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Original poster

How to deal with bizarre situation with teacher, affecting daughter’s grades?

192 replies

gw186 · 04/05/2022 11:46

Summary:
Teacher of my daughter gave her a C on her final exam (all multiple choice, done on Canvas). My daughter asked only to see her Canvas report, the teacher refused, saying the exam questions and answers are confidential. Sch admin says they “checked”, but they can’t show us the report. What to do now?

Background: my daughter loves science and takes it seriously, and we were surprised when she told us she got a C (after studying for weeks) on her final exam. As the exam was all multiple choice and administered/ graded automatically by Canvas, it should have been straightforward to see the Canvas report.

But when my daughter approached her teacher about her score, the teacher refused to show her the Canvas report, saying that the exam questions and answers are confidential.

My daughter then asked if she could see her Canvas numerical score (not even the whole paper). The teacher also refused.

So after some back and forth, we approached the school admin.

The school admin said they “checked” with the teacher and everything is correct, but they also can’t show us the Canvas report, or even the Canvas numerical score.

What do you reckon is our best course of action right now? Not to put too dark of a picture on this, but my daughter tells me she thinks several of her and her classmates had their scores pushed down, and maybe the school is trying to cover things up, because if they change the score back for her, they probably have to do the same for others as well when the word gets out, and then it’s going to be a messy PR situation.

OP posts:
Onwards22 · 04/05/2022 19:48

So what’s your next step OP?

What are you going to do tomorrow?

If the head of year confirms it will you believe or will you still think they’re lying.

I agree with you that if you think there’s been a mistake then you absolutely need to get to the bottom of it for your daughters sake but it has been checked by a second person so getting a third person is just going to confirm what they’ve said.

As a PP said you may need to take them to court and they’ll be able to show the court the actual document as it’ll be legally requested but I still don’t think you’ll be able to see it yourself.

MaudieandMe · 04/05/2022 20:06

Unless you give more detailed information starting with what country you’re in, this thread is completely pointless and therefore, I’m assuming you’re posting to try and start a bun fight.

Original poster
gw186 · 04/05/2022 20:08

I just thought to ask because maybe others who've had to deal with (potentially) questionable situations at their children's school could share a few general sort of ideas/ approaches, even theoretical strategies are ok

Who knows, maybe some of the points you read in the discussion could be applicable to a future situation in your own children's lives. They say even all the world's novels have only 7 basic types of plots, the abstraction both helps to protect anonymity and help general applicability

Not sure why giving more personally identifying information would be of much utility on a general forum designed to be anonymous

It's a touchy topic to begin with, I know, with all the triggering issues especially with regards to teachers' human fallibility and demographics etc

From some of the responses, it seems it's perhaps even more emotionally triggering to some to even entertain the idea that there may be some teachers who are not perfect all the time, because it would imply the real possibility that their own children may face a similar situation one day under a similar type of teacher
eg. No new bride really wants to entertain the idea that the love of her life may not be who she thinks he is, because the jerks only happen to get married to other people, of course

OP posts:
TeenPlusCat · 04/05/2022 20:13

Knowing if you are UK or USA or elsewhere would be helpful, as UK has different school setups and laws etc. It is a waste of posters' energy giving UK-centric advice if you are elsewhere.
Tbh it is a bit rude to not even give that level of info but to want people to engage in your dilemma.

LaingsAcidTab · 04/05/2022 20:17

Given that there are 330 million people in the US, and about 67 million in the UK, I think you're on pretty safe ground wrt maintaining anonymity if you can at least tell us what country you're in.

Rogue1001MNer · 04/05/2022 20:19

No, OP, you're reading the room wrong, I feel.

It's not this:-
From some of the responses, it seems it's perhaps even more emotionally triggering to some to even entertain the idea that there may be some teachers who are not perfect all the time, because it would imply the real possibility that their own children may face a similar situation one day under a similar type of teacher

It is more that posters want to give advice, thoughts, share experiences, but are increasingly frustrated that you won't share basic info.

Does sharing which country you are in and how old your child really risk outing you???

Cubangal · 04/05/2022 20:20

I think it’s the Year 1 phonics screening 😂

🤣🤣🤣

anne2650 · 04/05/2022 20:21

So, your dc didn't get a good grade therefore there must be some skulduggery going on? Could it just be that she didn't know all the answers?

ReadyToMoveIt · 04/05/2022 20:22

gw186 · 04/05/2022 20:08

I just thought to ask because maybe others who've had to deal with (potentially) questionable situations at their children's school could share a few general sort of ideas/ approaches, even theoretical strategies are ok

Who knows, maybe some of the points you read in the discussion could be applicable to a future situation in your own children's lives. They say even all the world's novels have only 7 basic types of plots, the abstraction both helps to protect anonymity and help general applicability

Not sure why giving more personally identifying information would be of much utility on a general forum designed to be anonymous

It's a touchy topic to begin with, I know, with all the triggering issues especially with regards to teachers' human fallibility and demographics etc

From some of the responses, it seems it's perhaps even more emotionally triggering to some to even entertain the idea that there may be some teachers who are not perfect all the time, because it would imply the real possibility that their own children may face a similar situation one day under a similar type of teacher
eg. No new bride really wants to entertain the idea that the love of her life may not be who she thinks he is, because the jerks only happen to get married to other people, of course

OP, people are asking for more details (and I’m not sure that confirming that you’re in the US, for example, would be identifying, as it’s a big place) because those details are relevant to the post and the responses that will be given.

