Yuck--My DD's *INFURIATING* History Teacher

[Christine]

Background: My DD (14) is in her first year of high school. She takes advanced World History. Her teacher is, well, what can I say--he needs to go. In all my DD's years of school, I have never, ever, ever had a teacher problem. And I'm not actually going to *do* anything about this because I think it will make matters worse for my DD. This teacher is on the verge of retirement and needs to go. I have been told that there have been many complaints about him, but obviously, the school does nothing. My DD tells me that when a parent does complain, this teacher singles the student out in class and says "why did you complain about me--I didn't do anything wrong--you misunderstood me." Of course, I'm not giving you every little detail, but this is the general problem.

DD, since the beginning of the year, has "teetered" between a C and D in his course. It freaked me out at first, but I've come to find out that this is common in his classes, although, she could probably do better. Apparently, he "rambles" on a lot in his class about a "female bodyguard" that he had at one time during one of the "wars" he was in. So rather than teach the material, he goes off on a tangent, then gives the test on the "supposed" material he has covered and most of the kids bomb the test. But, I digress.

My DD says that this guy doesn't like her. Okay, I know that happens. A few weeks ago, when they were picking their schedules for next year, she went to him for guidance. She said "Mr. C., what class do you think I should take next year: AP Euro History or regular Geography." He laughed at her and said "You are even considering AP Euro? Miranda, you need to be *down* with the dummies in Geography? If you take Euro, you will be with me and I promise you, you will not do well?" I was furious. But I did tell DD to just take the Geography class because her grades are *not* the best and I didn't think we needed to dump an AP class on her. But I was mad at how condescending he was.

So, yesterday, they were talking about religion a bit. DD tells me that in the course of their class, religion comes up A LOT, as I guess it would in World History. So, Mr. C. says "I do believe that the Christians have *got it right* with regard to religion and they are the best." DD (fresh out of Catholic middle school) raises her hand and says "But Mr. C, what about all the religions that came before Christianty? How can you say they are wrong?" He glares at her and says "What religions are you talking about?" She says "Muslims?" He says "No, they weren't there?" She says "Hindu?" He says "No, they weren't there and that's quite enough." I asked DD why she didn't bring up Buddhism. She told me "Mom, he just basically told me to shut up and turned his back on me."

So what is WRONG with this freak. You know, I really feel like making a stink but DD has BEGGED me not too. She said that he will deny it, no one will speak up, and he will make her life a living mess. I believe she is right. I think the school will stonewall me and do nothing anyway. Isn't this pathetic? I just really wanted to vent because it is all so ludicrous that I almost can't believe it. But I don't think my DD would lie about this. Exaggerate, yes.

I just feel so "yucky" inside over it. And I feel spineless.

 

[minkydog]

This late in the school year I'd probably do nothing. He sounds like a burnt out teacher, but you're not likely to change him so let it go. Y0ur DD is only in 9th grade. Let her finish up with a C/D and get the heck out of his class. Hopefully she can arrange future classes with a different teacher.But it's possible that she will have him again, so you don't want to go burning bridges. I know this sounds like a wimpy way out, but sometimes is all knowing how to play their game.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Can't really offer any advice--just lots of sympathy. You must be . I would be too.
Don't even want to get into what this man must be making $$$--as he's near retirement... Too bad there's not some way to pursue this. Is there a sympathetic department chair? Someone on the school board you know?
His working with children/staying on faculty is so wrong...

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Are you sure this man didn't teach on LI before? Sounds almost exactly like my HS history teacher. But he never talked about being in the wars and he is now female. (but that is another story).

He used to make up his own history. Then he would test us on his history and the real history. So you pretty much guessed your way through his tests. He was an old man, definitely burnt out, and was just rude. If you came into his class as the last bell was ringing he would consider you late. He couldn't give you detention though because according to the school you weren't late. If your homework wasn't stapled just right you wouldn't get credit for it. Oh yeah did I forget to mention he had this extreme OCD? I have my own OCD so I know what it is like. But if you moved your desk an inch to one side, he would stop class and make you fix it. Each desk had to be on certain tiles. His desk had to be just perfect at all times. He locked all his stuff up in a closet each night. After each period he would go to the restroom and comb his hair. He also painted his nails pink. My mom complained about him but they couldn't do anything because he was tenured (sp?). The only thing the guidance office did was not place my brother in that class. I was the lucky one that had him for 2 years in a row instead.

Now another history teacher I had in 8th grade was a strange man. In that he would constantly bring up the death penalty and discuss it. He always talked about being in the army. Not as weird as my other history teacher but not so normal either.

Give your daughter a big hug because I know exactly what she is going through. Let her pull the best grade she can and get the heck out of his class.

