By Michelle Huang and Cathy Wang | Staff Writer and Opinions Editor
One World History class and three U.S. History Classes began the school year without an official teacher. As a result, substitute teacher Ms. Hammack has been overseeing the classes, which have moved to Norse Hall.
Currently, little information regarding the situation is available.
“We are waiting for the district office to either place a teacher or open that job [to hire],” said Vice Principal Jay Jackson, explaining that the administration is still waiting on information from the district office.
Despite the lack of a permanent teacher, the classes have continued to work on projects and assignments, studying maps of the United States and the world and taking notes from their textbooks.
“I get lesson plans from the department head,” said Ms. Hammack. “I meet with the other history teachers daily to make sure [the history classes] are all on the same page.”
Nonetheless, some students are concerned about changes to tests and grading that may occur once a permanent teacher steps in.
“I’m worried about what the class is going to be like after they find a new teacher,” said junior Humza Khan. “So far we aren’t getting prepared.”
Khan is not alone in his sentiments. “I don’t want to have to get used to a new teacher or a new way of learning in the middle of the year,” said junior Shreya Barma.
Overall, reactions towards the situation are mixed. While many are frustrated or worried, other students feel more relaxed. “It’s a little strange how we don’t have a permanent teacher, ” said junior Nickita Gupta, “but things like this happen so I’m not too concerned.”
“I’m honestly not worried about who the teacher is as long as I get to learn,” said sophomore Tejas Polakam. “[Ms. Hammack] has a very nice personality and seems eager to teach.”
Until the district office takes action to find a permanent teacher, students are likely going to have to take a page out of their history books and follow the advice of the French peasantry. “I guess we’ll just have to accept our condition and endure,” said junior Danyal Mohammad.
