AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2005 > May > 09
Monday, May 9, 2005
She’s Outta There
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This arrived in my inbox today. I edited it a bit for space…
“You are evil! Oh, you are so evil! Why don’t you die or something?”
“Ms. ___, why are you so fat?”
“You need some. Your man needs to take hold of you ‘cause you need some bad. Don’t you have any kind of life?”
“Do we have to work every day? It’s not natural.”
“Don’t be all in my face like that!”
“She won’t call my house again. My momma put her in her place but good. Didn’t she, Ms. _?”
“My mother wants to know what the right answer is to this question.”
“You a ho…”
These are just a sample of the personal attacks I have endured from high school students this year. I began teaching these young people with about 20 days remaining in the first semester. It has been a disaster. The students had had a series of substitutes and saw no reason to begin working now with a “real” teacher…
These students are the center of their universe, and heaven forbid that anyone should try to expect anything of them that they do not want to do. They have a comfort zone with learning that they do not want to leave. As a teacher, I see advancing their learning curve as an essential part of my job, especially with ninth graders.
“Why don’t you show movies like other teachers?”
“Why don’t you put the notes on the board or overhead, or just give ‘em to us on a handout? That’s what other teachers do.”
(While the entire school is on two-hour block scheduling for testing) “We aren’t supposed to work both hours; nobody does that.”
“Why can’t we read the assignment out loud, in class? We always do that.”
“I don’t understand what I read when I read alone at home. It’s too boring.”
“Can I leave my book in here? It’s too heavy to carry around.”
(Teacher: “How will you do your homework if your book is in the classroom?”) “It doesn’t matter; I don’t understand it when I read it at home anyway.”
Most of the students that I taught this year are in school only because their parents want them there, or they see school as an opportunity to spend time with their friends and to be seen by everyone. They want to settle scores with each other, and heaven forbid that a teacher should try to step between combatants. My students talk non-stop, but not on a lesson topic. They talk about fights they saw, parties they attended, money they have and how they will spend it. They talk about who is “gay” and who likes whom. They talk while I try to get their attention to hold class. They moan and groan about every assignment, especially if it involves reading an assignment at home. Students are incredibly rude and disrespectful to one another, but they save their best taunts for the teacher. They tell you that they are trying to get you to quit.
Well, they have succeeded. I have quit! I walked out of my classroom Friday for the last time.
My students think I am too strict and expect too much from them. Is it unreasonable to expect high school students to learn to take their own notes rather than handing out prepared notes? Is it unreasonable to expect high school students to learn from class discussions rather than complete worksheets? Is it unreasonable to expect high school students to bring materials (pen, paper, notebook, text, etc.) with them to class—-daily? Is it unreasonable to expect high school students to avoid asking to go to the restroom during a 55-minute class period?
Is it unreasonable to expect high school students to stay in the classroom rather than jumping up and rushing into the hallway when they hear any disturbance? Is it unreasonable to expect high school students to write down their assignments and manage their time in order to complete and submit assignments on time? Is it unreasonable to expect high school students to do their homework? Is it unreasonable to expect high school students to stay awake in class? Is it unreasonable to expect high school students to refrain from striking the teacher or other students, by pushing, shoving, or throwing objects? Is it unreasonable to expect high school students to stretch and open their minds to expand their knowledge base?
I knew as unprofessional as it would be, I could not continue for the last three weeks of school. Of course, this was a terrible time to quit; it will cause several scheduling headaches. Nevertheless, I knew what I had to do for me.
I am ashamed and feel guilty about putting myself at the front of the line this time. I have turned in my laptop and keys, taken down my posters, and packed up my books and materials. I loaded it all into my car and drove away —- sobbing. I have spent the weekend feeling like a wimp, a loser, a jerk. I am still not proud of my decision, but I know it was the right decision for me —-and probably for my students.
