What a day...

[tulip]

Why do you do it?

[crazycanuck]

V..I too ask..Why do you put up with that crap? Í can't stand most school kids as they don't seem to have respect & are just wrapped in bubble paper. UGH.

Is there a teacher's college in California & can you get a position training new teachers?

This is why some people should be banned from having children. That and require a licence to have them.

Rant over..

[malkin]

Dang.

I work with hard kids, but that's what our whole program is for.
It sounds like you need more support.

[Tri Girl]

Yeah, V- why do you do it? A colleague told me the other day that she's tired of working harder than them (in the sense that she constantly is trying to keep up with their missing/late work and making sure they have what they need to bring home- when they don't care themselves to better their grades).

For me, this is the first year in 11 years that I've really questioned my career choice. I've looked into other fields, but to teach in college around here I need a doctorate (I don't even have a Masters), and going back to school at this stage in life to find a new career just isn't an option. I just need to find a different avenue in the school system. Librarian? Title 1 tutor? Deep down I still really love working with kids and helping them- I just don't know that a regular classroom teacher is for me anymore. I welcome any ideas of what I could possibly do with a teaching degree- besides teach.

Kids are just really different in the last 8 years or so. I don't know why.

I'll stop posting now. I'm probably just sounding like a jaded, bitter person who's seen too much and is disillusioned about what her career has become (but if the kettle's black...)

[tribogota]

TRIGIRL, we have the opposite syndrome, I want to leave college teaching and have a Ph.D, they won't let me into the public schools without a certificate and don't want to go back to school and "student" teach when I have actually helped write some of the manuals they use to teach teachers....arg!

It is great to see how many of us are teachers, I really do believe that my student's selfishness and insanity drive me to triathlon, which although totally INSANE, seems sane in comparison.

My latest fights of the year are cell phones, a student answered her phone, I said not to, she put her open hand up to my face in the 'whatever' position and walked out. I locked the door and wouldn't let her back in in, her dad called the dean, I GOT IN TROUBLE.

It isn't really about WHY we teach, it is about WHY WE DON'T GET SUPPORT? Why we aren't respected?

[twin]

and more to go...things have changed and I wonder sometimes if another 10 years is something I want to do. I teach art and you would think most students would enjoy art.....not so much anymore. I have some excellent student artists this year!!!! Yea! A good year for contests!

[Irulan]

cell phones are banned in our district. They confiscate them & collect them in the principals office if they are caught with them.

[Veronica]

There are times when I love my job. They are getting fewer. I love the conversations that you can have with kids this age. They are on the cusp of learning how to think and problem solve. They can be so creative. I love seeing their faces light up when they "get it." I love the curriculum. I enjoy planning out what I'm going to teach and how to best engage each group of students.

In the last 4 years the demographics at my school have really changed. We have a lot more section 8 families. I grew up on welfare and the issue isn't that they're poor. It's the lack of personal responsibility, the sense of entitlement. I think a lot of families are trying to move out of some gangish areas in CA, but they aren't changing their outlook on life and they are bringing some of that garbage with them.

In this particular class I have ten kids with some serious home or behavior issues. It's a very messed up group. You want to be compassionate, but at the same time, there are lines that they just can't cross.

Veronica

[solobiker]

What a tough situation. I don't envy you with having to deal with all of that C***. Things are just getting bad all over and I agree with you on the entitlement aspect. I have seen it in my line of work as well. Are you counting down the days until summer break.

[crazycanuck]

Trigirl-tis ok to vent. I have no idea what else you could do with a teaching degree ? What about in your state education office? Can you do more training (yes, ok $$$ ) or eventually return to school? Would you consider moving overseas for a different perspective.

V & TG-I admire you for sticking with the kids. I know i'd jump out a window or go do the Appalaichan trail (Bib track here in WA...)

[derailed]

To the teachers: Hang in there!

I went to school with a *bad bunch*, and defensive parents. We had a kid bring a gun to school, lots of drug problems, pregnancies. We had entitlement problems, we had parents calling teachers to raise heck. We had cars vandalised, kids giving more than lip, and all types of drama.

Some of those kids aren't with us anymore. Others have grown up to turn their lives around. I run into people who made teachers' and students' lives complete nightmares.

Some of these horrid place holders aren't worth the time of day, I agree. However, you will be surprised and delighted at which ones turn things around and make a positive stamp on the world around them. You may be more surprised at how many of them remember you as the best thing that ever happened to them.

Respect is so far outside these kids' experience that they think it means fear. They won't show it, so they try to force others to feel it.

All my best wishes of strength and fortitude to you.