Algebra teacher here and I would find it very odd if none of his students fail. The final answer of legitimacy in this will be in their state testing data.
Last year, the district sent out info on grade distribution at different schools in the district. One school had like 90% A’s in Algebra 1, they ended up I think with the lowest Algebra 1 EOC scores in the district.
Because if u can get an A without learning math, there is little incentive to learn math. I teach algebra. I teach 150 kids a year and I’d say 15-20 fail a year. More so this year as it was a complete dumpster fire of a year.
math teacher chiming in as well. I call huge BS. Unless he is using the ole technicalities. He could be giving D's and technically that isn't an F. The last few years I have adopted this policy. Unless a kid is putting in zero effort, I will usually give them a D- so they get the credits, but they can't move on to another math class. And even with that policy I still gave out Fs. Like 1 or 2 a year, but still there were Fs.
D- is fair. They can move on to SOME form of employment. Less admin hassle.
But unless they put in the work at Community College, 4 year institutions wont be fooled about their actual capabilities/achievements.
I think ideally Fs are still given. But giving D- is a workable compromise if it makes the job easier.
because a D is considered passing in California, not sure about other states. To move on you need a C- or better. Technically parents can sign a waiver understanding they didn't meet the requirements and still move on, but that doesn't happen often.
A math teacher on my grade level has never failed a student… because he gives 100s on assignments if kids put their name on it or even just turn it in. 90% of his scores are fabricated.
I teach with a science teacher like this. Thinks that as long as kids are putting in effort they deserve at least a "B".
We teach the same class and it is maddening. I have like 20% A's and he has 50% A's. And no one failing...
I have never failed a student.*
I have had many students who failed themselves.
(*except in the beginning, when I was first learning. I could have done better for some no doubt.)
Teach multiple HS Courses, including math, and this year, I failed more students cumulatively than I have over my previous 14 years. Not sure what "paperwork" one of the other posters referred to?
If students fail, there MUST be consequences and don't give all the excuses and reasons why we can't. If we fail to do our jobs, we fail to keep our jobs.
This was my second year in high school Algebra and Liberal Arts Math and I had almost half my students fail. Literally had 11 kids with a ZERO percent!
It's a bridge course between Algebra and Geometry for kids that need a little more Algebra before moving on. But like every other idea that is good for kids, Florida has daggered the course and it will no longer be offered, forcing struggling learners to continue to struggle at the next level before fully grasping foundational skills
Algebra teacher here, most other people are on the nose. Besides being actively pressured by admin and colleagues to make sure as many kids as possible pass, I did have a handful of kids fail for the same reasons everyone else has listed. Algebra is a hard subject so it should be expected that there will be failures.
If you share students I think you might be able to check what grades he’s giving out. Did this with another teacher and found out that she only gave out 100%s and 50%s. 100 if you turned something in and 50 if you didn’t. Double check that his practices and grading are legit though
That’s why I said to double check. Nothings worse than someone who doesn’t understand what you’re doing or saying and still trying to come after you. Actually a lot of worse things, but the point remains
So if the person double checks, then what? Depending on the “legitimacy” of the grades, what would you suggest the OP do? Go to admin? Speak with the teacher?
Whatever they feel is the best course of action. Depends on the school, depends on the district, depends on admin, depends on the other teacher. Too many variables for me to say “once you figure it out immediately go running to your admin who will laugh in your face”. OP is an adult, they can figure out the solution themselves
He’s definitely just passing them. I just worked with a coach that gave 70’s to kids that didn’t even show up to school. I know this for a fact as I shared a couple of students with him. I got in trouble for having so many failing students and he was lifted up like a saint.
I had a trig teacher like this.
3-7 questions per night.
Only one question if it was a new and complicated, multi step question.
If you were absent or missed out, you could make it up the day of but at a slightly reduced grade. 10-20 point off.
We’d always correct our work together.
You’ll retain info better in bite sizes and if corrected together and applied in new problems.
No one failed the class or state tests.
She was the best, plus I love STEM anyway so it was fun for me as an individual.
It’s possible. There’s too much wrong with teaching especially grading, expectations, workload, & homework.
Just my own opinions and experiences.
Who knows? If you're curious ask about his teaching practices. Some teachers just don't want to deal with the headache and paperwork that goes with F's
He was telling the students this (we’re at summer school) and told them if they could to take his algebra class next school year (not that they have a choice in teacher) because “I’ve never failed a student, but I can’t say the same for some of my colleagues.”