 

[DawnCt1]

Background: My DD (14) is in her first year of high school. She takes advanced World History. Her teacher is, well, what can I say--he needs to go

One of the unfortunate realities of life is that sometimes the teacher and student are not a good match. I would seriously hesitate putting her in the class room with a teacher who has promised her that she will not do well. He has that teflon coating called "tenure". When DS #2 was in high school there was an art teacher who elevator wasn't making it to the top floor. She was the only art teacher. When I went for parent conferences it was apparent that she and he would never do well in a class together. Her complaint? "He is too big and I am not used to that and when he walks around the class, which he has to do, I find it very distracting". Bottom line? Sean wasn't going to get any smaller. She was nuts and she wasn't going to get any better. The school system wasn't going to fire her because she had tenure so I tranferred him out of the class, informing guidance and the front office that she was NUTS. I have no doubt that they knew that already. Now this year my youngest DS has her and she absolutely loves him. Its a match that works. With regard to Islam, it was founded in 622 AD, after Christianity. Hinduism is the world's oldest, organized religion. If you look at Christianity from a historical, Western Civilization point of view, most of the major contributions, with regard to language, literature, art, archetecture, etc were made by Christians. That could be exactly what he was talking about and your DD misunderstood.

 

[mickeymousemom]

I am SOOOOO feeling your pain. We are going thru the same thing with our 6th grader and her English teacher. She's taught for 34 years(too long) and will not give my DD a break. I have confronted her(and have had the same problem with her that DD has had...she doesn't GET IT), only to have my DD now be singled out in class becasue of it. My Dh(the easy going one in the family) has been to the principal a few times about this but to no avail. I'm sure these teachers get there tenure and nothing matters after that. We are also having a slight problem with her math teacher...who rambles on in class the day of a test and then gives them 20-30 minutes to finish it. Not good when my DD already isn't doing well. We have seriously thought about sending her to a school out of our district. I understand we can't run from thngs, and our older Dd had problems with the same English teacher...BUT she was a different student. Our middle one already has trouble with her grades and doesn't need a cocky too old teacher to make it worse. The fact that the school systems do this kind of thing and side with the teacher instead of listening to the parent really ticks me off. I have knots in my stomach alot of the time, wondering what she'll come home to tell me today. I am so disenchanted by our school systems that I don't feel that I can give any advice. I do believe that maybe you should try to get thru the rest of the year(as I am doing) and hope she doesn't cross paths with this teacher again. Taking Geography is probably a good thing. You never know, this man may get to the point that he HAS to retire, and she can take the Euro class from someone different. I wish you the best of luck. I know how you feel, am there as we speak. My DD is probably like yours...could exaggerate, but would never lie about a situation. Just listen to her when she tells you about any incidents, support her, and get thru this semester. Next year will be so much better!

 

[barkley]

you may want to inquire if the school has any policy about students recording lectures. since it appears that he bases his tests on the "lectures" and the information cannot be aquired independantly via the text or provided study guides, it would be reasonable for a student who has done well in all other history classes with the exception of this to request to use this as a study tool (and if teacher balks then i would make an appointment with the principal to discuss your concerns-and be honest that your daughter fears retribution for complaining about the teacher).

an administrator can do nothing disciplinary regarding a teacher unless people complain and site hard facts. they may be aware of the situation but without concrete complaints and students willing to back them up it all becomes heresay. i am aware of a situation wherein students complained for several years about one of their highschool teachers, complaining she made inappropriate religious and racial remarks (but never within earshot of the administrators or other adults) but they all feared complaining because she was the only teacher that taught the particular subject they needed for graduation. finaly a group of about 6 students implored their principal to arrange to be within earshot of a lecture but out of sight. the teacher made her usual comments, and the principal was finaly able to verify what had been rumored (among students and parents) for years. despite tenure, despite an established career-the teacher no longer taught (i don't know if it was a termination, an encouraged resignation or an early retriement).

being close to retirement is no excuse for poor performance (and i think we all had teachers that we heard were "getting ready to retire" who stayed on in their positions for years to come).

 

[momof2inPA]

If she's positive she'll never have the guy again, she should give him a religious history book at the end of the year. How do you get to be a history teacher without knowing what he doesn't know?

 

[minniecarousel]

In no way should you allow her to take another class with this idiot. At the very least, talk with the Principal or Guidance Counselor and make sure that she is to never have him as a teacher again. (This is the only request that parents can have at our HSs - if your child had a particular teacher, they can request to never have that teacher again, if desired.) If he is the only one teaching AP Euro History - she shouldn't try to enroll in it. It sucks - but it's reality.