Whatever00 · 04/05/2022 20:23

Could you request the information via GDPR laws.

poetryandwine · 04/05/2022 20:24

OP,

Many in my family thought I should have been a lawyer, specialising in helping people find solutions before reaching the courtroom. But at this point I agree with @MaudieandMe. Just above.

Unless you tell us what country you are in it is difficult to advise you properly. Over 300,000,000 Americans - if you are in the US, confirming this can help us help you and surely you can see that it does not give a clue about your identity. Even if it did, you are on very firm ground. That was shown by the fact that the numerical marks have been suppressed.

FWIW, asI said above I think your next step is to request the true numerical scores from the school. Preferably as a group. If that fails we really do need to know what country you are in.

jgw1 · 04/05/2022 20:25

Rogue1001MNer · 04/05/2022 20:19

No, OP, you're reading the room wrong, I feel.

It's not this:-
From some of the responses, it seems it's perhaps even more emotionally triggering to some to even entertain the idea that there may be some teachers who are not perfect all the time, because it would imply the real possibility that their own children may face a similar situation one day under a similar type of teacher

It is more that posters want to give advice, thoughts, share experiences, but are increasingly frustrated that you won't share basic info.

Does sharing which country you are in and how old your child really risk outing you???

Maybe they live in a country where there is only one child of that age?

jgw1 · 04/05/2022 20:26

anne2650 · 04/05/2022 20:21

So, your dc didn't get a good grade therefore there must be some skulduggery going on? Could it just be that she didn't know all the answers?

Everytime my child doesn't get a good grade, I sue the school.

LemonDrizzleSlice · 04/05/2022 20:31

Hellocatshome · 04/05/2022 19:43

If you are not going to explain what country you are in, how old your child is and wether this exam actual has any impact on anything then no one can really help.

Well, yes. But this:

It's a touchy topic to begin with, I know, with all the triggering issues especially with regards to teachers' human fallibility and demographics etc

From some of the responses, it seems it's perhaps even more emotionally triggering to some to even entertain the idea that there may be some teachers who are not perfect all the time, because it would imply the real possibility that their own children may face a similar situation one day under a similar type of teacher
eg. No new bride really wants to entertain the idea that the love of her life may not be who she thinks he is, because the jerks only happen to get married to other people, of course

is beginning to make me side with the teacher and school...

MMAMPWGHAP · 04/05/2022 20:31

WHAT COUNTRY ARE YOU IN?

HOW OLD IS YOUR DAUGHTER?

YES, I AM SHOUTING

Veol · 04/05/2022 20:31

Teachers get judged on how well their students perform. Higher grades reflect well on the teachers and improve the confidence of the pupils. As a result of increased confidence, pupils tend to do better. I know lots of teachers who try to squeeze a higher grade out of an exam paper, but I have yet to meet one who really marks their children down. You may have come across an oddball teacher with a vendetta against some of their students, but it isn’t the obvious answer.

Rogue1001MNer · 04/05/2022 20:32

I'm pondering that @jgw1

LemonDrizzleSlice · 04/05/2022 20:32

You won't tell us what country you're in, or what age your DD is, or what the subject is. Because somehow our spidey senses will out you from those very identifiable details?!

anotherneutralname · 04/05/2022 20:33

It’s not personally identifying to give broad brush answers though, is it? Without some idea of:

  • child primary or secondary age
  • child in UK education system or not
then these “strategies and experiences” you’re seeking are unlikely to be relevant.

If you’re asking, is it possible for teachers to get it wrong deliberately or accidentally, then you already know the answer: they’re human, so yes.

If you’re asking what recourse you have, what scrutiny exists in the system, etc - then people will need a few more clues in order to know whether their experience is relevant to you Hmm

poetryandwine · 04/05/2022 20:34

OP, you ask why details matter. Well, GDPR has been referred to just above and possibly previously as a legal strategy for, presumably, accessing numerical marks. But it exists in Europe only. American Freedom of Information is a bit different. In the U.K. the school’s Board of Governor’s might be useful; in an American public school I am not aware of a comparably influential body. The local Board of Education in the US is generally more powerful than the British LEA. These differences go on and on and would inform our suggestions for you.

jgw1 · 04/05/2022 20:36

Rogue1001MNer · 04/05/2022 20:32

I'm pondering that @jgw1

Are they from the Vatican City?

LemonDrizzleSlice · 04/05/2022 20:36

Am getting very goady vibes from OP to teachers on here.

Veol · 04/05/2022 20:37

Did she not make it onto the podium in Kahoot?

ReadyToMoveIt · 04/05/2022 20:40

What are you looking for from this thread OP? If you just want people to sympathise and agree that teachers (humans) can do bad things, well that’s one thing.
If you want actual advice that might help you to get to the bottom of the situation, then we’re going to need to know what roughly where you are.

Arewethebadguys · 04/05/2022 20:40

LaingsAcidTab · 04/05/2022 20:17

Given that there are 330 million people in the US, and about 67 million in the UK, I think you're on pretty safe ground wrt maintaining anonymity if you can at least tell us what country you're in.

Nailed it 😂