I am one of the students in the class of Mr. Navas – a class where a significant lack of effective academic instruction is painfully apparent. Despite the reliance on textbooks, Mr. Navas has not made an effort to add personal insights, or vary his teaching style to accommodate the diverse learning styles of students. Moreover, his response to students struggling with learning is dismissive at best, merely telling them to study harder.

The result is a stark decline in the quality of education, a deepening disinterest among students and an alarming absence of progress. It is concerning, as the importance of a solid 8th-grade education forms the basis for future academic performance and career prospects.

According to data from The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), an understanding and uptake of core concepts in 8th-grade often serves as a predictor for high school performance and graduation rates. Moreover, statistically speaking, an ineffective teacher can cause a student to lag a full year behind their peers (The New Teacher Project, 2012).

Regrettably, Mr. Navas has chosen to teach in an effective manner only when monitored by a fellow educator. This behavior not only defies the ethics of teaching but is also a disservice to his students, who should not have to settle for substandard education.

For the future of myself and my fellow students, we urge the school administration to intervene and ensure Mr. Navas enhances his teaching methods and improves his approach towards learning. Please sign this petition to help improve the quality of education in Mr. Navas' class.