 

[Jpgirl]

Here's something to consider. When my dd was in 4th grade she had a teacher that sounded very much like this teacher. I tried talking to the teacher repeatedly but to no avail. I talked to the principle-who had many complaints about this teacher. Towards the end of the year I went back to the principle. We were moving out of the district and I wanted him to know what I thought about this teacher being allowed to continue to teach. I was mature but more assertive as dd would no longer be affected. I told the principle-"you mark my words-that Mrs. -- will do something and when it does you and the district will pay for her mistake". Well the next school year-about a month into it-this teacher slapped a kid and the parents sued and won. I felt bad that another kid became her victim and that I hadn't been able to something more to get her removed from the classroom. She never touched my dd-she just pulled the same kind of tactics as your dd's teacher. My advice is go to the principle and then to the school board if needed. But before you do-document everything-dd's contact and your contact with him. It's very effective. I had to remove my special needs son from a special ed teacher b/c she tried some of the same stuff-but this time I knew what to do. Good luck

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

I don't know, didn't we all have teachers like this and it really wasn't the end of the world. I had a science teacher that was about 102 and used to weekly tell us how he lost his finger. We had a geometry teacher that cried all the time, and a Geography teacher that would fall asleep. Now, they are just funny stories.

I think sometimes need to learn that not all adults are perfect (or even that on the ball) and that's actually a good lesson in itself. After all, bosses in the real world are going to be just as a stupid sometimes, and it's good for kids to learn to deal with different teachers.

You can mention it to a principal if you want, but try not to lose sleep over it; it's not the end of the world.

 

[Christine]

Thank you all so much for your replies. I went to get some lunch and had a nice surprise when I got back.

Dawn--thank you for pointing out the religious stuff to me. I wasn't all that "brushed" up on it and that could be all that the teacher was trying to point out to my DD. That's where the hard part comes in. In my gut, I have this feeling that the guy is a wacko, but I also have to take into account that I hearing everything from a 14-year-old's interpretation. Not saying her interpretation is "wrong" but it certainly could be skewed a bit by how his delivery might be.

He is the only one who is teaching AP Euro History so she won't be taking it. I am also prepared to run up to guidance had have a fit if she ever gets assigned to him again. It will NOT happen.

barkley - I probably confused you. This guy lectures about all kinds of stuff (mainly his military service in Europe and his female bodyguard) but the test does not have what he lectures on. He tells them that a majority of the test questions will come from his lectures and some will come from the book. My DD studies everything she can in the book, but there are often questions on there that she says she absolutely has no clue what the answer is. Not, "I think we studied this but I can hardly remember the answer." The question will be foreign to her. So, I think there are topics that I think he was schedule to lecture on but never gets around to them. But (and there's always a but, isn't there), there ARE a few students in the class pulling an A or a B. So, I ask her how they do it? She seems to think its those students who always, effortlessly can pull a good grade and that they "just know this stuff." So, I do not totally blame this man for my DD's grade. But I also know that her friend that she went to middle school with (who was very good academically) is really struggling with this guy.

I keep telling myself: 3 more months, only 3 more months and we will be through with him.

 

[Christine]

I don't know, didn't we all have teachers like this and it really wasn't the end of the world. I had a science teacher that was about 102 and used to weekly tell us how he lost his finger. We had a geometry teacher that cried all the time, and a Geography teacher that would fall asleep. Now, they are just funny stories.

I think sometimes need to learn that not all adults are perfect (or even that on the ball) and that's actually a good lesson in itself. After all, bosses in the real world are going to be just as a stupid sometimes, and it's good for kids to learn to deal with different teachers.

You can mention it to a principal if you want, but try not to lose sleep over it; it's not the end of the world.

That's pretty much how I'm taking it. I told my DD that there are always going to be teachers that are "not perfect" that are going to be difficult, etc, and that SHE has to learn to work around them and figure out how to manage their classes. It's just that sometimes, this guy, just gets my goat, so to speak.

 

[Chicago526]

That's pretty much how I'm taking it. I told my DD that there are always going to be teachers that are "not perfect" that are going to be difficult, etc, and that SHE has to learn to work around them and figure out how to manage their classes. It's just that sometimes, this guy, just gets my goat, so to speak.

Good attitude to take. In life, we all wind up with someone we can't stand (rightly or wrongly) in charge over us at some point. We have to learn to deal with them. It's good training for the day she has a jerk for a boss or a co-worker. Rarely can a person quit when they have problems at work, you have to deal with them to keep your job.

As long as the situation doesn't get worse, Your DD will just have to suck it up. The school year is almost over, she can tough it out.

