Is this the teacher's fault or the student's?

On two quizzes we got not too long ago, the quiz average was in the 40's, like 41.6 or something like that. Apparently, several people got 13's, and in my teacher's words, "would've been better off just bubbling D for all the answers". I love this teacher, he's really great and pretty much one of the only teachers I have this year that actually wants us to learn and have an impact and whatnot instead of just half-heartedly trying to get us to pass state testing at the end of the year. Thing is, a lot of people don't do the homework because it's massive and it takes me, for example, anywhere from 2-6 hours. It's the homework that prepares them for the quiz, so they fail. That's not the teacher's fault-there are also several that are passing, and those that are normally get high grades-I have a 96, I think my friend has a 94, my other friend also has a 96...etc.

Sometimes, it's not the teacher's fault, but the class calls for kids to apply themselves and they don't.

Othertimes, such as in my Biology class, nobody cares, neither the teacher nor the students, and we all fail.

It can go either way.

This depends on several things. Where did the test come from? If the teacher made it up, it hadn't been validated, and it may just have been a matter of poor distractors (on a multiple choice test) or poorly written questions. If it was a standardized test, it either wasn't testing what you'd learned, or you had failed to learn what you were supposed to learn. Determining how much of that was the teacher's fault depends on what has gone on. If the teacher has tried to present the material and has answered questions, but the students didn't study or make any attempt to make sure they had learned the materials, then it's not the teacher's fault. If the students have done everything they were told to do, and really tried to study, then something is wrong either with the test or with the materials you have to study for the test.

A lot depends on the subject matter, too. If it was social studies, and the questions on the test were from the book, then you should have been able to learn the material no matter what the teacher did. If it was math, which is a skill, the teacher need to structure practice experiences and feedback to make sure you have developed the skills- if you do the practice your'e supposed to.

The teacher needs to teach so the student can do well in a test. The teacher should give the basics of what they're teaching, and give work for them to do so that the student knows how do do the work. If the teacher does that and the student still has low scores, the student probably is not studying or not paying attention to class.

Tests are not the only indicators of what's happening in a class. Are the students given regular sample equations to practice daily, either in class or as homework? Are students engaged in class discussion, and asking and answering questions from the instructor? Are regular assignments turned in, and if so, are they graded, or corrected? Is the teacher available for students who need extra help with the class, and if so, are they taking advantage of the opportunity? You need more evidence to answer your question.

Clearly the students knew before this test that they weren't performing well. What have they done about it? Fault isn't really the issue here: the issue is responsibility, and students are responsible for their own performance up until the point when they have done absolutely everything possible.

I'd say a generally low average is the fault of the teacher.