NationStates Jolt Archive

This is from an AIM conversation earlier today.



QUIETceasesilenc: Today we were told to do 10 problems from the workbook, so I like the smart people aaround me, finished after about 5 minutes. And these problems were number lines and we needed to show our work, so I asked how to do that when she was walking around, and then how it was relevent And I had to choose the right number line
And explain why I decided that it was the right answer
QUIETceasesilenc: So, then she walked over to her desk and handed me a blue slip (Administratve detention) and wrote "Insubordination" and without writing the number of detentions I would get, told me to sign it or I would get three more So I signed it, packed up my stuff and walked to the office
QUIETceasesilenc: I am going to talk with sarge tommorow
********: she always does that
********: u can't do work for numberlines
QUIETceasesilenc: I know
QUIETceasesilenc: ANd these numberlines were already written in the book
QUIETceasesilenc: all I had to do was choose the right answer
********: figures
********: just do the math ur way and say if u have a problem i will happily leave ur class
QUIETceasesilenc: I basically did that
QUIETceasesilenc: I just didnt say anything when I loudly packed my stuff up
QUIETceasesilenc: The class is SAT prep!
********: and go see guidance and say u can't do things the way she "teaches" them,
QUIETceasesilenc: Yeah, that was my point today
QUIETceasesilenc: I'm not going to serve one detention related to the way she teaches her class
QUIETceasesilenc: I'll ask to read the "goal" of the class and then ask why I had to show the work
QUIETceasesilenc: That was the plan that popped into my mind as soon as she told me I needed to show my work

Do what I did.
Stand up for yourself.
Often they will back down.

tsk tsk tsk, that isn't proper.

I must say the best way to handle this is to confront her first explain yourself calmly and you just wanted to know how she wanted you to do it... if this does not work, talk to the dean of studies or whatever it is called and explain yourself to it. No one likes having someone talk to their superiors without first talking to them about the problem... it can make them very pissy.

First, never ever call a teacher on relevency. Ever. You should have asked how you are supposed to show your work, and s/he might have gotten a bit embarrassed, but most likely wouldn't have done anything.

However, s/he did overreact, and shouldn't have given you an unsigned slip (I've never heard of that, I would have gone to the administration right away if that happened).

I'm sure the teacher has a slightly different story, but from my high school experience, sometimes teachers can be just plain a**holes. If the teacher can't be reasoned with, and the adinistration won't listen, just suck it up, serve the detentions (at least in my high school, detention was just like an extra study hall at the end of the day anyway), and try not to piss her off anymore, even if you know you're right. Because even if you are right and she's wrong, she's still the one with the authority.

Rochester NY is a nice city.

Yeah, she's a total asshole. I'm not going to serve detentions unless I can be shown a rule violation that indicates I deserve the detention for breaking a rule.

seriously, after going back to school, i have realized that teachers have no power

dont let them treat you like a child

From a different perspective....

Yes, you should have questioned how she wanted you to show your work if you were unclear on what method she wished you to use. However, I can also see the situation from her shoes, if you will.

"What is the relevance?" is often not very well received. Why? because it seems, whether you intend it or not, that you are publicly questioning not the work but her ability, experience, and authority to teach the lesson. This undermines her authority in front of the class.

Your further remarks about her being an idiot on this forum would tend to convince me that you may question her authority publicly, or other students may, as a regular thing. It makes it unpleasant at best and impossible at worst to cover the material students will need to pass their various tests (the math Regents, for instance?) to get their diplomas when students are interrupting to ask what the relevance is, or to announce that they do not need (fill in the subject) so it is just a waste of time.

Just a friendly word of advice: if you really DON'T see the relevance of a lesson, in class is not the time to announce it. That is, to be blunt, rather rude. I would suggest waiting until the class was over and ask privately, or make an appointment to see her on her prep period/office hours to discuss it. That would be the smarter, more mature route.

And Terra - Domina, acting like an adult often reaps being treated like one.

We can attack her clan. Aye kill 'em all!!!

We can attack her clan. Aye kill 'em all!!!
Posts: 1337.

(OT)

Aye, kill the bastards. We declare a blood feud against the teachers, we of nationstates kin.

its the avarge teacher B.S. and you said sarge? im gussing your in ROTC and if you are what state are you in. is it tennessee?

First off I attend a North Carolina high school so things may be run a little differently. I would like to see two or three of these problems you are talking about.

