Trouble with AP chemistry teachers

[Kohburn]

And even if it is AP, the class should not be designed to make the students fail. If the entire class was doing poorly, the instructor should have made some corrective action to help the students. AP is supposed to be a lot harder and A LOT more work, but it shouldnt be imposssible... The grade curve should have some failures, mostly C's, and some A's. That's how it is with any class.

AP classes are to cover more advanced materials - it does not however aleviate the teachers from actually teaching - if the students are supposed to teach themselves then we can save a lot of tax dollars by just buying the kids books to teach themselves at home and when they are done that they can do some chores. hmmmmmm.

I can't say if this actually applies to this teacher but i have had teachers in the past that should not have been.

 

[mommato2]

AP classes are to cover more advanced materials - it does not however aleviate the teachers from actually teaching - if the students are supposed to teach themselves then we can save a lot of tax dollars by just buying the kids books to teach themselves at home and when they are done that they can do some chores. hmmmmmm.

I can't say if this actually applies to this teacher but i have had teachers in the past that should not have been.

AP teachers are judged on how many of their students get a 3 or better on the AP exams.(see data below) If the teacher wasn't effectively getting the material across to the students, there wouldn't be high scores. These scores are not the result of students left alone to teach themselves. They are the result of effective teaching, hard work, along with disciplined and focused study habits. The students that are whining about their grades really should consider a community college path instead of a 4 year college, they will not be prepared for a rigorous university curriculum. Real A's-not the inflated, weighted ones- aren't randomly assigned just because you've always received them before.

2007 Advanced Placement chemistry test results:

Leonardtown High School’s combined AP Chemistry test scores were 96.3 percent. Only one student scored below a 3 on the exam. (The results reflect all the AP chemistry students at LHS. Data is not broken down into individual teachers or classes.)

The countywide AP chemistry test score was a 76.5 percent pass rate. The national average pass rate was a 55.6 percent."

 

[BernieP]

Wednesday's Enterprise Letters to the Editor section seemsed be dominated by letters dealing with the AP science teacher at LHS. I was wondering if anyone in forum land might have an "inside" perspective on what's going on.

let's just say that this "gentleman" is not exactly a highly motivated or motivating individual. I have no idea how he treated his AP students, hopefully it was with a little more interest then what he showed for his other classes.

 

[Kohburn]

2007 Advanced Placement chemistry test results:

Leonardtown High School’s combined AP Chemistry test scores were 96.3 percent. Only one student scored below a 3 on the exam. (The results reflect all the AP chemistry students at LHS. Data is not broken down into individual teachers or classes.)

The countywide AP chemistry test score was a 76.5 percent pass rate. The national average pass rate was a 55.6 percent."

I love cold hard facts. they really do change the perspective of a "he said/she said" issue.

 

[kwillia]

2007 Advanced Placement chemistry test results:

Leonardtown High School’s combined AP Chemistry test scores were 96.3 percent. Only one student scored below a 3 on the exam. (The results reflect all the AP chemistry students at LHS. Data is not broken down into individual teachers or classes.)

The countywide AP chemistry test score was a 76.5 percent pass rate. The national average pass rate was a 55.6 percent."

Impressive! I've noticed LMS and LHS strive for strong math and science students... it's nice to see it in stats!

 

[ratzo]

Must be another case - the AP Chem issue at LHS is a female teacher. And BOE and SMCPS are most definitely NOT the same thing. BTW, what is UFB?

 

[theArtistFormerlyKnownAs]

UnFrippinBelievable

 

[ratzo]

Must be another case - the AP Chem issue at LHS is a female teacher. And BOE and SMCPS are most definitely NOT the same thing. BTW, what is UFB?

I shoulda mentioned that the BOE is the "appeals court" and the parties to the hearing are SMCPS and the whiny people. Thanks for UFB explanation.

 

[awpitt]

Must be another case - the AP Chem issue at LHS is a female teacher. And BOE and SMCPS are most definitely NOT the same thing. BTW, what is UFB?

St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) is the organization. Board of Education (BOE) governs the SMCPS. The at the top of the org chart. Hence, the same thing.

 

[awpitt]

I shoulda mentioned that the BOE is the "appeals court" and the parties to the hearing are SMCPS and the whiny people. Thanks for UFB explanation.

BOE is just the top of the chain of command for the SMCPS organization. The final stop (appeal) before going outside of the singular organization.

 

[BuddyLee]

I'm not naming names :shrug: I know PERSONALLY I had McCarthy for a class, and she was good. Pretty sure she wasn't the one accused, but I think the nazi mom may be addressing the entire Chemistry department :shrug:


In respect to the three articles at hand...the one written by the teacher, IMWHO, sums up this situation the best.

Sounds like they'll need some help. One of the long-standing Chemistry teachers at LHS just left for Calvert County.

 

[czygvtwkr]

I can't wait till this student gets in college in a class of 300 and gets a B.

At my high school we had a girl sue because she didn't make cheerleader, they put her on the squad. It also had 6 valedictorians and 6 saluteatorian (150 graduating class) so nobody's feelings would be hurt. I went to college with several of them and watched them drop like flies out of college calculus and chemistry.

