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Biased teacher. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter zmccu3
- Start date
Finalised today. Head teacher of faculty came into our class for the discussion, took in our input and effectively sat on his hands. "I support the teachers professional opinion". Without even looking at the essay. I want to drop it and move on because all that's happened is a teacher who once liked me dislikes me and nothing got done due to the (in my opinion) ineffectiveness and lack of will to do anything of the faculty. I think its wrong so its personally hard for me to let this go so I'm not sure what will happen, I don't think there's much more I can do.
LoveHateSchool
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I think this is unfair as it is going to drastically impact everyone via the assessment ranks being set.
I would go for above the head of faculty, like the principal or something.
If we had written something like that for out of 25, we would have gotten 7 tops.
CBA Prodigy
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The same thing happens in English. Without naming, there is this girl that always gets full marks in her assessments, irrespective of the quality. You can complain, you can talk to the Prime Minister or you can tell the principal, but BIAS WILL ALWAYS EXIST.
Make it work to your benefit. Rather than opposing such people, emulate them. Certain styles appeal to teachers over seemingly better approaches and this where the presentation of bias occurs, because the criteria is stated to be fulfilled when it is not.
Using the example of English again (who couldn't formulate a non-convoluted sentence and gets full marks each time), I emulated the girl and am in the top 3, rather than writing properly and being 10th.
Do whatever it takes to get the highest rank possible. Even if this means writing like your 5 years old and that somehow appeals to your teacher.
Then, adjust to the HSC external where the criteria is actually adhered to.
Make it work to your benefit. Rather than opposing such people, emulate them. Certain styles appeal to teachers over seemingly better approaches and this where the presentation of bias occurs, because the criteria is stated to be fulfilled when it is not.
Using the example of English again (who couldn't formulate a non-convoluted sentence and gets full marks each time), I emulated the girl and am in the top 3, rather than writing properly and being 10th.
Do whatever it takes to get the highest rank possible. Even if this means writing like your 5 years old and that somehow appeals to your teacher.
Then, adjust to the HSC external where the criteria is actually adhered to.
townie
Premium Member
Well that can't come as a surprise
Well no but I mean, I approached it in a professional matter over something that wasn't a personal matter. Not sure where I'll go from here, I agree with LoveHateSchool, it will negatively impact us but at the same time I feel like I'm the bad guy in all this and that I should be punished but I guess that's what they'd like me to believe.
someth1ng
Retired Nov '14
Put simply, you have a shit teacher and a shit faculty as a whole.
I recommend:
1. Requesting for student numbers to be used in all exams and assessments (reasonable request - if you're at a private school, ask for external markers).
2. Push this matter further to the Deputy Principal THEN Principal THEN Board of Studies (BOS will just say that it's out of their realm to help you - possible the most pathetic things about BOS and HSC) - it is crucial that you do it in that order - always follow the hierarchy.
3. Something else that may not be recommended is naming and shaming - I pretty much did it.
I recommend:
1. Requesting for student numbers to be used in all exams and assessments (reasonable request - if you're at a private school, ask for external markers).
2. Push this matter further to the Deputy Principal THEN Principal THEN Board of Studies (BOS will just say that it's out of their realm to help you - possible the most pathetic things about BOS and HSC) - it is crucial that you do it in that order - always follow the hierarchy.
3. Something else that may not be recommended is naming and shaming - I pretty much did it.
My school uses student numbers but good teachers who have read a lot of their students' work will know their styles and handwriting anyway.
As for external markers - schools are loathe to do that due to cost as external markers expect to be paid at the HSC rate (that is what I uesd to charge the two schools I marked - one government, one private but this year both have indicated that they will only be marking internally due to budgets being tighter and therefore not doing external marking any more).
The BOS has always supported the 'professional judgement' of teachers.
As for external markers - schools are loathe to do that due to cost as external markers expect to be paid at the HSC rate (that is what I uesd to charge the two schools I marked - one government, one private but this year both have indicated that they will only be marking internally due to budgets being tighter and therefore not doing external marking any more).
The BOS has always supported the 'professional judgement' of teachers.
SuperMike96
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I'm not too sure on the marking criteria for the question. However, I also do ancient history this year and I feel that if I were to hand in a response like that I would receive very low marks. The student never used any sources to justify her response. As sources are essential in the subject I feel that the student shouldn't receive 100%.
nifkeh
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I do ancient (as per sig) but the question's mark value and most importantly, the answer/response itself is a joke if it were to get 10 marks maybe, let alone above 15/25.
