DD's High School teacher is a nut

[mom2rtk]

He is a math teacher and DD is in his dual enrollment College Algebra class.

I'd highly encourage my DD to report him, maybe as part of a group of other students.

At least with him teaching math, grading is less subjective so grade punishment is harder to pull off. We had an issue with a Composition teacher when one of our sons was in high school, and it seemed much riskier since grading is so subjective in that sort of class. Ultimately though I decided since my son was a senior and heading to college soon, I'd defer to his wishes, and he didn't want me to say anything.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

and irresponsible, would you report him?

We knew going in that he was a 9/11 conspiracy theorist but today he was talking about how the Parkland shooting was a hoax, didn't really happen and is a cover-up.

Come on, you are telling a room full of high school students that their fears and emotions are not valid because it is all a conspiracy? And what if, heaven forbid, something does happen and the kids don't respond because they think it is a hoax?

The last few years I have let DD handle teacher interactions so she can advocate for herself and she is comfortable doing so but this seems different to me.

Thoughts?

I would still let your daughter handle it. What happens if your daughter goes to college and experiences a professor like this?

If you are concerned about what your daughter would do if something were to happen I think it would be a great segue into that discussion (though perhaps you've already had those types of discussions). When your daughter told you about this was she visibly upset with the teacher or did she just not agree with him 1) saying it if it had nothing to do with what the class was talking about 2) having that particular viewpoint?

 

[monsterkitty]

He is a math teacher and DD is in his dual enrollment College Algebra class.

Is the class taught at the high school or community college?

If it's at the high school and a district employee, I would have my DD make an appointment with the principal about the situation. I would attend as support, but let DD handle it.

Our duel enrollment classes are taught at the CC, not at the HS. If it is at the CC, the district can't do anything about it as it is not their employee. However, I would still have my DD make an appointment with the principal to let him or her know about the situation. I would still be there as emotional support but not as the leader of the meeting.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Just curious @mrsv98 what does this nutjob teach?

Right? If he teaches math or gym or maybe language arts, move on. If he teaches history, science or social studies, report it immediately.

I would be concerned that his extreme political views are coloring his perspective in certain fields.

 

[la79al]

I would talk to the principal about it. It's pretty out of line for a high school teacher. And you know your DD and how she is handling hearing it but maybe some of the others that he has shared his opinion with aren't in the same place as your daughter. Just keep in mind some kids don't talk to their parents and some kids don't think that they can go to the principal, etc if they are affected by hearing this.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Unfortunately, there are people out there with wacky theories about everything. But, as teachers, we are supposed to keep personal feelings like that out of the classroom (just like politics and religion)! Does your DD feel comfortable mentioning it to another teacher?

 

[cabanafrau]

I would still let your daughter handle it. What happens if your daughter goes to college and experiences a professor like this?

If you are concerned about what your daughter would do if something were to happen I think it would be a great segue into that discussion (though perhaps you've already had those types of discussions). When your daughter told you about this was she visibly upset with the teacher or did she just not agree with him 1) saying it if it had nothing to do with what the class was talking about 2) having that particular viewpoint?

It's pretty much a given when attending college today that a student will come across one or more professors who employ full use of a bully pulpit to spew all manner of extreme views.

 

[NinaBella]

Sounds as bad as the teachers at my kids school who make political comments for and against specific individuals.

 

[NotUrsula]

This is one of those times where your DD has a great opportunity to learn to effect change in the right way. If she is concerned, the best strategy is to write a letter of concern to the teacher's department head (assuming he isn't the department head, in which case the letter should go to the academic principal.) If at all possible, the letter should be signed by a large number of students.

Now then, that said, if she and her classmates feel that nothing can be done, then, as a taxpayer, I would write the letter myself and ask that the department head investigate if this teacher does in fact share these opinions in the classroom as if they were fact. (If he simply says that "some people" believe that these events never happened, then it is not as concerning as flat statement of fact.) Since the man is a math teacher and not teaching this as part of his subject core, I'm sure that the school's first choice of remedy will be to tell him to stick to discussing math in his classroom, and to keep a lid on his personal opinions re: current events. Termination would be called for if he taught history, but from a math teacher this isn't a career-ender unless he persists after being told to can it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It's pretty much a given when attending college today that a student will come across one or more professors who employ full use of a bully pulpit to spew all manner of extreme views.

That's certainly possible (it didn't happen to me where a professor attempted to bully me into their viewpoint but I've been out of college for nearly 8 years (Edited: it's been nearly 12 years since I've been out of high school but only nearly 8 since college; my mistake on thinking high school while talking about college lol) at this point so things have the ability to change).

