Living in Egypt , near denial... or I'm ready to quit

[Tuckervill]

It's not the parents and it's not the teachers. It's the institution. An institution that groups large numbers of same-age children in one place is unnatural for children, and prohibits and inhibits natural growth that would otherwise occur in a multi-generational family, and their larger community. No one can be blamed individually for the problems that the idea of mass-produced education has inflicted on our society, and which have infiltrated our families in insidious ways.

It's good for a society to have an educated populace. The institution as it has evolved to be has become unwieldy and is past its usefulness. Yes, I say, abandon it. Or at least don't be afraid to consider ways to the same end.

Learnin' happens.

Karen

[Biciclista]

I agree, you do sound like a great teacher. However, I am not really sure that CHILDREN have changed that much. Is it better or worse that kids with behavior problems now come with paperwork? When I was a kid, the teacher got 35 surprises in their classroom every september. Sure, the worse kids came with a reputation, incorrigible, delinquent, retarded. But not all of them, and there were no "tools" with how to deal with them except maybe a stick!

Hang in there, you're making the world a better place.

[Andrea]

... 35 surprises in their classroom every september...

I feel similar to this when I get my 50+ new college students every semester- I can only imagine what it would be like with children!!!

[beccaB]

I have no doubt that inactivity makes ADHD and other issues much worse. The problems become magnified on the school bus, which does not bring out the best in most children.

[Veronica]

However, I am not really sure that CHILDREN have changed that much. Is it better or worse that kids with behavior problems now come with paperwork?

Yes children have changed. They see R rated movies now. They play video games like Grand Theft Auto - a game that promotes criminal activity and not just stealing cars.

Regarding the extra paperwork - yeah it's nice to know what the students are like... but who has time to complete the paperwork? I already put in 8+ hours daily and 2 - 4 hours each weekend day, just to keep up with lesson planning and grading. I'm not one of those teachers who does the same thing for years. I tailor my instruction to the needs of my class. Working with 30 ten years olds is physically and mentally draining. Your brain is constantly on and your body is nearly always in motion. There are days when I am on from 8:15 to 12:30 with just a 15 minute break for recess, which often turns into more like ten. If you were ever a lifeguard, teaching is like being constantly on deck, watching the pool. You are ALWAYS vigilant.

This week I have one of the 504 meetings. It's scheduled for 11:15 and a sub will be coming into my room. So, I needed to do the paperwork for the 504 and sub plans. Again, that's not something you just whip out in 2 - 3 minutes.

It could be worse. I could have my 504 meeting at 3 PM on Friday. That's what one of my peers has. We're never asked what's a good time for the meeting by the way. They are always scheduled for the parents' convenience. She is supposed to be picking up her 5 year old to take him to his Fall Fest. Fortunately, we have a good principal and she's promised her the meeting will end at 3:30. By contract, we're supposed to be able to leave at 3 on Fridays. Of course the contract also has a meeting clause in it.

Yes, teachers do have personal lives.

Veronica

[OakLeaf]

For all the ugliness in some video games today, I don't think there's overt racism. That particular word I'm guessing he picked up at home.

[alpinerabbit]

he kid who wrote all those nasty words, the one being raised with good Christian values... He told the principal he did that because his videos games, like Grand Theft Auto, are a bad influence on him. They encourage him to make such poor choices.

That's even worse, because he is obviously already mature enough to understand, and smart enough to manipulate. Disgusting.

For all the ugliness in some video games today, I don't think there's overt racism. That particular word I'm guessing he picked up at home.

or from some of his weasely little friends. Maybe his mom should spend less time instilling him with bigoted christian values and more time looking into what he's actually doing in his spare time.

[Veronica]

A photocopy of the cootie catcher went home.

Mom knows he has the video game. The principal and last year's teacher both encouraged her to take it away from him. She did - for two weeks.

Veronica

[Veronica]

In mom's defense, she is a single parent and she is trying.

I think the boy needs to be held much more accountable for his actions. By ten most kids understand what is right and what is wrong. He does understand because he has come to me on more than one occassion to tell me about other students who have done many of the same things he does (bullying, inappropriate language, body contact...)

