I've talked extensively about this with a former 7th grade math teacher of both my kids. This guy has been teaching for over 25 years, kids like him, and parents request him as a math teacher because he is good.
He has grown very tired of a system where the bottom of the class is where he finds out if he meets CC requirements. Some of these kids barely make it to school, and have almost no intention of finishing, and don't care, yet his success hinges on them.
He spends most of his time meeting with parents from the bottom of the class while the kids who are doing average and up are left alone.
