What a day...

[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.