Are Most Math/Science Teachers Too Demanding? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jack1000 · 04-13-2005, 08:22 PM

Guys,

I like to reflect on some of my experiences with regards to teachers from time to time. As a college graduate with a BA in Sociology, I think that for the most part my middle school and high school teachers did a fairly decent job with presenting material that was appropraite for the grade level being taught. This was true for English, Reading, History, Composition, and Psychology classes. Although just an average student, with regards to those areas, I don't recall any teachers or classes that were overwhelmingly difficult.

I had bad omens with most Math and Science teachers however. A noted exception was a WONDERFUL Algebra teacher that I had back in high school. The situation was that my school district had a very high-standard math and science department, whose facilities were just as goof, if not better than some colleges. The problem was that most of the math and science teachers that I had looked liked these little geeky balding guys who were born in test tubes and expected everyone to be experts in Biology, Chemestry, or Physics. High school math teachers (with the one exception noted above) were the same story for me. They never curved exams, went through material at a rate that was about 5x as fast as any teachers in other departments, and even fewer gave partial credit. You either got a problem all right or it was totally wrong. These people all thought that we were experts in quantum theory or something.

College was even worse. I avoided as much science and math as possible because the professors had an average age of about 80. Teaching assistence who led discussion sections in many cases couldn't even speak English, and some exams were so hard, and curved so severely that the average grade would be about a 40!

I don't know why Math and Science teachers like to make their courses and tets to the point of being almost undoable. I think that the expectations from so many of these department's teachers are so high, that you often have to ask yourself is NOT curving exams a realistic practice?

It just seems that other teachers and profs from other departments have more realistic expectations and levels of teaching that are more age/grade appropriate for the students that they are teaching. Do you feel the same way about your math and science classes/instructors?

Jack

vienna waits · 04-13-2005, 08:30 PM

Math/Science teachers in HS and MS are usually forced to teach according to the state standards. I've been fortunate to have very good math teachers. I don't think I've ever had a curved test in High School.. but we get reviews for tests that basically mirror the test.

04-13-2005, 08:22 PM	#1
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	Are Most Math/Science Teachers Too Demanding? Guys, I like to reflect on some of my experiences with regards to teachers from time to time. As a college graduate with a BA in Sociology, I think that for the most part my middle school and high school teachers did a fairly decent job with presenting material that was appropraite for the grade level being taught. This was true for English, Reading, History, Composition, and Psychology classes. Although just an average student, with regards to those areas, I don't recall any teachers or classes that were overwhelmingly difficult. I had bad omens with most Math and Science teachers however. A noted exception was a WONDERFUL Algebra teacher that I had back in high school. The situation was that my school district had a very high-standard math and science department, whose facilities were just as goof, if not better than some colleges. The problem was that most of the math and science teachers that I had looked liked these little geeky balding guys who were born in test tubes and expected everyone to be experts in Biology, Chemestry, or Physics. High school math teachers (with the one exception noted above) were the same story for me. They never curved exams, went through material at a rate that was about 5x as fast as any teachers in other departments, and even fewer gave partial credit. You either got a problem all right or it was totally wrong. These people all thought that we were experts in quantum theory or something. College was even worse. I avoided as much science and math as possible because the professors had an average age of about 80. Teaching assistence who led discussion sections in many cases couldn't even speak English, and some exams were so hard, and curved so severely that the average grade would be about a 40! I don't know why Math and Science teachers like to make their courses and tets to the point of being almost undoable. I think that the expectations from so many of these department's teachers are so high, that you often have to ask yourself is NOT curving exams a realistic practice? It just seems that other teachers and profs from other departments have more realistic expectations and levels of teaching that are more age/grade appropriate for the students that they are teaching. Do you feel the same way about your math and science classes/instructors? Jack

04-13-2005, 08:30 PM	#2
vienna waits avatars are stupid. Forum Superstar Join Date: May 18, 2001 Location: Ravenclaw Common Room Posts: 29,859	Math/Science teachers in HS and MS are usually forced to teach according to the state standards. I've been fortunate to have very good math teachers. I don't think I've ever had a curved test in High School.. but we get reviews for tests that basically mirror the test.
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