I just don't know what "holding him more accountable" should look like. In all honesty I'd like him ostracized in the class by the class - not permanently. But when he does some of this garbage I'd really like his peers to let him know how despicable his behavior is.

He's been suspended numerous times. He's lost tons of recess time over the years. Those things aren't lasting and don't matter. The class refusing to socialize with him might matter. Trouble is - I have about 6 others who think bad behavior is cool. How do you ostracize 1/4 of your class? I'd love to make him sit in the corner. He can still hear instruction and I can see him... but that would be bad for his self esteem. Too bad.

Veronica

[maillotpois]

It is SO hard to get kids to own up to mistakes, apologize or be accountable. ANY kids. I have this fight over and over with Em. She's a good kid but she will NOT admit a mistake. I keep telling her I would rather shat she is honest, back down, admit she's wrong or made a mistake than arguing about it. I figure if I keep reinforcing it eventually she will start doing it. I'd rather you say you screwed up and be accountable than trying to evade blame. Blame's not that bad. It's life. Everyone makes mistakes.

Having a peer group that thinks bad behavior is cool makes it tough for you V. And I don't know what you do to make it sink in. I think you just have to keep chipping away at it, keep the mom informed (and put your asbestos earmuffs on when she leaves you voice mails) and just know you are trying to do what you can.

[Velobambina]

Yes children have changed. They see R rated movies now. They play video games like Grand Theft Auto - a game that promotes criminal activity and not just stealing cars. ...

I agree wholeheartedly, and what V has mentioned is just the tip of the iceberg.

Keep fighting the good fight, V. You are making a difference.

[Tri Girl]

I understand, V. I REALLY do.
Not to add to your insanity, but just so you understand: I have a group of kids this year that literally make me hate going to work (and I've never hated teaching). Lucky for me (insert extreme sarcasm) I get to teach all 104 5th graders. A good 30 of them make my life hell everyday. I take so much time dealing with discipline and teaching right from wrong and catching them being sneaky, that the other 70 don't get what they need. It's like teaching preschoolers.
All day I say things like: Johnny, don't touch that. Sam, take your pencil out of your ear. Joey, you've been working on that paper for 30 min. and only have one problem done. Bob, stop licking your arm and the desk. The minute my mouth shuts- theirs immediately open and are talking non-stop. It spreads like wildfire. It's insane. The word fa@@ot is all over the place. Really, I'm ready to leave teaching. In the 11 years I've been doing it- it's gotten worse and worse. I fear for the future. I just know I can't handle dealing with it every day.
Now, on the other side- the other 70 I have are wonderful. I wish I could tape the mouths shut and tape the 30 to their chairs so I could have some meaningful learning time with the ones who really want to learn. I'd go to prison if I did that, but for one day it might be worth it....
And don't get me started on the parents I have to deal with, too. I've just accepted that it's always my fault this year, it's not their kid, I'm to blame for their 11 years of bad child rearing and I'm just picking on their kid.

Now it's off to work to go play policeman, counselor, judge, jury, mother, dictator...

[Veronica]

What is it with the constant talking?! My class never shuts up either. Whatever happened to, "Don't talk when an adult is talking?" They are so rude to other adults at our school. The librarian hates my class... the noon supervisors hate my class... the PE teacher... the sub I had yesterday...

And everything is about me! (meaning each individual child) I don't think I have ever had such a selfish, self absorbed class before.

I wonder if there was something in the air when these kids were born....

Do what you can to keep your sanity.

Veronica

[Tri Girl]

The librarian hates my class... the noon supervisors hate my class... the PE teacher... the sub I had yesterday...

I know what you mean. I have a hard time finding a sub. I have to have surgery next month and it's pulling teeth to find someone who will actually sit in a room with my class for 5 days.

I wonder if there was something in the air when these kids were born....

Do what you can to keep your sanity.

Veronica

I wonder the same thing...

You try to keep your sanity, too. We'll make it through... I hope.


I measure my days by how many glasses of wine it'll take to take the edge off when I get home.
Today is a 4 glass day. Not a good one. There were tears (and some of them were mine).