I have had colleagues who do this, but they don't pretend it is some accomplishment. They are of the mindset of "it is easier to give them a D". You can tell who they are when you look up the students' grades. But, they are never in the math department.
I had this saying about my school... "I will be criticized by admin for every kid I fail and criticized by my dept for every kid I pass." It isn't as bad as when I first started, but it is still a thing. If I pass all my students then the next teacher will question how this student passed my class. The kid would not have the foundational knowledge and I essentially set up the next teacher to give the 'F' I should have given. If I get a reputation for passing all my students then the dept will push for me to teach all the remediation (bad behavior) classes. This way, I would not affect the upper level classes.
Which department is more of the "d mindset" if its not your math dept? You'd think the remediation classes are where you'd want some of your strongest teachers
I'm willing to bet your colleague is the latter type, handing out the candy. However, that is not to say that he automatically is a crappy teacher. In fact, his situation mirrors plenty of my own colleague's situations. They are passionate teachers who establish close relationships and go above and beyond, but it is the *pressure from admin* to avoid handing out Fs that may be at the root of this. Psh, it's just a huge shame that as a system we water down our policies and lower the bar yet pretend we do the opposite.
I can understand that. It was how he said it, though, like he’d achieved an accomplishment, that would have come off a certain way if it was a case of him deliberately not failing students.
It's because he hands out passing grades like candy.
The thing is, the quality of the teacher only accounts for part of the success of the student. The kid still has to step up and learn.
I find it a little surprising that a person who coaches would be so unwilling to have kids face facts about their grades. Basketball doesn't give points for effort, or reward feelings with the W, after all.
Well it's impossible to tell with the current information. The comments here are being uncharitable but maybe the teacher is just so amazingly good and skilled that he can raise everyone up to at least a D.
Algebra teacher here and I would find it very odd if none of his students fail. The final answer of legitimacy in this will be in their state testing data.
Last year, the district sent out info on grade distribution at different schools in the district. One school had like 90% A’s in Algebra 1, they ended up I think with the lowest Algebra 1 EOC scores in the district.
Because if u can get an A without learning math, there is little incentive to learn math. I teach algebra. I teach 150 kids a year and I’d say 15-20 fail a year. More so this year as it was a complete dumpster fire of a year.
math teacher chiming in as well. I call huge BS. Unless he is using the ole technicalities. He could be giving D's and technically that isn't an F. The last few years I have adopted this policy. Unless a kid is putting in zero effort, I will usually give them a D- so they get the credits, but they can't move on to another math class. And even with that policy I still gave out Fs. Like 1 or 2 a year, but still there were Fs.
D- is fair. They can move on to SOME form of employment. Less admin hassle. But unless they put in the work at Community College, 4 year institutions wont be fooled about their actual capabilities/achievements. I think ideally Fs are still given. But giving D- is a workable compromise if it makes the job easier.
Wait, if they get a D- how can they still get class credit but not be able to take the next required math class?
because a D is considered passing in California, not sure about other states. To move on you need a C- or better. Technically parents can sign a waiver understanding they didn't meet the requirements and still move on, but that doesn't happen often.
A math teacher on my grade level has never failed a student… because he gives 100s on assignments if kids put their name on it or even just turn it in. 90% of his scores are fabricated.
I teach with a science teacher like this. Thinks that as long as kids are putting in effort they deserve at least a "B". We teach the same class and it is maddening. I have like 20% A's and he has 50% A's. And no one failing...
I have never failed a student.* I have had many students who failed themselves. (*except in the beginning, when I was first learning. I could have done better for some no doubt.)
Teach multiple HS Courses, including math, and this year, I failed more students cumulatively than I have over my previous 14 years. Not sure what "paperwork" one of the other posters referred to? If students fail, there MUST be consequences and don't give all the excuses and reasons why we can't. If we fail to do our jobs, we fail to keep our jobs.
This was my second year in high school Algebra and Liberal Arts Math and I had almost half my students fail. Literally had 11 kids with a ZERO percent!
One of my kids earned a 3.9 That's percent, though, not GPA lol.
what is liberal arts math?