The ones I saw who had more extreme views were those who spoke on campus (as the campus was an open one) concerning topics such as religion, abortion and sexual orientation. But my college professors usually spoke more candily about subjects and I didn't always agree with what they had to say. They also went off topic too (in my sociology class for 3 days my professor spoke about omega 3 fatty acids for instance).

 

[usnuzuloose]

He has a right to his opinion, but hopefully if something happened he would adhere to the precautions and do the right thing.

 

[rigs32]

He has a right to his opinion, but hopefully if something happened he would adhere to the precautions and do the right thing.

How is denying the fact that people died violently an opinion??????

 

[robinb]

This is one of those times where your DD has a great opportunity to learn to effect change in the right way. If she is concerned, the best strategy is to write a letter of concern to the teacher's department head (assuming he isn't the department head, in which case the letter should go to the academic principal.) If at all possible, the letter should be signed by a large number of students.

I would not contact the department chair. It's been my experience that they are there to back-up and support their teachers. I would also not trust the chair to share names with the teacher and risk retaliation.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

It's pretty much a given when attending college today that a student will come across one or more professors who employ full use of a bully pulpit to spew all manner of extreme views.

I graduated from college only a few years ago and can’t recall anything like that

 

[cabanafrau]

That's certainly possible (it didn't happen to me where a professor attempted to bully me into their viewpoint but I've been out of college for nearly 12 years at this point so things have the ability to change).

The ones I saw who had more extreme views were those who spoke on campus (as the campus was an open one) concerning topics such as religion, abortion and sexual orientation. But my college professors usually spoke more candily about subjects and I didn't always agree with what they had to say. They also went off topic too (in my sociology class for 3 days my professor spoke about omega 3 fatty acids for instance).

My husband and oldest daughter just completed their master's and my youngest is currently working towards her bachelor's, four different college campuses between them, and they all experienced this in a variety of ways -- some merely an inexplicable waste of time like your omega 3 fatty acids example, others fitting the more common definition of extreme views like OP outlined with the HS teacher, and others that quite frankly seemed like they stemmed either from the stone age or a very bad trip on hallucinogenics.

Apparently the bully pulpit is as prevalent on college campuses today as the group project.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My husband and oldest daughter just completed their master's and my youngest is currently working towards her bachelor's, four different college campuses between them, and they all experienced this in a variety of ways -- some merely an inexplicable waste of time like your omega 3 fatty acids example, others fitting the more common definition of extreme views like OP outlined with the HS teacher, and others that quite frankly seemed like they stemmed either from the stone age or a very bad trip on hallucinogenics.

Apparently the bully pulpit is as prevalent on college campuses today as the group project.

That's interesting honestly. {ETA: I say interesting because I can see how if one experiences that how it could affect how one views this type of situation}.

I should mention that I made a mistake on my earlier quote (which I will now fix). It's been nearly 12 years since I've been out of high school but only nearly 8 since college. My mind was thinking high school even though I was talking about college lol.

 

[cabanafrau]

That's interesting honestly.

I should mention that I made a mistake on my earlier quote (which I will now fix). It's been nearly 12 years since I've been out of high school but only nearly 8 since college. My mind was thinking high school even though I was talking about college lol.

My husband is a very easy going person, very difficult to rile up. He experienced a real time waster like you expressed about the Omega 3s. His classes were all technical in scope, so not really leaving any logical latitude for straying. He had a brand new professor who cancelled some classes and restructured some major projects that were weeks into the timeline and then attempted to use a makeup class session for something entirely off tangent, possibly even qualifying for out of the same galaxy as earth. My husband excused himself and went to retrieve another professor he had for a couple past classes that he knew was in a lab down the hall because they had been chatting before my husband's class. The professor who dropped in was able to see and hear enough for himself to understand the problem, which ultimately wound up getting sorted out with the dean of the department.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I would be livid and question his intelligence or mental health.

I'm sure many wouldn't agree with me (haven't read any of the responses yet), but I would be sending an email to the principal ASAP.

 

[wgeo]

I would let my kid report it to the administration and would only follow up myself if I wasn't satisfied with how it was dealt with. For me this is a safety issue, if the teacher doesn't believe school shootings are legit - then I would be concerend that he would not react appropriately where something to happen at his school.

 

[HeatherC]

I am all for letting kids handle things on their own as much as they can. But ya know what? Every day there is reporting of yet another school shooting or school threat or school arrest of either a teacher or student. I am not taking chances anymore. These wack jobs have no place spouting stupid crap. And no I am not arguing if he has a difference of opinion. The fact is 17 families lost their kids in Parkland and countless other kids were traumatized over a VERy real undeniable event. There is no freaking "conspiracy". People were killed!

I would contact the principal and superintendent. His job is to educate not to spew ridiculous accusations that have zero credibility.