Surprise

Surprise

The secretary from the high school called yesterday to let me know what I'll be teaching this fall. It seems they have scheduled me 3 sections of Integrated Physics and Chemistry, along with my usual World Geography. Since I haven't had chemistry since my freshman year in college, or physics since 71-72 in high school, I am at a loss as to what to do.
I finally spoke with the (retiring) principal, who told me "you taught Biology last year, and that's science." Yeah, but I'm certified in that, and it doesn't have much to do with chemistry, and nothing to do with physics.
So, since the state is testing 10th and 11th graders in both social studies and science I will have pressure from both directions, and my students will be the ones who pay dearly. My geography students will suffer because all my energy will be spent on keeping ahead of my IPC students, who will suffer because they will not have a teacher who knows physics or chemistry. Where do principals get off thinking that this sort of thing is OK?

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Comments

Comment I agree with the comment. This problem seems to exist in many places; and its not getting better. Our high school principal is running off two science teachers who have degrees in the subjects they teach: chemistry and physics. They are leaving becuase they have high standards and the principal thinks that they shouldn't fail so many students. I also agree with jgh's comments and experiences in education. Have you ever read the article at REASON.COM called "Why Children Can't Fail" ?

Sun Mar 13, 2005 10:29 am MST by Anonymous

Comment Unfortunately, principals just like middle managers in the business world are limited by their available resources and overwhelmed by demand. There are classes that need to be filled and a limited number of instructors for those classes. Thus, they have to stretch those resources. Ultimately, the students/customers suffer because they may not be getting the best of the resources.

Thu Jun 17, 2004 5:15 pm MST by Anonymous

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