I need a little advice and help here.

In P.E. , my efforts are always looked down upon. My teacher absolutely hates me, and he gives me an F on everything except for participation (Odd). My mom has been trying to reach him, but he is blowing us off. He lets other students push me when I can't run for 8 minutes straight (I'm a terrible runner). And he consistently tells me how crappy I am and how I do nothing. That is false because I try my best.

My mom doesn't like the man, and she keeps telling me to "Do my best". But my best isn't appreciated, and he has nothing positive to say, my grade in there is an F at 31%, and there's no chance he'll raise it. I always feel like a loser when I walk in that gym, and I'm afraid to confront him, or any of the counselors.

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Parent Replies to "I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher."

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Johnston
Johnston July 25, 2009
Re: I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher.
Logical One, I agree that you should see if there's not a medical reason that is keeping you from being as good at PE as you would like to be. My husband wasn't able to do many things they require you to do. His bones that extend from his wrists to his elbows are fused to his elbows on both arm, which means he can't turns his hands upwards. This takes out most gymnastics for him. He was also born with flat feet. There's not even a hint of an arch. This made running very difficult and painful for him. Luckily, his coach wasn't like yours, and was sad to see him go when his mom got a doctor's note saying he couldn't take PE anymore. If your coach is really this hateful, then you and your mom should go to the principal. Maybe she can set up a meeting for the four of you. I've had to deal with hateful teachers at my daughter's school. She's white allowed to date boys of any race, so she's been called a whore, to her face. It got so bad, I had to go to the state superintendant. There are things that can be done, and if he isn't willing to listen, go over him. My prayers will be with you. I hope you can get everything solved.
lilmzwizzie
lilmzwizzie July 23, 2009
Re: I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher.
my gym teacher did the same thing to me
mileys
mileys July 13, 2009
Re: I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher.
If you are bad for a medical reason, better find out. have a physical and share it with your teacher. Next. ask him, Nicely, if you can make up some of the runs after school or something. Maybe some can be made up in the form of reading an article of blood pressure and handing in a half page summary. Please tell time, you just can't keep up. Are others making fun of you? Next follow the steps.. Counselor or principle. Then maybe request in writing, a change of teachers and how you tried to remedy the situation. Try a stress test at the doctor. if your insurance covers it. Last. Well... Do you know anyone on the board??? Don't say that was Mileys idea.
melenaka
melenaka July 10, 2009
Re: I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher.
I'm sorry this is happening you to, it brings back not so nice memories of my school years. I admire that you are asking for the help you need. I totally agree with the other submissions here,make an appointment to see your school counselor as soon as possible. It's not a matter of confronting anyone, it's about you protecting yourself against an abusive situation. If you know anyone who would be willing to go with you to the counselor and speak on your behalf, that would be very helpful.
JoeBruzzese
JoeBruzzese June 11, 2009
Re: I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher.
Muster up the courage and ask your mom to schedule an appointment with the counselor. Explain the situation from your end and ask if there are any other P.E. classes that you might be able to transfer into. Bottom line here is that your relationship with the P.E. teacher is not good. Judgements aside, it may simply be the case that the two of you don't get along. He has a perception in his mind about you as a student and as a person. Perceptions become difficult to change. Yet, if you can (fingers crossed) transfer into another class you will have the opportunity to create a different first impression. Then the challenge becomes yours. Your effort will need to be superior.

Joe Bruzzese
claudetteg1
claudetteg1 June 9, 2009
Re: I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher.
Sometimes the student isn't a good match with the teacher, but the student needs to learn how to adapt. This is really tough on a young child, but it's an important lesson to learn. No one will love every teacher; but every student needs to learn to read and write and handle math, among many other skills.

