I have a new number one on my all time top 5 things I hate about teaching--which is impressive because I really love being a teacher. The old number one was parents. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge advocate for parents being active in their kids education, and I fully believe that the more active the parent is, the better their child will perform. I just hate when parents call me three days after final grades are in and demand that I change their child's grade because "[their] child is not a B/C/D/F student."
I'm sorry, sometimes (and by sometimes I mean most of the time) they are B students at best!
Anyway, my new number one (followed very closely by parents) is whiny kids. I have had, in the past week, kids complain about everything I ask them to do, from quietly watching a movie (the new Star Trek--why would you complain about two days of watching a movie? I prayed for days like that when i was in school!) to listening to me lecture. I shit you not, I had a student look at me today and ask if I was done talking so she could finish her discussion with her neighbor. This same student elected to correct me when I called another student by their GIVEN name and not the nick name that they are more commonly known by. I was a little frustrated. If i could, I would have thrown her ass out the door. But, thanks to the powers that be, we get to practice patience in our classroom and acceptance. This new age "love and logic" bull shit is going to kill me. Sometimes a kid needs to get kicked out of class and put in their place.
GRRRRRRRR!
Some days I question why I went into the field of education, and then I remember it is so I could teach college, where you pay to take classes and if you fail a class mommy and daddy can't call the professor and chew them out for failing you. It is your own damn fault.
Seriously, when did we stop teaching kids to take ownership for their actions and begin saying it is OK to let the blame fall on someone else. If you fail, it is obviously because the teacher was unable to reach you because your special. You are a brilliant student even though you cannot tell the difference between Your, You're, Yor or any other homophone. You can't spell your name right or string together a sentence more complex than "See spot run," but you will graduate valedictorian because you joined lots of clubs and cheered really loud at homecoming. Good luck when you do leave these walls because we are sending you out with no marketable skills and no real life awareness, but your be OK. The world is your oyster and when things get tough you'll just make lemon aid. BLAH BLAH BLAH!
... Sorry, Ranting ...
Anyway, if you ever have kids, or if you already do have kids, please teach them that they are responsible for their successes and failures in life. And if they are having a difficult time with a teacher (because we are not perfect and not every student will connect with us or our teaching methods), tell them to talk to that teacher to see what compromise can be arrived at .. preferably before there is nothing that I (or the teacher) can do to solve the issue. Contrary to popular, unspoken belief, teachers cannot read minds (though you'd be surprised how adept you get a guessing after teaching for 7+ years) and need to be informed if there is a problem/concern. If you don't go talk to them, they will assume that everything is just fine and will continue doing as they always have.
...
So, that was much longer than I planned on ranting. Ha-ha, i guess I had more pent up frustrations than I thought I did. On a lighter note, I got to have my kids for Thanksgiving this year! I was super excited and had so much fun playing with them, stuffing our faces, watching the parade, napping, playing in the leaves, and a weekend full of activities. They are the one thing I am most thankful for. I hope everyone else had a good holiday too!
Cheers,
Price
I'm sorry, sometimes (and by sometimes I mean most of the time) they are B students at best!
Anyway, my new number one (followed very closely by parents) is whiny kids. I have had, in the past week, kids complain about everything I ask them to do, from quietly watching a movie (the new Star Trek--why would you complain about two days of watching a movie? I prayed for days like that when i was in school!) to listening to me lecture. I shit you not, I had a student look at me today and ask if I was done talking so she could finish her discussion with her neighbor. This same student elected to correct me when I called another student by their GIVEN name and not the nick name that they are more commonly known by. I was a little frustrated. If i could, I would have thrown her ass out the door. But, thanks to the powers that be, we get to practice patience in our classroom and acceptance. This new age "love and logic" bull shit is going to kill me. Sometimes a kid needs to get kicked out of class and put in their place.
GRRRRRRRR!
Some days I question why I went into the field of education, and then I remember it is so I could teach college, where you pay to take classes and if you fail a class mommy and daddy can't call the professor and chew them out for failing you. It is your own damn fault.
Seriously, when did we stop teaching kids to take ownership for their actions and begin saying it is OK to let the blame fall on someone else. If you fail, it is obviously because the teacher was unable to reach you because your special. You are a brilliant student even though you cannot tell the difference between Your, You're, Yor or any other homophone. You can't spell your name right or string together a sentence more complex than "See spot run," but you will graduate valedictorian because you joined lots of clubs and cheered really loud at homecoming. Good luck when you do leave these walls because we are sending you out with no marketable skills and no real life awareness, but your be OK. The world is your oyster and when things get tough you'll just make lemon aid. BLAH BLAH BLAH!
... Sorry, Ranting ...
Anyway, if you ever have kids, or if you already do have kids, please teach them that they are responsible for their successes and failures in life. And if they are having a difficult time with a teacher (because we are not perfect and not every student will connect with us or our teaching methods), tell them to talk to that teacher to see what compromise can be arrived at .. preferably before there is nothing that I (or the teacher) can do to solve the issue. Contrary to popular, unspoken belief, teachers cannot read minds (though you'd be surprised how adept you get a guessing after teaching for 7+ years) and need to be informed if there is a problem/concern. If you don't go talk to them, they will assume that everything is just fine and will continue doing as they always have.
...
So, that was much longer than I planned on ranting. Ha-ha, i guess I had more pent up frustrations than I thought I did. On a lighter note, I got to have my kids for Thanksgiving this year! I was super excited and had so much fun playing with them, stuffing our faces, watching the parade, napping, playing in the leaves, and a weekend full of activities. They are the one thing I am most thankful for. I hope everyone else had a good holiday too!
Cheers,
Price
What in the hell? What did you say when they ask if you were done talking? I would have said no and if you dont keep your mouth shut Im going to move you to a new seat so you will not get to talk to your neighbor at all.
Well then why are you not teaching at a college then? If that is what you really want to do.
Well that is why in America we are failing now, in other areas of the world they are making it tougher on the kids so they can compete with the rest of the world, we are just telling our kids that we are Americans and we are better then the rest of the world, I hope things change before to long.
Im really glad you got to be with your kinds for thanksgiving.