Reminds me of my high school years. My dad, the ever present A--hole of my childhood years, decided after my sophomore year not to allow me to take G/T classes anymore (I discovered much later in life that it had a good deal to do with the fact that I was consistently outperforming my brother, his oft stated favorite son), and as a result I wound up in the "average" English class my junior year.

The second day of the class, the teacher separated the class according to her own seating method. Those from our side of town (the wrong side of the tracks) were in one area, the wealthy students in another. She then stated, "I have separated the students who will get something out of this class from those who will not". From then on until graduation day, I strove for a "C" grade in every class, nothing more, nothing less (from being a straight A student all of my academic career prior).

I do hope you can make a change where this teacher is concerned. The students deserve it.

Bad teachers can definately ruin it for a lot of people, but what are you supposed to do?  I mean, I know there's the occasionaly "sit-in" that's pre-planned and the teacher rehearses with her children, but what else?  State tests?  My ass....

There's got to be a better way.  I loved school while I was learning.  After elementary school, though, it seemed the teachers just thought we should relearn everything.  I got bored, and school became just something else that was stealing the hours in my day.

Hmmm, I hope you're an addition to the rare good teachers out there that balance it out.  I've had a few.

Trinitie

p.s.  I, myself, am going to teach, but it's a little unconventional.  I want to teach highschool inmates....hmmm...

You should read "True Notebooks" by Mark Salzman, it's amazing.