Parent-teacher conferences present an opportunity for moms and dads to discuss their child's progress and to resolve any concerns about what is, or isn't, happening in the classroom. If you feel the teacher is avoiding you, send both the teacher and the principle an email explaining in details why it is importation to meet. Key though...Good teachers are key to student achievement, but bad ones are hard to fire. I am not saying you have a bad teacher, but you need to get your school principle involve.
glendarich
glendarich June 7, 2009
Re: I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher.
i know how you feel. i am so sorry for your troubles. tell the teacher to find your good side. so many teachers never look for the good. that is what you are suppose to focus on. in life you find what you are good at and go forward. dont let them discourage you. you got to be a good kid if you adress the prolem. sometimes they really dont care. let them know YOU CARE. my daughter has a promblem with hyer weight and she really tries hard. sometimes i get mad as hell. but keep your head up in the long run you will be praised for it .
butterum
butterum June 7, 2009
Re: I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher.
Hi,
I am sorry about your child's experience at school. I think it is important for her to understand that she is not the problem. My daughter's gym teacher have a similar problem, he also failed my child in gym, but to us gym is a total waste of time. I wish there were options to do another class instead. My kids get endless kudos about their body shape, posture and slimness and they not only look more fit than many of the kids in their class but they are. They are involved in activities that requires alot of physical exercises which leaves them sore and tired. Then they go to gym at school and this is what my older kid gets. She has a shoulder/arm problem (pains) and she still does what she is asked to do but her bullys use the class exercises as an opportunity to do more bullying like throwing the ball forcefully at her stomach, knowingly stepping on her feet, pushing and shaking her. This school is a horrible place for my child! there are a few people that are nice to my kids out of the entire school (aide, a couple teachers and a few decent kids in her class) her teacher seems to be a teacher bully as well, few other teachers, staff members and students are also into bullying her and when we brought it to the attention of the principal, she played the "blame the bully game" also said "oh, every gets that at least once in their life" she refused to do anything about it and when I began to complain harder when my emails came back.......you do not want to know the mess! I am still doing daily battle with these people. I am so disgusted with the school staff and what they do to my kid, they actually encourage this sort of thing! My biggest goal is to keep my child focused on her educational goal. She was worried about the gym thingy so I told her that gym results had nothing to do with getting into college! what matters most is getting an "A" in math, science, language arts, reading, writing and since she has been visiting her doctor frequently to confirme her good health, we really do not worry about gym. Sports is not big in our home but the kids have two classes to keep them in shape each week and we also do bike riding, push ups, sit ups and so forth all during the week. My older child is exhausted! due to homework that goes on from about 4 pm to almost midnight all week long, week after week. She is lacking sleep and dealing with bullying by so many people at her school. She is aware that she is studying under pressure and she is able to bring home the grades, so I am extremely proud of her! as for the bullying situation, I intend to go further to bring an end to that. So as long as your child's doctor gives her the ok, I don't think you or her should worry! The doctor will tell you if she needs to exercise more and what she should do. If he knows what is going on at the school, he will probably give you a note to have her excused from gym class as well. She can do her own exercise routine at home where she is safe from people like him, after all, it seems more harmful for her to be there than it is good. Some gym teachers do not listen to the kids complaints, instead they keep pushing them, then when the kids drop dead they come with the phony concern. Tell your child to stand up for herself, if something bothers her, inform the teacher and document his response. You can take it from there mom. I feel bad for the school children of today. I also feel bad for the good teachers, students and staff members that work so hard throughout the school year to help create a better learning environment in which everyone can learn and work effectively, only to have a some people take it apart with their nasty ways and disgusting habits.
TeacherParent
TeacherParent June 4, 2009
Re: I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher.
Hesitating to confront someone is good for confrontation never produces the desired result. This man sounds like a bit of a bully - confronting him would give him yet another reason to bully you.
First let's say outloud what you already know - school is not a perfect place. Many adults don't seem to want to know that including some very caring parents.In the better world or the perfect school, they'd place you with teachers who didn't make you feel like a loser - if school worked right, it would have you feeling like a winner.
But this one isn't doing all the right things for you - the world and many of its schools are flawed. Until we can perfect the system, how do we stand the classes that are taught by gym teachers like this? The good news is the school year's almost over - the bad news is he might flunk you for gym. If college is your goal, know the health teacher flunked my son and the admissions people at his college laughed at that single F right next to his A s in science. If this teacher gives you an F for gym, it's his failure, not yours.
But what's most disturbing is that other students are physically harassing you - no one should put their hands on you - and no teacher should allow that. Go to a counselor - don't confront the counselor either - but share with the counselor that you're being physically harassed in gym class and that you feel the teacher is looking the other way on it. Tell the counselor you're a slow runner - acknowledge that - it's no crime to not be good at running - but that you don't feel safe in gym class. Emphasize that with your mother as well - no student should be obligated to attend a class where they are being physically harassed by other students. Your mother should not be just trying to call this teacher but could be bringing this to the attention of all and any higher-ups.

