June 1st - June 19th
It's almost summer! The last few weeks of school have come, and students will need to study hard for their final exams! Don't let up yet, or your grades won't be what you want them to. Of course, the weather is almost perfect and pristine, in attempts to lure students away from their studies.
-Venting-
Most of you know me very well and are aware that it normally takes a lot to even get me to talk overly negative about anything going on. I have a tendancy to go with the flow- talk about random stuff, and of course stand true to my opinions. But I can think of a few people on this board who have heard in the past at least a little bit of venting from me.
Well, because there is absolutely NO ONE around that I can vent to currently, and I know that here, some'll listen (read) and make sympathetic comments or they'll completely ignore it after seeing that it is venting (after the title) and that it is going to be extremely long. If I could write as much as I believe I'm about to in a post with none of it being speech- I'll not only amaze myself, but will probably shoot myself for writing so much.
My 3rd pd teacher is the teacher from hell. Yes she is, and everyone agrees with me. She's a nice PERSONE, but she's the most evil TEACHER. She's been known to give you a ZERO no chance at making it up on a test if you are out sick. she's one of those "it's YOUR problem, not mine." Thus- I have not missed a day of class after witnessing this occuring in the first few weeks of school.
However- homework assignments that NO ONE knew about will suddenly be due, and if you don't have it, you get a zero. Many students in the class have a low grade due to these random homework zeros.
She's admitted to us that she is ADHD. She also is getting rather old. She's been teaching forever- and recalls teaching for a long time. There are teachers at our school that have said "I can't believe she's still here. She almost failed me through American Literature." There are SO many ex-ballard students that talk about the plummetting GPA that occured in her class. A students suddenly making C's. B students suddenly FAILING.
I'm not going to sit here and say I'm an A student. I'm not. But I am a B student. I work my ass off for the grades I get, and I've been working my ass off in Mrs. Ballards class to get the 70 I've been holding on to.
Today changed EVERYTHING. I go into the class to see the substitute we've had for the past week and a note on the board in our principal's handwriting.
"You will sit quietly and take the test left for you by Mrs. Ballard. Those of you who do not wish to take the exam will get a 0 and will be sent home for the remainder of the day. It will not only count as an unexcused absence- but it will go on your record as a suspension. This is no joke. - Monday"
Mrs. Ballard is always good about saying when we have a test at least the day before. TRUE, we've been in EOCT (the biggest bullshit you'll ever hear of) testing for the past three days, but we had Ballard's period yesterday.
We THEN learned that Mrs. Ballard called at 7:41 to tell the substitute WHERE to find the test and to give it out. She also told the substitute to let us know that the test WILL count as part of our final grade IN ADDITION to being a regular test grade. Tests in Mrs. Ballards class are 25% of the grade, the final being 10%, the EOCT we had just taken another 15%. The remaining 50% is the "classwork" and homework.
This test was information we tested on IN JANUARY. I, like MANY others, study this information- then forget it because Ballard never tests us over vocabulary twice. This is the first time in the memory of ANYONE who has ever taken her class that she's tested anyone over vocaulary twice.
So not only was it a pop-test over information long gone from my brain, one of the hardest tests she's ever given over vocabulary just in the way it was layed out, and it being forced into my final- but my test's ink had smeared and I was unable to read 10 questions on it. The substitute would not give me a different test or give me extra time to try and figure out the question/answers. Other people reported no problems reading it.
To make this all make sense- I'm COMPLETELY PISSED OFF THAT A TEACHER CAN GET AWAY WITH GIVING A POP TEST AND THE SMEAR MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FINISH THE TEST AND THE STUDENT IS ALLOWED TO JUST FAIL.
(This was read over forposting and changed slightly due to highly offensive language. However- it did make me feel a little calmer.)
Re: -Venting-
Snowballs with nails and bricks and failing grades in the middle....
Bah... Now it looks as if I'm going to get grounded for FAILING... *grumble grumble* I may only have access during class time- and THEN that's gonna be a PAIN!!!! I may be kinda scarce is what I'm trying to say- but you know what.... I currently don't care. I just want to pass American Literature.
Re: -Venting-
Have you talked to the school board about her? Like seriously filed an actual report and turned it in? Because there is absolutely no way that she should get away with crap like that. It totally defeats the purpose of LEARNING, which is what we go to school for after all, right?
Mrs. Ballard will be spending the rest of the year in bedrest and the test will not count.
However- my government grade dropped, and I'm grounded until it is passing again (gimmie till the end of the week).
I was allowed (after much arguing) to come inform you all... well- it's not completly grounded anymore, just internet observation... (aka: grounded with internet access to e-mail and school work)
Damn the curse of the flat Sprite!! -Alena'll understand
Re: -Venting-
I'm very glad that test ultimately won't count. If a prof pulled that kind of stunt at my university, you can be sure the student unions would be all over it and academic policy would back you up as well. Perhaps you could try to get a petition going around to get this teacher out? She sounds dangerously old-school and outdated, not to mention absolutely insane in the head.
Until then, best of luck on your Government studies, and I hope you'll get un-grounded soon!
Re: -Venting-
I appreciate everyone's support. I really do.
I've got AP exams tomorrow and next Tuesday, so studying like mad is my solution THERE.
I am no longer grounded (got my gov grade up to a 71!) however, I'm studying like mad for AP tests.
If I'm in a thread with you, and you have posted and it's therefore my turn, let me know. I'll work it into my schedule, because I have the itch to write- just not going searching for it.
I've regained all my "rights" again- but lost the time to exercise them.
in other words, I'm not grounded, but I am studying for my gov final tomorrow followed by the AP test on tuesday. After that I'll probably be working on my research paper.
So- I have no time. HOWEVER- if you are waiting on me, TELL ME. I can find time.
and Alena- if YOU have time, could you get to the Hufflepuff common room thread? (if its still there...) if not, don't worry about it.
Oh- and my "wonderful" lit teacher is due back tomorrow... supposedly
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