My ancient history teacher marked sections in both the HSC for modern and ancient history before so yeah, he would mark us according to marking criteria. you can get these for past papers from the board of studies as an example
but basically, as people said above, this answer lacks a lot of sophistication and of course the length expected. My teacher says to write like 4-6 pages for a 25 mark section, but also to do that you need to put in a lot of detail. My teacher says, for the 'extended response' q's you need to put a lot of detail. Now what he means and what I mean by that, is even though the question doesn't explicitly say to use sources (e.g. modern/ancient primary & secondary sources), such as this question you will still need to!
However one thing I want to say is that we're not doing this section for the HSC, so I don't know what info you need for this answer to get a true 25/25 in my opinion. Now if my teacher was marking this question, and if it were out of 10, according to the marking criteria table, this might get at least an 8 out of 10, as it is fairly detailed and is logical, referring to the question with examples. I can't say 10 exactly as I'm not studying this module so I don't know the content.
BUT BUT BUT for a 25 marker this is where it becomes a LOT different. Now, my teacher marks 25 markers/extended response somewhat 'essay' type questions with this marking criteria: how much sources you have put into your response. Now this student has made 0 references to sources in this question which is kind of mark suicide for especially a 25 marker. If you talk about just what is required w/o mention of any sources/historians/archaeologists/evidence, I suppose you can get a maximum of 12, and if you have answered very detailed with still no references to evidence, at best maybe a 14 or 15. Sources, evidence, are really important. My teacher says if you don't, you just say goodbye to good marks. So if you could've got 10/10, without any sources or evidence your answer is easily a 6 or 5. Also you need to evaluate the evidence in the way that supports your argument, as well as state differences in opinion between different historians (just to say there are different interpretations/views like in this case, how a colony was established). So you can't just be like Historian A says this, Historian B says that as you are just saying not evaluating, and that would get you a 21/25 at best. So to get 25/25 marks, you need to talk really detailed, and as I said, integrate sources/evidence into your response (both supporting and opposing, and both modern/ancient historians and evidence) to support how a colony was established.
Anyhow I still think and will agree your teacher is quite biased and also marking/setting up your whole class wrong for ancient history, especially for the HSC. but like as someth1ng said, go up to your deputy, then principal then board of studies. another good thing to do, is like talk to your whole class, just like go 'hey do you think our teacher is being dodgy?' Then show them what you think by looking at marking criteria from past HSC exams on the BOS website, compare it to that girl's 25/25 response and say like how your teacher marks is way too lenient and wrong for a HSC standard and just gage their response. Say you are doing it for the better of them, like if you let them be, that girl will only be getting like 60% in ancient in the HSC and that it will bring your whole class down. Also if you can, get some actual assessment tasks from other schools doing ancient history. I can give you mine if you'd like, so you can actually compare and see 'this is how it's supposed to be marked'. Also like if you can, complain as a class (as much as possible, with as many students who are willing) to deputy, then if it doesn't work out, then to principal, then a whole class complain to BOS, so it will be a lot convincing.
Yeah and also as someth1ng said, try making your school do student numbers system, but also as he said, naming and shaming and most of all, not being afraid to raise issues with a higher hierarchy if the previous one doesn't work will only get you further. If you can, try going to another school (as many as you can), as in write a letter to their ancient history teachers and get them to evaluate how your teacher marks in relation to HSC so show them copies of your assessment task and a couple copies of student responses with varying marks. So get them to write back to you about it, so you have even more evidence to support your statement that you feel your teacher is pretty inadequate. I think a private school or a notable public school would be best (esp. selectives). Also get their assessment tasks with marking criteria/exemplar responses of them so you can go complain back at school/BOS with the rest of your class a lot better as you can compare the discrepancies between fair/unfair. Best of luck with your complaint
My ancient history teacher marked sections in both the HSC for modern and ancient history before so yeah, he would mark us according to marking criteria. you can get these for past papers from the board of studies as an example
but basically, as people said above, this answer lacks a lot of sophistication and of course the length expected. My teacher says to write like 4-6 pages for a 25 mark section, but also to do that you need to put in a lot of detail. My teacher says, for the 'extended response' q's you need to put a lot of detail. Now what he means and what I mean by that, is even though the question doesn't explicitly say to use sources (e.g. modern/ancient primary & secondary sources), such as this question you will still need to!
However one thing I want to say is that we're not doing this section for the HSC, so I don't know what info you need for this answer to get a true 25/25 in my opinion. Now if my teacher was marking this question, and if it were out of 10, according to the marking criteria table, this might get at least an 8 out of 10, as it is fairly detailed and is logical, referring to the question with examples. I can't say 10 exactly as I'm not studying this module so I don't know the content.