Secondly, it sounds to me that you really don't take this teacher seriously. Being a smart ass in class is not the best way to earn an A. Your question to the "relevance" of the method could have been worded differently. you may have said something instead like, " How exactly should I show my work if the problem does not deal with calculations" She/he may say something like "Explain why you believe this problem was the best answer and why."

Third, the teacher may be just doing her job. Even though you know and she knows that you can solve the problem with a click of your fingers, that is not always the way the school operates. In my program (The International Baccelaurrete) we have to show work for every problem on our tests to recieve credit for it. She may have been just trying to get you into the habit of showing your work all of the time.

Fourth, my personal theory is that this teacher is having a bad day, as most do. They are underpayed and have to deal with screaming demons all day. i wouldn't be surprised if you just didn't have a couple who came in everyday and answer a "Good morning!!!" by just saying "Fuck you!!!"

Take it from me, being from the school of hard knocks, I know how hard it is to keep your mouth shut, but it has to be done. If all else fails just write down some bullshit answer. They can't reprimand you for effort :D

Yar we'll descend down upon them like buttered toast onto a floor!!!

OT? I'm sorry I don't get it.

First, never ever call a teacher on relevency. Ever.
Why not?
My college chem professor said that we could go to her office any time we wanted and ask about relevency. If she couldn't relate it to the real world, she'd buy the student lunch (and then, in an effort to scare people away, claimed that she'd never bought anyone lunch). Although, I'd like to see her relate a lot of that bull shit to what I'LL be doing in the "real world."

I don't understand how your teacher went from being asked a question to writing you up for insubordination, but then again, I guess she just thinks she knows what she's doing better than you when only you know how to do it the best way for you.

The teacher is more than justified here.

You were given a simple assignment.. Do the problems, and show your work. You decided to tell the teacher that this was a ridiculous request by asking a smart ass question.

The teacher is more than justified here.

You were given a simple assignment.. Do the problems, and show your work. You decided to tell the teacher that this was a ridiculous request by asking a smart ass question.

So, what about the kids who aren't able to complete the assignment the way the teacher wants? What if their brains are wired otherwise?

I know I have to do math a very specific way or I will never get to the right answer; does that mean I should be punished for not being able to do it the way my teacher wants me to do?

Why not?
My college chem professor said that we could go to her office any time we wanted and ask about relevency. If she couldn't relate it to the real world, she'd buy the student lunch (and then, in an effort to scare people away, claimed that she'd never bought anyone lunch). Although, I'd like to see her relate a lot of that bull shit to what I'LL be doing in the "real world."

I think the key here is "go to her office". If you raised your hand in the middle of lecture and asked what relevance the current topic had to you and your life, the teacher would get pretty irritated at you.

There are two ways to solve this: the right way and the legal way. The first is felonious assault, the second is going over her head.

I'd club a baby seal to distract people from the real issue.

That's all that matters.

.....cut
QUIETceasesilenc: I'll ask to read the "goal" of the class and then ask why I had to show the work
QUIETceasesilenc: That was the plan that popped into my mind as soon as she told me I needed to show my work

Do you normally object to showing your work? Why not just actually explain yourself? Yes, you can probably get to the answer, but what happens when you run into something that you don't understand fully? That WILL happen eventually.

It seems like the work was mostly busywork, especially since you're in high school. If you haven't figured out number lines by now you're in trouble. :p I understand your objections, but if you were already done you also probably had enough time to write some bs explanations.

I think the key here is "go to her office". If you raised your hand in the middle of lecture and asked what relevance the current topic had to you and your life, the teacher would get pretty irritated at you.
I don't think she'd have to worry about that...I sleep in class.
And I'll be damned if I go to her office...she looks like Frankenstein...

In other words....the solution to this is "Who effin cares?"

If you have to show your work, just make a bunch of scribbly numbers at the bottom that are impossible to read, thats what i did, got me through high school. yuhuck huck!!

Eh. I got three detentions for insubordination, which was defined at asking her how I was supposed to answer something.

just stick to my previous post on page 1 and you'll be OK

Why not?
My college chem professor said that we could go to her office any time we wanted and ask about relevency. If she couldn't relate it to the real world, she'd buy the student lunch (and then, in an effort to scare people away, claimed that she'd never bought anyone lunch). Although, I'd like to see her relate a lot of that bull shit to what I'LL be doing in the "real world."
Not highschool teachers.

huh?

huh?
They tend not to be as...evil as highschool teachers. They get paid better for one thing...

just stick to my previous post on page 1 and you'll be OK

I did. 3 other smart people like me were persecuted for questioning the all knowing teacher.

I'm starting to see where your teaching is coming from.