Mortifying situation

[PooleySpooley]

I am doing futher education through my work.

I am a professional and now have to do one of the core subjects which I never achieved at GCSE (not English), lied about but couldn’t produce the certificate so have to do an evening class.

I have started, it’s a small group of very mixed abilities and there is a teacher and a TA type person.

Tonight she stood over me twice (while I was trying to remember the basics and was perfectly capable of doing them) and then she sat next to me and was doing the work with me - asking questions to help me like I am about 5.

I said I think I have this thanks but she seemed really upset and offended.

WTF do I do? I am quite intelligent am not an idiot but I just didn’t manage to get this at school

@MitziK I missed my Maths GSCE aged 16 because I was in hospital with cancer

'f it's all so easy, don't take the course just pay to sit the exam, as you said 'piece of piss''

Yes, can you not just do this?

I haven’t fucking failed it - I was in hospital.

I was in hospital fighting for my life. FFS.

So why didn't you re sit when well?

You took your other exams?

Why did you lie?

MarthasGinYard

Because I didn’t need to as didn’t choose a profession where this was needed.

Also suffered PTSD from the whole experience and spiralled into drug addiction before having a family and then going to night classes to train to do what I do now.

I don’t think this is resistance to teaching. OP doesn’t wish to attract attention to herself. She’s not asserting her intelligence over others (I imagine that she gave the example of odd/even to illustrate the very basic level of the learning in order to alleviate criticisms of her being pretentious.) She’s not showing-off.

And for someone who has taught a number of disenfranchised learners, I’m surprised at your harsh criticism. I’m sure you know that students who resist support are generally very insecure, hence the defence mechanisms, so I’m not quite sure what you’re aiming to achieve.

It's basic maths which you've previously failed
OP has clearly stated she missed the exam because she was in hospital with a tumor on her spine. May I suggest you try a basic comprehension course?

OP, it’s your education. You’re more than entitled to request how you’re supported and tutored. I’m not quite sure why you’ve triggered people with this post but good luck with the studies.

@MostlyBoastly

Thank you 🙏

And the reason you chose to lie about for so many years was what, exactly?

It's hardly a disaster to resit a year or two later. You wouldn't be in a mixed ability class now if you'd just taken it again once you were well. But if you're in a functional skills class rather than a GCSE one, it's more than just a few months in hospital that you've not learned.

I am wondering whether the lying might still catch up with you, though - anybody who got a job on the basis of having a GCSE in Maths amongst other qualifications has still made a fraudulent job application if they then hand over a certificate dated 2019. If anything, it's a clear admission of lying, as nobody would go through that if they'd honestly passed but couldn't find one certificate out of several from around 1993.

She’s not asserting her intelligence over others
Well the I'M not an idiot comment and the piece of piss course comment does imply that OP thinks she's so muzzy better than everyone else. However, doesn't warrant Martha being a cow or being made to feel awkward by the TA.
I stick by my suggestion to see if you can pay to sit the exam.

I think it’s more likely that the disproportionate attention from the TA has OP on the defensive rather than her peers. If anything, she’s asserting her intelligence in order to be seen as capable within that class - whether rightly or wrongly, the TA has made her feel as if she needs additional support.

You would t happen to be a teacher would you? Fairly recently in Wales all primary school teachers have to have a B or above in GCSE Maths. This has led to a fair few teachers having to resist their GCSE’s. It’s a grade C in England for some reason.

And the reason you chose to lie about for so many years was what, exactly

I spent a long time in hospital missed this exam and had so much life to catch up on, I had to learn to walk again.

It's hardly a disaster to resit a year or two later. You wouldn't be in a mixed ability class now if you'd just taken it again once you were well. But if you're in a functional skills class rather than a GCSE one, it's more than just a few months in hospital that you've not learned

I am doing a Diploma and have to reach a certain standard hence functional rather than GCSE.

I couldn’t sit it two years later. I was more interested in my heroin addiction at that point.

I am wondering whether the lying might still catch up with you, though - anybody who got a job on the basis of having a GCSE in Maths amongst other qualifications has still made a fraudulent job application if they then hand over a certificate dated 2019. If anything, it's a clear admission of lying, as nobody would go through that if they'd honestly passed but couldn't find one certificate out of several from around 1993

No I did not get my job on the basis of having Maths GCSE.

This is ridiculous!!!!

OP is doing a maths course because she missed her exam due to having cancer!!!

So fucking what, life doesn't all go in a straight line sometimes. Also, like I posted earlier, by the end of my education i was utterly phobic about maths, i could barely add up. But i had a degree in another subject. Sometimes people have gaps in their education and they don't have time to fill them until they have time.

I absolutely loathed maths at school and I I am remember being kept in at break because I had such a mental block and the teacher standing behind me watching me. It made my brain burn and I could t think straight. So sympathies OP I completely get that you just need to left alone to do it!

Okay, yes, the OP has drip fed, and manages to come across as defensive, which may be what set off the TA. But it really doesn't take long to read all her posts, and ffs, being in hospital with a spinal tumour has to be one of the more justifiable reasons for missing out on part of schooling! I think people are woefully underestimating the impact of cancer treatment on a teenager, and quite how unremittingly time and energy intensive subsequent rehabilitation was likely to have been, for quite some time.

I didn’t actually speak to the TA. She just picked me out for some reason.

I didn’t dripfeed. I didn’t expect to have to defend or explain myself this much - or want to ask for sympathy.

Also, if a student of mine got 99% on a baseline assessment, I wouldn’t raise an eyebrow at them claiming the class was a piece of piss.

The TA spoke out of turn, the teacher told her this, and has probably also had a word about approaching students who don't need help. You passed the assessment with 99% so I doubt they'll dedicate any extra time to supporting you 121.
If you have to shout through the class and she does approach, take her you're fine thank you.

She was over eager, you clearly looked like you were struggling (and indeed were initially) but that's it. It doesn't mean anything else

OP YANBU so please ignore some of the decidedly less-than-supportive posters on here! People learn in different ways and so require different levels/modes of support at different stages in the learning process - it sounds as if the TA is basing their approach on a rather limited view of education if they are unable to take that on board and adjust their approach accordingly. If you are the sort of learner that needs to work things through and then ask/or not for support when you have done that then that is nothing to feel bad about. The point is that you learn not that you follow a set route to achieving the learning outcomes of the course. It sounds as if the tutor is aware that the TA is a little over-zealous so would have a quiet word with the tutor.

Good luck with your exams and good for you for doing this in later life, it's not an easy thing to do to return to the classroom at this stage.

Also overcoming a major illness and then an addiction is incredibly impressive, and clearly you're not a difficult person you've been incredibly patient with some of the moralising pains on this thread, who've decided it's their right to take you to task on here. I would have told them to go fuck themselves.

OP, I completely understand. I'm an introvert, and I hate it when people (shop staff, teachers, locals, etc.) approach me and try to help me when I haven't asked for help. I know they mean well, but it really, really isn't helpful to me.

Personally, I would buy the books, study at home on my own, and take the exam independently, but that's the way in which I learn best. If you think you will benefit most from a class, talk to the teacher, and tell her about your discomfort with the TA.

If you scored 99% on this assessment I doubt the TA will be bothering you again. She is probably feeling embarrassed about talking down to someone whose skills turned out to be equivalent to (or better than) her own, and that came across as her being upset.