I'm annoyed! Band grade

[cjcouple]

I got DS2s progress report today. He has all As, an 88 in LA and an 80 in band with a comment that says easily distracted. Not that 80 is bad but here's the thing, they have no band teacher. The band teacher quit 2 days before school started and they have not replaced him yet. Its been a sub who says just play whatever you want on your instruments. They do not play as a group/band or the same song. It's literally a free for all.

Last year, he had all 100s across all 4 quarters. How can he have an 80 when they are not plying as a group or being taught anything? Also, "easily distracted"? Not surprising since again, its chaos and not structured. I honestly expected an N/A with not enough material to grade or something. How can he have an 80 when he hasn't had any assessments or lessons? so does he now have to get a 100 to get a 90 by quarters end? That doesn't seem fair to me. thoughts?

______

Update: I spoke with his counselor.  She agrees, there shouldn't even be a grade so she is reaching out to Principal.  10/24 the new teacher starts.  

[waverly]

I would reach out to the teacher in clarification on what is being taught.

If they are truly not teaching anything actually then I would reach out to admin but start with the teacher first.

I care less about the grade than the fact there is no instruction.

[bee20]

I'd ask what the plan is for the class, but unless this is high school grades don't really matter.

Long-term subs are tough, I had a couple in high school (calculus and chemistry) and both weren't familiar with the subject so we basically watched movies and were told to read the textbook at home. This sounds like the equivalent of that. I wish someone had raised the issue, I was a teenager so happy to goof off but it really bit me in college. It's possible they can get a music student in, we had one while our band director was on maternity leave.

[cjcouple]

Oct 6, 2022 17:58:54 GMT -5 waverly said:

I would reach out to the teacher in clarification on what is being taught.

If they are truly not teaching anything actually then I would reach out to admin but start with the teacher first.

I care less about the grade than the fact there is no instruction.

Right? I mean if he earned/deserves an 80 from his playing, music reading or an assessment? fine. But this doesnt seem right, especially as an 8th grader ehonprevioualt had all 100s. It could impact honor roll.

[librarychica]

Yeah. I would want to know what was behind that. Any kid is going to be “easily distracted” just tootling on an instrument. I would also be concerned for what it means for high school, not necessarily bc of grades but if he plans to continue performing. What is the plan for the class in the meantime? Can they at least work in small groups on some duets, quartets, etc? Heck even if they picked out some simple pieces and had the kids take turns keeping time if the sub truly can’t manage their 4/4 and 6/8s.

Personal anecdote time: My band teacher noped out when I was your son’s age (stayed in her office all day and put on fantasia every day) and I was very behind when high school summer marching band camp and then 9th grade orchestra started. I mean, sure, I likely wasn’t on the music scholarship tract (or would I have been? Who knows? Yeah probably not) but it was my main extracurricular and it was very stressful to start effectively a year behind. I never really caught up as much as I loved band.

[cjcouple]

Oct 6, 2022 18:29:25 GMT -5 librarychica said:

Yeah. I would want to know what was behind that. Any kid is going to be “easily distracted” just tootling on an instrument. I would also be concerned for what it means for high school, not necessarily bc of grades but if he plans to continue performing. What is the plan for the class in the meantime? Can they at least work in small groups on some duets, quartets, etc? Heck even if they picked out some simple pieces and had the kids take turns keeping time if the sub truly can’t manage their 4/4 and 6/8s.

Personal anecdote time: My band teacher noped out when I was your son’s age (stayed in her office all day and put on fantasia every day) and I was very behind when high school summer marching band camp and then 9th grade orchestra started. I mean, sure, I likely wasn’t on the music scholarship tract (or would I have been? Who knows? Yeah probably not) but it was my main extracurricular and it was very stressful to start effectively a year behind. I never really caught up as much as I loved band.

These kids are so far behind as it is. In 5th, it was cut short due to covid, 6th had no band that year (covid), 7th his teacher left after Christmas (his commute was over an hour and he got a job close to home), the 2nd half had a replacement quickly but she was not asked back. Now 8th, they hired someone over the summer but he quit. They have been interviewing and pulling my sons class in to "test" the applicants and see them in action.

Supposedly, there is a new director starting in 2 weeks. My thought is he will not have enough time to properly evaluate them and just give them the progress report grades.

The HS Band director has been coming over and working directly with DS but not often. 2 of 3 times since starting.

[cjcouple]

Small update in OP

[mustardseed2007]

Yeah...this probably says something negative about me but I would actually be furious abut this b/c that's some BS.

[mommyatty]

Oct 7, 2022 15:25:45 GMT -5 mustardseed2007 said:

Yeah...this probably says something negative about me but I would actually be furious abut this b/c that's some BS.

Me too! Like my kid’s stellar average is going to be tanked by an elective with no teacher, no assignment, and no test grades? Just a cranky sub’s impression of whether my kid is paying enough attention to… what again?