BUT BUT BUT for a 25 marker this is where it becomes a LOT different. Now, my teacher marks 25 markers/extended response somewhat 'essay' type questions with this marking criteria: how much sources you have put into your response. Now this student has made 0 references to sources in this question which is kind of mark suicide for especially a 25 marker. If you talk about just what is required w/o mention of any sources/historians/archaeologists/evidence, I suppose you can get a maximum of 12, and if you have answered very detailed with still no references to evidence, at best maybe a 14 or 15. Sources, evidence, are really important. My teacher says if you don't, you just say goodbye to good marks. So if you could've got 10/10, without any sources or evidence your answer is easily a 6 or 5. Also you need to evaluate the evidence in the way that supports your argument, as well as state differences in opinion between different historians (just to say there are different interpretations/views like in this case, how a colony was established). So you can't just be like Historian A says this, Historian B says that as you are just saying not evaluating, and that would get you a 21/25 at best. So to get 25/25 marks, you need to talk really detailed, and as I said, integrate sources/evidence into your response (both supporting and opposing, and both modern/ancient historians and evidence) to support how a colony was established.
Anyhow I still think and will agree your teacher is quite biased and also marking/setting up your whole class wrong for ancient history, especially for the HSC. but like as someth1ng said, go up to your deputy, then principal then board of studies. another good thing to do, is like talk to your whole class, just like go 'hey do you think our teacher is being dodgy?' Then show them what you think by looking at marking criteria from past HSC exams on the BOS website, compare it to that girl's 25/25 response and say like how your teacher marks is way too lenient and wrong for a HSC standard and just gage their response. Say you are doing it for the better of them, like if you let them be, that girl will only be getting like 60% in ancient in the HSC and that it will bring your whole class down. Also if you can, get some actual assessment tasks from other schools doing ancient history. I can give you mine if you'd like, so you can actually compare and see 'this is how it's supposed to be marked'. Also like if you can, complain as a class (as much as possible, with as many students who are willing) to deputy, then if it doesn't work out, then to principal, then a whole class complain to BOS, so it will be a lot convincing.
Yeah and also as someth1ng said, try making your school do student numbers system, but also as he said, naming and shaming and most of all, not being afraid to raise issues with a higher hierarchy if the previous one doesn't work will only get you further. If you can, try going to another school (as many as you can), as in write a letter to their ancient history teachers and get them to evaluate how your teacher marks in relation to HSC so show them copies of your assessment task and a couple copies of student responses with varying marks. So get them to write back to you about it, so you have even more evidence to support your statement that you feel your teacher is pretty inadequate. I think a private school or a notable public school would be best (esp. selectives). Also get their assessment tasks with marking criteria/exemplar responses of them so you can go complain back at school/BOS with the rest of your class a lot better as you can compare the discrepancies between fair/unfair. Best of luck with your complaint
Last edited:
Michelle Lin
Member
Do everything according to the school/authority hierarchy as people have suggested BUT also get a tutor for Ancient. Because even if nothing changes you'll be better off in the HSC exam and the rest of your class including that girl that got the ridiculous mark will fail like whoa. I do Ancient too and my teacher would verbally bitch slap me if I gave that in for a 25 mark questions. I read the response and I was just blown away. That would be marked so low in my school that I'd be called in and asked if something was wrong.
Homo Sapien
Member
If I believe that I am more intelligent than my teachers, can I complain and ask the school or BOS to replace the teacher?
someth1ng
Retired Nov '14
It's unfortunate that this happened to you, if you need more advice, just post it here.
At school, I was marked down in Physics and Chemistry for silly reasons (there were dodgy assessments that I complained about, albeit unsuccessfully) and eventually I proved that I was the better student by outperforming my grade in both HSC exams and in the end, it didn't really matter (B6 in both and sufficient ATAR). But what mattered was that my efforts paid off as it improved the marks if several students (over performing in HSC).
At school, I was marked down in Physics and Chemistry for silly reasons (there were dodgy assessments that I complained about, albeit unsuccessfully) and eventually I proved that I was the better student by outperforming my grade in both HSC exams and in the end, it didn't really matter (B6 in both and sufficient ATAR). But what mattered was that my efforts paid off as it improved the marks if several students (over performing in HSC).
The BOS can't do anything as they don't employ the teachers.
As for being 'more intelligent' that is perfectly possible - I believe that about 40% of my students are 'more intellligent' than I am but they haven't the knowledge, skills or experience that I have in teaching the course and so I see my role as getting them to achieve their potential through guiding them to know what they need to know and to display that knowledge the way they need to do it. That some of them will be able to do it better than I can, or could, is reasonable in my opinion and I love reading work by my students that I know I couldn't produce myself - I can recognise their brilliance and hopefully enhance it, hone it and give them the skills to use it to maximise their results in my subject.