I'm a terrible runner too - but this bully teacher is seizing on that as his reason to bully you and that's wrong but it's even more wrong that he allows other students to physically bully you. Why do you hesitate to talk with a counselor? Don't confront the counselor but rather tell the counselor you can't be required to attend a course where you are physically harassed in every class.
I hope you'll let us know what transpires.
deering91324
deering91324 June 1, 2009
Re: I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher.
As a parent, I only give the teacher so long to respond to me and then I go to the next level, and then the next, and then the next. I'll go to the district office, if I have to.
Parents want their children to learn how to deal with the bad teachers because our kids will run into this type of person throughout their lives. But sometimes the parent has to step in and ask for a meeting between the teacher and the next level, whether it be the counselor, Dean, Assist. Principal, Principal, etc. In our
situation, it happens to be the Magnet Coordinator.
My daughter was having a problem with a math teacher that enjoyed harrassing her and bringing her to tears in front of the class. She implied many things to the class.... like they were all stupid and she was not going to recommend any of them for Algebra next year.
When she implied my daughter was a liar about not returning her signed progress report, that was the final straw.
I instructed my daughter to spend her math period in her counselor's office or in the magnet office until the situation was resolved. The teacher refused to apologize to my daughter and when I asked to have her transferred to another math class, I got the same story every parent gets.... our classes are already established...our classes are balanced and we aren't able to do that! Parents need to wake up and realize that if you have legitimate reasons for wanting your child out of a particular situation, you have that right.
The first day my daughter returned to school to sit in the counselor's office, was the only day she misssed class. I threatened to take my complaints to the district and guess what happened, they found room in another class for my daughter.
PS My daughter and over half of her classmates were getting D's and F's in the first math class; in my daughter's new math class, she's getting a C+,B-.
Get your mom to send a letter or email to your PE teacher requesting a meeting, that way she has something concrete to show when the PE teacher doesn't respond. Get your mom to take her concerns and the letter to the school Principal, if necessary, when your PE teacher doesn't respond.
Good Luck and don't be afraid to talk to your counselor.
hockeymum
hockeymum June 1, 2009
Re: I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher.
Wow, your teacher sounds like an adult bully.
One thing to think about is that if you don't stand up for yourself, who will. I think its time to talk to your counsellor and even ask the principal to join. If you talk rationally, calmly, and asert that this behavior is wrong hopefully they will talk to this teacher.(remember eye contact and don't slouch) If they state they are unwilling to help politely ask them who is next in charge to contact as you feel this issue isn't resolved.
Also I would ask to get the marking criteria for PE class. I know where we live 60% of the grade is just participation. If you show up and try you will get at least 60% another 20% is in the learning portion about nutrition etc and the final 20% is on ability. So a student who has two left feet will still be able to obtain a minimun 80%.
And don't fell too bad about the distance running. I just had a talk with the doctor about my daughter and her breathing problems during the 12 min run they are expected to do. He quickly wrote a note excusing her and said he finds these PE teacher nutty. LOL. He said "humans are only designed to sprint (to get away from danger) and walk for long periods of time. This distance running is not really designed for our bodies and just puts strain on them"
healthy11
healthy11 May 31, 2009
Re: I need help, I'm a student with a bad teacher.
I can understand your hesitancy to approach the teacher directly, but talking to your counselor shouldn't be as intimidating. They're there to assist, and generally have a higher respect for students who try to advocate for themselves.
If the gym teacher is as bad as you describe, and your mom has tried to talk with the teacher without success, then it's time for her to "go to the next level." Many high schools have an "Athletic Department Chairperson" who oversees the regular P.E. teachers, but I'm not sure if your Middle School does. In that case, I suggest having your mom send a note to your counselor, with a copy to the principal, indicating that she's tried to reach the P.E. teacher on several different occasions and has not received any response. She might request a meeting with the teacher and counselor to discuss your situation.
I don't know if you''re graduating soon, but hopefully you can spend some time over the summer to keep trying to increase your physical stamina and endurance no matter what, because good health is important for everyone, even if you're not anticipating a career in sports!

Any contributed content above is the subjective opinion of that member or external author, and not of GreatSchools. GreatSchools does not check for accuracy in community posts or verify the contributor’s identity. If you are searching for health-related advice we strongly suggest you seek professional medical support. View our Community Guidelines for more details.
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