A Political Rant

[Trek420]

Just tired of the media and politicians thinking the teachers are the ones messing up.

Veronica

Just wondering how much of this could be due to the parents; lack of involvement, concern, involvement with the school or even other issues in the home?

Edited to add: What Crankin sed

[Wahine]

I don't have any answers or insights. There are many others on this forum much more qualified to discuss the underlying issues. I just wanted to say that the whole situation sucks and my heart goes out to you. Your job is unbelievably difficult.

[OakLeaf]

Interesting article: http://www.alternet.org/education/le...current_page=1

V., I'm just posting this out of interest, not suggesting that you should be the one to spearhead bringing restorative justice to your school, especially not with everything else you do.

+1 on how difficult your job is, and how much I admire your dedication to it.

[Veronica]

I'm just glad I have a place I can vent. My poor husband is sick of hearing the same things over and over. We found out last Wed. that we had to do our state science testing this week - the week before spring break. We started yesterday and will finish it today. Testing in CA this year is a disaster. Language Arts and Math are on the computer. I have yet to have 31 working computers in the lab... That's a whole other issue.

Last Thursday I told my class that we have to do the science testing this week. We have covered everything in science this year - except the chapter on the human body. I suggested they read that chapter over the weekend. About 12 of them took their books home; they were studying together before school yesterday morning and again at their morning recess. The other 2 fifth grade teachers were stunned. "How do you get so many of them to care?" one of then asked me. I don't know how you can be a teacher and not work on developing rapport with your kids. They care because I've made them believe it's important to always try your hardest and to give your best effort.

Today is Jump Rope for Heart day. My class is jumping after lunch during my prep. I'm bringing a change of clothes and going out doing my prep time to jump with them. Partly, 'cause I like jump rope, partly because I won't be responsible for discipline during this time and can just play with them and mostly because the kids will like it. It's going to be like 85 degrees and I am going to stink after! But I've only got 50 minutes of the day left at that point. You can bet the other two teachers won't be out there.

Back to the science test - one of my black boys works so freakin' hard. His family has been homeless and he came to me last March. He was wild and very resistant to authority all the rest of fourth grade. He's made so much progress this year in fifth grade, but he still has the "attitude" with other adults. I've been trying to coach him in how to speak his mind without sounding like a jerk because the gut reaction of the adults will be that he's just another loser kid. I worry so much about him leaving me for middle school. I hope he connects with one of his teachers there, that one of them will see beyond the "bad boy" and will push him to continue to excel at academics. He's mischievous and can be really hilarious. He's a disruption on occasion, but he's a good kid. He was one of my "studiers".

Veronica

[Crankin]

What you describe is why I kept teaching for 31 years.
Oak, in reference to the article you linked, 2 things. One, they are using the restorative justice concept in some schools around here, and two, I had the occasion to deal with a KIPP school last fall, in my old job. One of my clients, transferred to this new charter school. She had been going to a very good elementary school in a very rough part of Lowell. She didn't live near the school, Lowell has school choice in a limited way. This kid was referred for counseling by this public school and I saw her at school. The kid and her mom were relocated here in a "protective" program by the courts in another state, far away, because of DV perpetrated by the father. That said, the KIPP school was uncooperative in every way, to the point I was meeting with the kid in an open area in the cafeteria! One day, I went in, in January, and I was told I could no longer see her at school. Basically, they didn't want outsiders observing their program. There must have been 10 different therapists coming in, from different agencies and we were all banned. It was so creepy, I left every week with a sick feeling in my stomach.