Can our teachers get a study score of 50 in their given subjects?

[TheAspiringDoc]

Are our teachers really qualified? Should they need to know their subject to this depth?

[Shenz0r]

Yes, some of them probably could, but does it matter? Your own results aren't always indicative of teaching abilities.

I had some teachers who were very intelligent but could not explain anything to people who didn't have the same intellectual prowess as he did (so all of the class). As long as a teacher is easy to understand, answers your queries, explains the course thoroughly and concisely then yes, they are well qualified.

[Joseph41]

I can guarantee that some of my teachers would not have scored perfect 50s; however, I daresay that other teachers that I have had would more than likely go extremely close to Premier's Awards.

Regardless, as Shenz0r suggested, I would much prefer a '40 study score' teacher who taught well, rather than a '50 study score' teacher who did not.

[yearningforsimplicity]

I always love teachers who can explain things simply, breaking down any complexity and not being afraid to provide alternative explanations and examples that may be different from what's in the textbook I guess it's not just about whether your teachers can 'score a 50' per se, but also about how effectively they can communicate the content and skills that are required for you to score a 50 or 40+ or 45+.

I think with tutoring/teaching, you really need to keep remembering how you felt when you were learning the subject content (whether that was when you were a student doing VCE or when you were studying the related subject at university level) - it's super important to acknowledge that everything is not completely easy at first, and a topic that you might know like the back of your hand right now is something that your students may not understand right away (just as you did not grasp it immediately either!). So I think it's way better to have a teacher who takes heed of that and works towards that - it's something that most 50 SS achievers can do but that's not to say that a 35+ or 40+ achiever wouldn't have that same motivation and drive for his/her students as well!

[keltingmeith]

Getting a 50 isn't all about knowledge and intelligence - you could be the best and brightest kid in all of Victoria, and still fail to get a 50 without the proper preparation. To get a 50, you can't just rely on knowledge of the subject and curriculum, you need to:

a) Work hard, and make sure you don't make lots of mistakes under pressure.
b) Be familiar with the common questions asked by VCAA.
c) Be lucky.

Whilst a and b can be side-stepped (a by being really fast and proofing your work 20093409820984309 times, and b by just being THAT good), c is another story. Someone who gets a 50 one year, may not get a 50 another year. Hell, the difference between most scores above 40 is a bit of luck depending on the day. Not to say people who score that highly didn't deserve it, but rather they could've easily scored higher or lower just based on the day/questions in the exam.

Looking for a teacher who knows EVERYTHING is stupid. A teacher that can do your exam for your is pointless if they can't teach. If, because of the teacher, you can understand the curriculum, and they have given you enough independent thinking ability to answer the questions you come across, then they've done their job spectacular. If they've done that, who honestly cares if the highest score they can get is a 50 or a 10?

[brenden]

There's a teacher at my old school who graduated with like a 50 ATAR and was a bartender for a little while until one day he up and decided to become a teacher. The students hang shit on him (jovially), but I'm pretty sure he's generated more 40+ scores in the past few years than any other teacher at our school. He's a very dedicated teacher and a lovely guy.

[JackSonSmith]

It's kind of like football coaches who might not be able to compete against other players on the field, yet are able to turn out some amazing players.

[odeaa]

The best teachers are not always the ones who are naturally intelligent, but the ones who actually struggled and had to put in lots of effort to learn, and can then explain things to other people of similar intellect

[Zealous]

Regardless, as Shenz0r suggested, I would much prefer a '40 study score' teacher who taught well, rather than a '50 study score' teacher who did not.

Definitely agree with this. I also agree that you can never guarantee a 50 study score - there is too much dependence on the one exam and anything can happen on the day.

Anyway, this is sort of relevant:

Going into Year 12 last year, I found out that my Physics teacher was brand new to teaching and just graduated from uni. Being the incredibly nosy and curious person I am, I found through Quppa that he achieved a low 40 in Physics back when he did it (too much spare time xD).

Did that mean anything? Not at all. I was aiming for a 50 myself in Physics but I didn't look back on what he achieved in Physics. I instead looked at what he could help me achieve in Physics. I can say that I learnt the most about Physics from him the entire year - not from a textbook or from the internet. He really helped me work on the theory which I was having a hard time getting my head around.

So maybe he wasn't the "50" student, but his communication skills and dedication to students I think was a key factor in helping him get "50" students.

Just my two cents.

[MDMA]

Teachers don't have to remember stuff so they can just read shit out of a book and regurgitate it. None of my teachers would have had the aptitude for a 50 and I think out of my six teachers maybe one would get a 40.

Brighton Grammar I think is now the most expensive school in Melbourne which I went to and it is a complete shit hole with the worst teachers. They've got a new headmaster whose going to fire all the shit c*nts but they are stuck with them for a few more years.

Mod edit: touching up on the language

[spaciiey]

It doesn't matter whether or not they are capable of getting 50. Heck, when I did Methods I only got a 32 and yet I went on to major in maths at university and am going to study to become a maths teacher. Obviously you need to know your subject well but just because you know it well doesn't mean that you will be a good teacher. A good teacher is much more than that.

[pi]

I added the last option to the poll (for anyone confused who voted early).

I don't think it's fair or relevant to judge a teacher on how they did in school simply because it was so long ago (people change over time etc.) and I personally think experience in the subject and the ability to deliver the subject content in a concise, logical, simple and engaging way, is far more important.

Similarly, I don't think the hypothetical scenario of how they would do in an exam setting is a relevant one. Their job is to teach content, not sit exams. Your job is sitting exams, and let's keep those roles clear

[cosine]

Is it true that to get a 50 in anything, you need to be able to teach the subject to the teacher's level?? What I mean is to be able to know the content so well that you would be able to teach it to others?

[Joseph41]

Is it true that to get a 50 in anything, you need to be able to teach the subject to the teacher's level?? What I mean is to be able to know the content so well that you would be able to teach it to others?

I don't think that's a prerequisite - a lot depends on how lucky you get with the exam - but in many cases, it's probably a happy coincidence. And, as this thread suggests, knowing the content and being able to teach it well are two completely different concepts.

I wouldn't worry too much; knowing a course particularly well won't sound nearly as daunting by the end of the year.

[Callum@1373]

I can guarantee that some of my teachers would not have scored perfect 50s; however, I daresay that other teachers that I have had would more than likely go extremely close to Premier's Awards.

Regardless, as Shenz0r suggested, I would much prefer a '40 study score' teacher who taught well, rather than a '50 study score' teacher who did not.

This is so true  My spesh teacher this year is sometimes clueless but is the funniest guy haha