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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

My Son's History Teacher

65 replies

jamiemars · 30/01/2015 04:03

To make a very long story short, my son is failing history for the 1/2 year, despite a 73 average, because his teacher thinks he has not mastered some "competencies". Needless to say, this will not look good on my son's transcript, as he has applied to a few colleges and must send end of year transcripts. I believe this teacher has had it out for my son since day 1. This is an advanced placement class, and the teacher just doesn't think my son is smart enough for an AP class. (The teacher said as much to me on the phone months ago.) My son is very upset, and it has been making me upset. Now I have to talk to this teacher, the guidance counselor, and the principal tomorrow and argue on my son's behalf. On top of all the other stresses in my life, I have to deal with this. I have argued with these people before (and have won). It is a public school system, and not a very good one. The personnel is not extremely sophisticated.
I have a burning hatred in the pit of my stomach for this teacher. I can't seem to get rid of it. I simply hate him. I don't know how to get past this. I hope he suffers a terrible fate for being such a horrible, rotten, and evil teacher. I am a teacher myself (college), and would never treat my students the way he has treated my son. School is a place to learn and grow, not a torture chamber.
How do I deal with this? Especially if I am unsuccessful in salvaging my son's grade?
Thanks.

OP posts:

piggychops · 02/02/2015 15:12

Your choice of language is quite revealing...

MythicalKings · 02/02/2015 15:13

And so are you for keeping him off school.

Teacher sounds fine to me, you sound a total nightmare.

Original poster

jamiemars · 02/02/2015 15:18

Thanks for the support, guys. You are so quick to comment on a situation where you make vast assumptions. It is quite frustrating. I suppose in your estimation a teacher has very little responsibility toward students or their parents, and cannot be blamed for laziness, lack of interest, rigidity, lack of expertise, or anything else. Whatever. I was really dumb to try to think things through in a public forum such as this. Do not comment further.

OP posts:

PenelopePitstops · 02/02/2015 15:23

I echo mythical Kings, why on earth are you keeping your child off school to babysit.

I now see where the problem lies.

Haffdonga · 02/02/2015 15:29

So how does your son feel about this? There's a lot here about how you feel about the teacher, how unfair you think the grade is, how you would have done it differently but remamrkably little information about your sons's feelings on the matter.

He's the one who didn't do the work. He's the one failing the class. Does he even care?

Original poster

jamiemars · 02/02/2015 15:33

Penelope, One day. One day only in three and a half years of high school. People do have emergency situations in life. Perhaps you do not?

OP posts:

morethanpotatoprints · 02/02/2015 15:33

This must be a wind up surely?
No parent with a child in the public school system would be so irresponsible as to allow this to happen.
Taking him out to babysit, yeah right.

Original poster

jamiemars · 02/02/2015 15:34

hallfdong, Of course he cares. That is the whole problem. Some teachers drive students to the point of suicide with their callous behavior. Adult teachers are not infallible.

OP posts:

Original poster

jamiemars · 02/02/2015 15:35

Talk about a public execution. The comments on this post are utterly ridiculous given the situation. This is my last post. Don't bother responding anymore, people.

OP posts:

slug · 02/02/2015 15:57

Wow. Just wow. I taught for 12 years at that level. I've seen a few helicopter parents in my time but you really do take the biscuit.

Kewcumber · 02/02/2015 16:49

This was marked an unexcused absence because he did not have a doctor's note. So one of the assignments was missed on that day, and that was my fault.

Surely you could have turned his work into the school yourself on your way to work?

I have no idea if the teacher is callous enough to drive a student to suicide as I only have your assessment of him but based on your own comments your son has failed entirely on his own merits, even the most I have never been allowed to put work in late without agreeing it in advance (once when I broke my leg).

In your position even if I felt as you do (ie vitriolic) about his teacher my main aim would be to get my son to learn a lesson about taking a responsibility for himself and not blaming others when he strikes out. He will continue to have to study and work with people he doesn't get on with and it would be as well for him to learn that spoon feeding them with excuses to fail him isn;t the worlds smartest idea.

KatieKaye · 02/02/2015 17:39

You kept your son, who is in his final year of school. Off so that he could babysit? That is your responsibility, not his.

That accounts for one of the five missing assignments. What happened to the other four?

Your son failed to complete the course requirements. He shouldn't be surprised he's failed the course. You and he need to accept his responsibility in this and let go of the hatred towards the teacher.

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 02/02/2015 18:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hopefulpuffin · 02/02/2015 22:27

OP, I realize you may not come back but just in case you're lurking:

Was the AP history an elective or did he take it in lieu of a "normal" history class? I'm asking because he may want to check his graduation requirements. Most districts require a minimum of credits in social studies and there are some required classes.

Finally, I'm sure you're aware that AP/IB teachers do additional training in order to be qualified to teach those classes - they are akin to A levels and require a good deal of writing, independent research, etc. The class may be doing work that's not really covered on the course standards and they then cram the standards content into the last few weeks prior to any standardized testing in the subject. That's in addition to the AP exam.

I find it hard to believe that a teacher as bad as you say would get to "keep" his AP class. They are hard to get to teach, mainly because they are full of bright, self-motivated students who are anxious to learn. (Looking at you, my old 2nd period!). The school would also look at his classes' AP results. If he wasn't getting a decent percentage through, I don't think he'd get to keep the class. And 100 students is NOTHING! Where are you? I'll come teach there!

I'm getting off my soapbox now, but he really should look at the graduation requirements.

Canyouforgiveher · 03/02/2015 17:46

Are you in the US, OP?

If so, if your son is a senior the relevant grades for college are already sent in - in fact your son's entire application would be submitted by now.

If he is a junior, then he still has time to recover. Even a bad grade in an AP course may give him a better GPA than a better grade in a non-AP course.

Also, as you know, the AP exam at the end of the year is also very relevant and will not be marked by the teacher as far as I know.

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