complaint about teacher and school

[Vote Repubs Nov 2010!]

I few days ago during class I was having troubles getting the material when the teacher flat out stopped and said "how are you going to make it in the real world after school?"
This teacher is aware of my learning disorder and so far Ive been working my hardest even tho I still have troubles.
This upset me alot and the teacher could obviously see this. And other instance where she pulled me aside to talk about my poor grades she was even a little verbally abusive by saying that "I dont care" about her class.
This isnt the first problem Ive had with this school, most teachers are apathetic towards my learning problem and others try to help me with warm words even when I dont deserve it (my last shiatsu class I passed with a C- with the words "great job!" written next to it). I dont expect any special treatment involving my problem but Ive asked for patients and a little more explanation on a subject when I have a problem instead of yelling.
Going to anyone at this school is pointless because they dont even do anything about it, is there anyone outside of school I can complain to about this?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Firstly, if a teacher says or writes "good job" on a test or paper or whenever, accept it. YOU may not feel like you deserve it, but they may see that you are trying, and an honest effort is worth a lot.

As for the issue of the learning disability- it is federal law, I believe, to make accomodations for students who have these type of obstacles. That may fall under the Americans with Disabilites Act- not sure, but you may want to look into that.

Best

 

[sensible_man]

Firstly, if a teacher says or writes "good job" on a test or paper or whenever, accept it. YOU may not feel like you deserve it, but they may see that you are trying, and an honest effort is worth a lot.

As for the issue of the learning disability- it is federal law, I believe, to make accomodations for students who have these type of obstacles. That may fall under the Americans with Disabilites Act- not sure, but you may want to look into that.

Best

part 1 and 2 are both related, and I will answer part 2 first.
The problem Im having is that they dont do anything even after the promise they will. I came to my school almost a year ago and they had promised to make accomidations, even if they didnt know what. I was told I could take tutorials for a slashed price or get some talk time with the teacher and anything else that could help.
A year later none of that is happening, they still want to charge me full price for a tutorial and the teacher doesnt have the time of day for me.
The reason the "good job" bothered me so much is that it was a C-, I was a few points away from failing and the teacher pretty much said that it was a good effort... for me. And I for one hate the notion that getting a barely passing grade is doing an above average job in someone elses eye. Last week I had gotten an A on a test I took when the last two were D's, the teacher put a "good job" on the top of my paper and I really feel like I deserve that.


I really feel like that special accomidations should extend from more then just "good job"

 

[dobermann lover]

As for the issue of the learning disability- it is federal law, I believe, to make accomodations for students who have these type of obstacles. That may fall under the Americans with Disabilites Act- not sure, but you may want to look into that.

This federal law applies to schools that receive certain types of federal funding. That's the place to start. If it is a private school the law may be much looser (unless state or municipal law addresses this).

Still, it sucks that they are not delivering on their promises, and that you feel condescended to.

Do you think it might be possible to form an online study group here? Might be a little effort to organize but I wonder if it could be worth it. Or are there faculty at a nearby school of massage who you could work with? Maybe expensive, but potentially helpful?

 

[mrsd]

study groups and asking for help are two things thats helping me alot.
In my swedish I got together with another classmate and we worked on each other for two hours, which was awesome because she could tell me what to do wrong or right.

Incidentally: I passed my swedish final ^_^

 

[Mojito]

I am just going to say, even though you may have a learning disability, if you are making C's & D's, you CAN overcome it, you are just going to have to work harder, longer and be more creative than the next student.

This coming from someone who learns very differently than other people and though not diagnosed, I am pretty sure I have some ADHD (talk too much at what others think are inappropriate times and jittery beyond belief in a seated classroom situation to name a few) and dyslexia (mild I figure, but boy do I transpose numbers and letters).

I didn't have a situation where anyone diagnosed me and I am currently 40. I just learned to work with my issues and from a very young age I knew I learned differently. I especially used color coded flash cards and read over and over and over and over and over again (esp. my portions of text in the books) which just meant I had to stay up until about 3am most nights.

I also took a few classes over (my own money and time) because I felt like I didn't learn the material properly. It was just something I knew I needed to do - even though I passed the classes.

As I mentioned before (another post), being a social person, I got lots of fun in as well.

It may sond a bit exhausting, but if you want it, you can achieve it.

Good luck. And remember, people won't be asking you what grade you made in class, if you are good at what you do.

 

[chrissygirl]

And remember, people won't be asking you what grade you made in class, if you are good at what you do.

Pueppi's right, most people aren't going to care what your grades were in MT school, as long as you pass.

What they care about are 1. That you care about them. 2. The skills your hands have learned.

Some people learn differently than others, ever read the book, "Seven kinds of Smart" by Thomas Armstrong? I think it's a very interesting book. And it explains that we each have our own strengths... but they're not all measurable by the standard I.Q. test.

Some people are great with words, some with music, some with art, some with math, and some people are athletic. Now we all have these abilities just some are stronger than others. If you can determine what your strengths are it will help you to learn because you will be "playing to your strengths."

Perhaps you're an auditory & kinesthetic learner? Well then try recording the day's lesson and listening to it again later that day while on the treadmill or taking a walk around the neighborhood.