As a side note, I was one of those really anoying kids that could pull a B on a test when I didn't really know the material that well. I don't know what it is about tests, but I just whip through them like they were nothing, I could pick out the right answer on a multiple choice test blind folded. Those in her class that are getting A's and B's are most likely just good test takers. There are ways to improve test taking skills, you should look into it for your DD, it will come in handy in all of her classes.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

That's pretty much how I'm taking it. I told my DD that there are always going to be teachers that are "not perfect" that are going to be difficult, etc, and that SHE has to learn to work around them and figure out how to manage their classes. It's just that sometimes, this guy, just gets my goat, so to speak.

Oh, believe me, I hear you. I don't want to give you the impression that I was always so good at being calm and cool about bad teachers. I had to just force myself not to march in there a couple of times, once especially when I middle school teacher of my son's had a little clicque of pretty little girls that were first class suck ups and all got As doing nothing but bringing the teacher donuts every morning!!!! And my son loved the subject and worked very hard and got 0 attention and mediocre grades. I still daydream about telling that guy off!

 

[Texan]

One thing I would like to point out; my DS 15 who is now in 9th grade (high school) had a brand new 8th grade teacher for his accelerated math class, Algebra I; (he told the kids he decided to teach because he enjoyed the training classes at his engineering job so much,HUH?) he was teaching an honors/accelerated math class and he had absolutely no clue what was going on; he was really way over his head; every time a student, including my DS, would ask him to further explain a problem he would tell them they would just have to grow up and figure it out on their own; seriously; I had so many kiddos calling my house, something that has never happened before, asking to speak to my DS because they didn't know what homework it was or how to do it; the teacher would yell out the day's homework after the bell rang and the kiddos had already started leaving so only a handful would get the assignment; he would also not accept their homework assignments until the full nine weeks had ended! Like these kiddos were going to keep nine weeks of work; I could go on and on and on, but my point is, my DS truly lost a whole year of learning; he is now going to have take a brush up course this summer in order to take Algebra II in 10th grade; after talking to his career counselor at the high school and she found out who he had in 8th grade math that is what she advised; otherwise, she said he is never going to get Algebra II; during the 8th grade school year I talked to other parents, I talked to the teacher once (got a whole bunch of double speak), I talked to the school counselor twice; I talked to the principal twice; did I get anywhere? No, just assurances "that this would be discussed with him"; I could not move him to another class because of their weird "pod" system; and I'm not sure what he's teaching this year but I know he's still at the school; unbelieveable; now my DS has to pay by being behind in Algebra; I sympathize with all you parents out there going through these crazy teachers whom the school allows to stay there; ARGGH

 

[Christine]

Texan--that stinks. But I guess we have deal with it.

Your story reminded me of another issue with this teacher. Right after mid-terms, my DD went up to his desk to see what her grade was for the interim report (she's got a lot of "fun" hinging on her grades ). He told her that she had a 60 in his class and showed her all the "zeros" for homework. She said "But Mr. C., you graded these and gave them back to me?" He said "Can you prove it?" Fortunately she still had 4 out of the 5 assignments. He took them and entered them in the computer. She was out of luck for her 5th assignment. All sounds very suspicious to me. It's almost like he wants to see her fail.

 

[luvflorida]

Her complaint? "He is too big and I am not used to that and when he walks around the class, which he has to do, I find it very distracting". Bottom line? Sean wasn't going to get any smaller. She was nuts and she wasn't going to get any better. The school system wasn't going to fire her because she had tenure so I tranferred him out of the class, informing guidance and the front office that she was NUTS. I have no doubt that they knew that already.

This cracked me up! Wow, I would have been speechless. I mean, what do you say to a comment like that!

 

[Pin Wizard]

My DD tells me that when a parent does complain, this teacher singles the student out in class...

I've heard the same thing from my 7th grader in a private school. He came home with something that ticked me off and I mentioned I was ready to call the school and leave a voice mail in that particular teacher's box. He said the same thing your daughter did! Then told me don't call!!! Let's hope he's had the horrible bunch for his entire schooling in this particular year. I've been very pleased with his teachers in other years. This one, forget it! Losing respect for them!!

 

[castleview]

being close to retirement is no excuse for poor performance (and i think we all had teachers that we heard were "getting ready to retire" who stayed on in their positions for years to come).

I'm certainly not sticking up for this jerk of a teacher...and I would be very concerned about him lying about whether her DD did her homework or not. But regarding the "nearing retirement" thing. Teachers in this state were required to teach 35 years in order to get their full retirement. I only thought of this because I had the most wonderful science teacher became a lousy teacher toward the end. Parents that dealt with him said a huge problem was that he couldn't hear anymore. I'm not saying that's an excuse, but I don't know what the answer would be in this case. But in Christine's situation...that teacher just sounds like an awful person.

Also, tenure is not a teflon coating. Tenured teachers can be fired - the reasons just have to be stated. Usually bad teachers who aren't tenured just don't have their contracts renewed at the end of the school year.