What this student doesn't realize is this AP chem teacher probably did them a big favor for the future. In a year nobody will give a damn who valedictorian was but the lesson that could have been learned is priceless.

 

[smilin]

AP teachers are judged on how many of their students get a 3 or better on the AP exams.(see data below) If the teacher wasn't effectively getting the material across to the students, there wouldn't be high scores. These scores are not the result of students left alone to teach themselves. They are the result of effective teaching, hard work, along with disciplined and focused study habits. The students that are whining about their grades really should consider a community college path instead of a 4 year college, they will not be prepared for a rigorous university curriculum. Real A's-not the inflated, weighted ones- aren't randomly assigned just because you've always received them before.

2007 Advanced Placement chemistry test results:

Leonardtown High School’s combined AP Chemistry test scores were 96.3 percent. Only one student scored below a 3 on the exam. (The results reflect all the AP chemistry students at LHS. Data is not broken down into individual teachers or classes.)

The countywide AP chemistry test score was a 76.5 percent pass rate. The national average pass rate was a 55.6 percent."

Source?

 

[Bean Machine]

This is interesting...
Teacher Brings Element of Ease to Chemistry - washingtonpost.com

 

[Kohburn]

This is interesting...
Teacher Brings Element of Ease to Chemistry - washingtonpost.com

now thats a good teacher - takes the emphasis off memorization in favor of critical thinking. IE the students have to actually understand the material not just cram and use short term memorization skills to pass test, which will benefit them in the long run.

 

[theArtistFormerlyKnownAs]

now thats a good teacher - takes the emphasis off memorization in favor of critical thinking. IE the students have to actually understand the material not just cram and use short term memorization skills to pass test, which will benefit them in the long run.

She was/is a great teacher. Definitely deserves acknowledgement.

 

[mommato2]

Source?

Laura Carpenter, Supervisor of Instruction for Gifted and Talented Programs for St. Mary’s County Public Schools. Phone#301-475-5511, x142

 

[ratzo]

Good grief!! The context of this question is a response to a previous comment that asked why they all needed separate and expensive lawyers. For the purposes of this appeal event, the BOE is NOT acting on behalf of SMCPS. They are judging the merit of the SMCPS finding that there is no cause for action against the teacher on behalf of the Whiny Ones. The Whiny Ones have equal standing to SMCPS in the Appeal. Therefore, when they got a lawyer, BOE and SMCPS must meet the challenge equally armed with legal counsel. So the point is that the Whiny Ones have now escalated this to an expensive hearing, draining the public coffers, just to massage their petulance, greed, and arrogance

 

[BernieP]

Good grief!! The context of this question is a response to a previous comment that asked why they all needed separate and expensive lawyers. For the purposes of this appeal event, the BOE is NOT acting on behalf of SMCPS. They are judging the merit of the SMCPS finding that there is no cause for action against the teacher on behalf of the Whiny Ones. The Whiny Ones have equal standing to SMCPS in the Appeal. Therefore, when they got a lawyer, BOE and SMCPS must meet the challenge equally armed with legal counsel. So the point is that the Whiny Ones have now escalated this to an expensive hearing, draining the public coffers, just to massage their petulance, greed, and arrogance

Do you know the teacher in question, that is, have you or your child had first hand experience with the teacher in question?
Do you also know that the statiscs cited are for ALL SMCPS students taking AP Chemistry and not just those at LHS? I seem to recall a report not to long ago that showed LHS was in third when it came to AP scores. GMHS actually had better scores.
There are many wonderful teachers in the SMCPS, and there are some that should not be teaching. I do know the LHS teacher who responded to the students on the OP-ED pages of the Enterprise. Let's just say he would not be my nominee for teacher of the year.

Further more, the parents are within their rights to hire legal representation. The school board, like every political body, has a lawyer on retainer. Typically their lawyer is present at all meetings in case his (or her) opinion is required.

 

[mommato2]

Do you know the teacher in question, that is, have you or your child had first hand experience with the teacher in question?
Do you also know that the statiscs cited are for ALL SMCPS students taking AP Chemistry and not just those at LHS? I seem to recall a report not to long ago that showed LHS was in third when it came to AP scores. GMHS actually had better scores.
There are many wonderful teachers in the SMCPS, and there are some that should not be teaching. I do know the LHS teacher who responded to the students on the OP-ED pages of the Enterprise. Let's just say he would not be my nominee for teacher of the year.

Further more, the parents are within their rights to hire legal representation. The school board, like every political body, has a lawyer on retainer. Typically their lawyer is present at all meetings in case his (or her) opinion is required.

The teacher who wrote in to the Enterprise has left SMCPS for an out of state position. So who cares if he's not Teacher of the Year material? It doesn't make his point any less valid.

AP Chemistry scores quoted are the 2007 posted statistics for LHS and a direct cut/paste. Again, if you have questions please call SMCPS offices.

Of course the family is well within their rights to retain legal representation. They seem to be in need of some good advice.