayed), the OP is now mad at the teacher instead of the boy.

IMO, yes, the teacher was wrong in posting the grades. BUT, as a parent, if I saw ALL students grades were posted, I would have told my kids "do better next time." I would not have gone right to the principal asking for my kid to be removed from the class.

I don't understand what a Kindergarten teacher making a (IMO) worse decision has to do with this situation though.

 

[luvmyfam444]

wow I'm surprised the principal changed the student with only one complaint - you don't get moved here for anything! It's more likely for the teacher to be moved before the students - which doesn't happen either.

Grades are supposed to be confidential. Here a sub isn't even allowed to grade papers because of the confidentiality concern.

I would have been upset too - but I probably would have just gotten there early & taken his paper off the desk & hidden it instead of confronting principal.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

wow I'm surprised the principal changed the student with only one complaint - you don't get moved here for anything! It's more likely for the teacher to be moved before the students - which doesn't happen either.

Grades are supposed to be confidential. Here a sub isn't even allowed to grade papers because of the confidentiality concern.

I would have been upset too - but I probably would have just gotten there early & taken his paper off the desk & hidden it instead of confronting principal.

I agree, there's a lot more going on here than just this incident, or the principal would not have moved the student.