IB Chemistry students at Robinson have faced significant challenges over the past year due to the absence of a qualified, consistent teacher. Since the first semester of last year, roughly 100 to 200 chemistry students have lacked stable guidance.
Although a qualified teacher was briefly assigned, that support was short-lived. The ongoing inconsistency has raised concerns among parents and students about students’ ability to meet course expectations and excel in the IB program.
Everyone knows chemistry is a challenging subject, and without a teacher, IB juniors and seniors taking chemistry are certainly feeling the weight of it. Lacking an instructor requires students to learn self-sufficiently, but many have struggled to grapple with learning the curriculum properly.
SL chemistry student Sarah Williams (‘27) shares her experience with self-teaching.
“Not having a teacher makes it so much harder to understand. Especially because the (other) teacher supervising our class doesn’t allow us to come and ask questions unless it’s her lunch period, which means the only time we can get for questions is during the 5th period when none of us have free time,” Williams said.
While the lack of having a teacher disrupts their learning, it has also taught students to work collaboratively with each other.
SL chemistry student Amelie Russell (‘27) shares her perspective about her adjusting to the changes with her peers.
“Chemistry without a teacher has been stressful but my classmates and I have worked together to give each other resources we find.”
Although there has been no teacher to help them, every student has been left in the same place compelling everyone to cooperate to work effectively and gain as much knowledge as they can.
Since these are IB courses, students are pressured to complete their IAs, but without a teacher many are left not knowing where to start. Handling the class all by yourself is enough of a struggle, but handling assessments and exams that are the determining factor of whether you get your diploma places extra stress on them.
Senior Angela Elizondo describes the process as extremely stressful, explaining that students aren’t receiving the preparation they need.
“I feel quite unprepared for my IA; we haven’t been given any information. And for most of my other classes, my IAs are already done,” Elizondo said.
As the school year continues, students taking IB chemistry continue managing the demanding program with limited support. While many are doing their best to stay on track, the lack of proper guidance has held students back and left them feeling unprepared. Students remain hopeful that a further solution is achieved, before any more of their academic progress is affected.