I had a horrible time with A&P and I didn't get along very good with the instructor as it always seemed he was cutting me down in class. But, there were a couple things I did appreciate about the guy. He had us keep a learning journal... and we were required to clip out articles or review on things we'd seen, heard or read during the week and how it related to our field of study. (A&P, health, MT, etc.) One time I really amazed him... I'd made a comic strip about T-cells & B-cells. : Imagine my surprise when this teacher, who I was pretty sure hated me, told one of the other teachers that my learning journal was the best one in class! I was shocked! :

The other thing he did was bring in materials and have us build our own props... He'd bring in newspaper and saran wrap and have us build "muscle fibers/bundles." He even stole his kid's Legos for awhile... :

If you can get together with a classmate every once in awhile, to confirm what you've learned great. You might even demonstrate to all your classmates & teacher how you're "applying" what you've learned, by bringing in a "project" you've given yourself. Share with them how you're using what you've learned... how you're adapting.

Fey, I know you can reach down inside yourself and find the determination to see this through. You might not be able to change your instructor, or change your school. But what you can change, is you.

Now, get out there and make learning Fun!

 

[Gabby Jolene]

How are you studying? Are you using kinesthetic, auditory, and visual methods to learn? It's best to use all three, e.g. saying (auditory) the muscle name while you look (visual) at a muscle chart and trace (kinesthetic) it both on the chart and on your own body.

Kinesthetic can be the difficult piece to bring in... but flashcards that you can spread out, group, rearrange, handle with your hands... drawing and cutting out life-size muscles from vinyl/felt, writing the names on them, shading in the muscle fibers... spending quality time with the school skeleton... and of course lots of practice on the table... are all good ways to go.

And remember while you're doing it to be verbalizing and visualizing as you go

 

[ubc.gurl]

I am so sorry that you are having this experience. First of all your teacher saying things to you in front of the entire class is very inappropriate and I probably would have gone to administration with it. You should not have to put up with being treated like garbage. Plus like others have said - once you are out of school people aren't going to ask you where you got A's or C's. They only care how you attend to them and how you make them feel.

When I was in school I struggled terribly with kinesiology - I couldn't get the insertion points to save my life. Thankfully I had a very supportive instructor and on the three separate occasions that I even thought about dropping out he worked with me to help me get through his classes. In fact at one point he realized that if he asked me orally to tell him origins and insertions I could do it, but to write out what I meant was difficult for me. From that point on he gave me the option of taking tests and quizzes orally, and I can honestly say had it not been for this instructor and his kind words I wouldn't have made it.

I think kindness and understanding and working with students is essential for instructors and make a world of difference for the students. Do not let this teacher get you down!!!

 

[kjchronic]

im sorry that you have been through this kind of trouble in school and i agree with all the comments in here you just have to be positive and appreciate yourself in think that if you know you have a learning problem just work on it, and search over various kinds of learning and choose the one that fits your needs, i think i have the same problem but not in the same plane i have a lot of trouble concentrating in fact a fly can bother me a lot when i,m studying so for that i just use my mp3 and listen to music that way i concentrate on what im doing. in school i also had trouble with my teacher but not about learning just about the hyperactiviti that i have, there was like two times that the teacher got really mad at me but to tell the truth i don care about it, ok i care and i know sometimes it is very hard to people to understand this kind of trouble but when it happens i really dont give a lot of importance to it, i think thats one of my best features that inside of that hyperactivity im very calmed and i think that you should do the same and dont take things so badly if you get a good job for a c maybe its beacuase the teacher really apreciate it your job and she/he knows that you are trying hard for that so keep trying and we know you will make it

And remember, people won't be asking you what grade you made in class, if you are good at what you do.

that's absolutely true we just care about the good hands and techniques of the massage not about the notes we had in school

salutes to everybody!!!

btw flashcards work very good for me but as i said try various types of study a you'll find one that fits for you just study

 

[Liz]

Complaint???

I worked as an administrator for a few career colleges and if your school isn't doing right by you - there is a way to get it fixed.

1st - document every step you have taken to get help or a resolution to your problem. When you document, do it on a factual level and not emotional. That's hard to do sometimes but it's important.

2nd - exhaust all avenues to complain at the school. Go to student services, the admissions person who helped you get into school. Try the Director of Education or Dept. Head. If those fail, seek an appointment with the Director of the school. You are paying tuition - make them talk to you.

3rd - If your effort to resolve it at the school level fails, check your school catalog to see what the accrediting agency is. There should be a Grievance Procedure with an address you can write to. Trust me - this will get the school's attention! You can also approach the State agency responsible for these types of schools.

You are paying tuition and THEY have an obligation to do what's right. If they are aware of your learning disability and they admitted you - then it's their job to make sure you have a reasonable accommodation. IT'S THE LAW!

I wish you well - I am starting my school on August 20th and I am nervous about some of the things you raise as well.

Good luck!

 

[Christian]

I know this post is kind of old, but I just have to put in my two cents on it, in case the original poster checks back, or someone else with this problem peeks in.

One of the best friends I made in massage school had a pretty severe learning disability, and she found the academic portion really tough. A&P and kinesiology were incredibly difficult for her. She struggled to pass each test. However, when it came to "table time", I was always more than happy to partner up with her! She was just as good, if not better, than those excelling at the academic portion of the course. So she confused rectus femoris with biceps femoris? So what? She knew how to treat them both, even if she inaccurately named them. Now we're both graduates, and though I was top of my class with a 4.0, she's got a better job than I do!

It's all about skilled touch and attitude, which may or may not be partnered with academic aptitude. I hope you've complained about the treatment you've received from that teacher, and I hope you haven't let the criticism get you down. I'm sure you'll do great in the "real world!"