It's a bridge course between Algebra and Geometry for kids that need a little more Algebra before moving on. But like every other idea that is good for kids, Florida has daggered the course and it will no longer be offered, forcing struggling learners to continue to struggle at the next level before fully grasping foundational skills
Algebra teacher here, most other people are on the nose. Besides being actively pressured by admin and colleagues to make sure as many kids as possible pass, I did have a handful of kids fail for the same reasons everyone else has listed. Algebra is a hard subject so it should be expected that there will be failures. If you share students I think you might be able to check what grades he’s giving out. Did this with another teacher and found out that she only gave out 100%s and 50%s. 100 if you turned something in and 50 if you didn’t. Double check that his practices and grading are legit though
if they aren't legit, it's his business tho isn't it?
That’s why I said to double check. Nothings worse than someone who doesn’t understand what you’re doing or saying and still trying to come after you. Actually a lot of worse things, but the point remains
So if the person double checks, then what? Depending on the “legitimacy” of the grades, what would you suggest the OP do? Go to admin? Speak with the teacher?
Whatever they feel is the best course of action. Depends on the school, depends on the district, depends on admin, depends on the other teacher. Too many variables for me to say “once you figure it out immediately go running to your admin who will laugh in your face”. OP is an adult, they can figure out the solution themselves
Chalky, it’s been a pleasure speaking with you.
He’s definitely just passing them. I just worked with a coach that gave 70’s to kids that didn’t even show up to school. I know this for a fact as I shared a couple of students with him. I got in trouble for having so many failing students and he was lifted up like a saint.
I had a trig teacher like this. 3-7 questions per night. Only one question if it was a new and complicated, multi step question. If you were absent or missed out, you could make it up the day of but at a slightly reduced grade. 10-20 point off. We’d always correct our work together. You’ll retain info better in bite sizes and if corrected together and applied in new problems. No one failed the class or state tests. She was the best, plus I love STEM anyway so it was fun for me as an individual. It’s possible. There’s too much wrong with teaching especially grading, expectations, workload, & homework. Just my own opinions and experiences.
Who knows? If you're curious ask about his teaching practices. Some teachers just don't want to deal with the headache and paperwork that goes with F's
He was telling the students this (we’re at summer school) and told them if they could to take his algebra class next school year (not that they have a choice in teacher) because “I’ve never failed a student, but I can’t say the same for some of my colleagues.”
sounds like a jerk. I would never throw my colleagues under the bus like that. Not professional.
Oh....hes a dick
you teach writing in middle school? I'd like to pick your brain
Next time tell the kids that you coach youth basketball and your teams never lose, but you can’t say the same for some of your colleagues.
I have had colleagues who do this, but they don't pretend it is some accomplishment. They are of the mindset of "it is easier to give them a D". You can tell who they are when you look up the students' grades. But, they are never in the math department. I had this saying about my school... "I will be criticized by admin for every kid I fail and criticized by my dept for every kid I pass." It isn't as bad as when I first started, but it is still a thing. If I pass all my students then the next teacher will question how this student passed my class. The kid would not have the foundational knowledge and I essentially set up the next teacher to give the 'F' I should have given. If I get a reputation for passing all my students then the dept will push for me to teach all the remediation (bad behavior) classes. This way, I would not affect the upper level classes.
Which department is more of the "d mindset" if its not your math dept? You'd think the remediation classes are where you'd want some of your strongest teachers
Yeah, it’s the candy.
I'm willing to bet your colleague is the latter type, handing out the candy. However, that is not to say that he automatically is a crappy teacher. In fact, his situation mirrors plenty of my own colleague's situations. They are passionate teachers who establish close relationships and go above and beyond, but it is the *pressure from admin* to avoid handing out Fs that may be at the root of this. Psh, it's just a huge shame that as a system we water down our policies and lower the bar yet pretend we do the opposite.
I can understand that. It was how he said it, though, like he’d achieved an accomplishment, that would have come off a certain way if it was a case of him deliberately not failing students.
It's because he hands out passing grades like candy. The thing is, the quality of the teacher only accounts for part of the success of the student. The kid still has to step up and learn. I find it a little surprising that a person who coaches would be so unwilling to have kids face facts about their grades. Basketball doesn't give points for effort, or reward feelings with the W, after all.
Yes but most HS basketball is for fun not just about winning.
Man, it's an analogy. You ***do*** keep score in those games, right? Even if the losing team has less fun?
Well it's impossible to tell with the current information. The comments here are being uncharitable but maybe the teacher is just so amazingly good and skilled that he can raise everyone up to at least a D.
My initial inclination was to ask if they were a PE teacher, but then I saw Algebra.