If there's a class of 20 students and two students fail that class, is it really the teacher's fault?

No. The teacher isn't responsible for making sure Joe gets his work done. She can't make him, so she can't be blamed when he doesn't.

As someone studying education, I wish I could give the students I work with A's for effort. I really, really do.
Unfortunately, if Isabelle isn't getting the material, passing her isn't fair to her, especially.
For her, it's just going to make it harder when she tries to take the seguinte class. If she couldn't understand what came before, realistically, she's not going to understand what comes after any better.

I also don't think blaming the teacher because four students "just" passed is right either, especially since you haven't given us a "profile" of what kind of students they were. Maybe they leaned mais on Joe's side, where they put forth very little effort.

Or, perhaps, it's the subject itself. We all have our week and strong points. For example, math is a subject I have always struggled with. Even my "best" teachers couldn't teach me. I constantly have to re-take math courses because it takes at least two tries before I start to really understand. Maybe this class is Isabelle's "worst" class.

Maybe Isabelle had a rough year, and the stress and emotions made it harder for her to learn the information.

As a student studying as a teacher, sometimes a student will have trouble with the teaching style, and it does sometimes effect their grade. Not all students learn the same way, and no teacher teaches the same way, and it is exceptionally difficult (nearly impossible) to try and pass off information in a way that 20 students -- who all learn in different ways and utilize that information in different ways -- will understand exactly the same.

tl;dr There's tons of reasons why a student could be getting bad grades, regardless of the work they're putting in, that have nothing to do with the teacher.

Like bri-marie, I have also studied education, and I am certified to teach K-8 and ELL in Washington, so that is where my expertise lies.

The short answer - if 10% of your students fail, you're doing your job. When I was in high school, our physics teachers - who were without argument the best and most beloved in the school - failed half their students on tests, quizzes and projects. Why? To motivate them. To explain that half-assing it isn't good enough. These teachers graded students on their efforts and their merits, and gave kids what they deserved. por the end of the semester, all students were passing because they had earned it.

As Taylor Mali once beautifully said, "I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor and an A- feel like a slap in the face. How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best."

Because in the end, despite what parents and students think, your education isn't about your grades, it's about you, and what you are learning. If you aren't learning, you don't deserve to pass.

In his artigo entitled "link" Ron Clark said "You shouldn't assume that because your child makes straight A's that he/she is getting a good education. The truth is, a lot of times it's the bad teachers who give the easiest grades, because they know por giving good grades everyone will leave them alone. Parents will say, "My child has a great teacher! He made all A's this year!""

America's education system, in my opinion is suffering from grade inflation. Time was, a "C" was literally average - most kids were supposed to get Cs. Bs were considered above average, and As were reserved only for the truly exceptional. Now, we hand out As like candy. Even when I was in school, there are very few As I felt that I had earned. Most were literally just handed to me to make it easier, and to help it look good on my transcripts for college.

As for your scenario, Joe has other issues beyond academics that should be addressed, and Isabelle, despite her effort, is clearly missing something. Both of these problems cannot and should not be blamed on the teacher, but they shouldn't be ignored either. In fact, ignoring them would be doing them a disservice. Joe requires intervention in regards to motivation and time management. Isabelle requires intervention that may be as serious as a learning disability or as easily rectified as giving her a different teacher that gels better with her personality and learning style. Or anything in between.

When a student fails, it shouldn't be seen as a horrible thing. Instead, it should be seen as a pergunta that needs an answer. And that pergunta isn't "Whose fault is it that this student failed?" The pergunta is "Why did this student fail, and what can we do to ensure her success seguinte time around?"

I'll think about this a little more... but for now, I do not think it is the teacher's fault. Joe has no motivation, so that is completely his responsibility. But as for Isabelle, the teacher's way of teaching was probably not her preferred way of learning. Students don't all learn at the same rate or in the same way.
I think the teacher did a great job at teaching. Joe needs motivation if he is going to improve, and Isabelle just has to maybe switch classes, or find a new way to study so she can comprehend all of her lessons. :)
That's it for now. I might say mais later.

No. I'd say it's the teachers fault if mais than half the class fails.

i think the teacher could have put in a little mais effort, maybe making the work into fun activities, or....when he/she realized that isabelle was failing, (because isabelle is a willing student) she could have idk, like sat down with isabelle or something :\ maybe joe hated class because the students were picking on him, maybe he had family problems, the teacher could have asked joe about it, maybe she could have gotten joe counseling, or spoken to joe's parents because i don't think any child "wants" to fail, no one is just lazy and nobody dreams of being unsuccesful, and isabelle, maybe she needed special help, or a special tutor, any child who is that determined is capeable of success, after all we're humans and humans r smart. maybe the teacher did all those things and still failed then the teacher cannot "totally" be blamed but you can't blame the poor little kids either, if the teacher did all this and still failed, then life just sucks...blame life X__________X

I would think you would have to take it por a case por case basis. There are some students who just can't grasp certain subjects. They may have to take a class a segundo time to figure things out. In such a case, the teacher is not to blame.
From eperiance, back in the dark ages when I went to school, there were teachers that would not put extra effort towards a student they did not like, or found odd. (yes I know this from personal experience) Today I think there is a better understanding among teachers. Although it's is rare it can still happen. In such a case I would say the teacher is at least partially responsible.
I think the sign of a good teacher is one who encourages, pushes and helps students reach thier potential while instilling self esteem.
I know in some states they want to change the standards for layoffs from senority to perfomance based. I just can not see how they would be able to create the standards that teahers would be judged by. Because no two classes are the same. Also, at least in my state, a class of 20 students is not realistic at this time. Classes tend to be larger, which makes it harder for teachers to give individual attention.

I think it was unfair for the teacher to fail Isabelle since she was actually trying. As for Joe, his failure is his own fault.

It's not the teachers fault. Its the students fault. They are supposed to study at início not play stupid video games and watch TV! Students need to study to be they best in class! You will become a nerd (not wearing glasses unless you wear glasses). being a nerd will let your life brighten up! Imaging riches!!!

No because it's only 2 kids