Get Schooled

By lucia

May 9, 2005 02:56 PM | Link to this

You should feel bad. You’ve just empowered them to be even more bold with the next teacher. There are only three weeks left. You should have stuck it out.

By Lacy

May 9, 2005 03:03 PM | Link to this

I agree with Lucia. As bad as it was, all you have taught the students is that their tactics have worked—terrorize the teacher, they will quit, and you can fly by with a series of subsitutes again. You have let them win. Granted, there is very little you could have taught them in 3 weeks… but next year, with a fresh batch and a fresh start, you might have had a chance. Now you’ll probably never be rehired to teach.

Good job—you’ve set teachers back several steps towards being respected and have dimished a teacher’s authority to every child in that class.

By Amy W.

May 9, 2005 03:08 PM | Link to this

I don’t necessarily think it was the right decision for your kids. If you were the first “real” teacher they’ve had amongst a string of substitutes, then its your responsibility to let them know that you’re here to stay.

When you first started teaching, did you try to build a community with your students instead of starting work? How did you handle classroom management? What were your lesson plans like? Did you make clear, meaningful applications to their lives so they actually think what they are learning is important?

I completely agree that these students need to take responsibility for their own work and actions. I also applaud you for holding them to higher standards— all teachers should do that, regardless of the types of students who attend a particular school. However, because these students did not have a solid teacher before you, they probably thought you were just another substitute and that there was no incentive to learn because they couldn’t build a rapport with you. Leaving the school only exacerbates the situation. It would have spoke volumes to the kids if you had stuck it out for the rest of the school year, because it would have demonstrated your commitment to their education.

By Stacey

May 9, 2005 03:09 PM | Link to this

It is not worth your sanity. Those kids deserve “not” to succeed. You tried!!! Your job is to teach them, not to raise them. The minute you try to discipline them, here comes some idiot parental model with a “not my child” mentality. Too many kids don’t have any respect and that is the fault of the parents. I work too hard and sacrifice too much for my kids to act up in school. I can’t stand disrespectful children. I tell my kids all the time that a teacher has to care, because you couldn’t pay me enough to put up with some of them.

You did the right thing. It’s the their loss. Good luck to you.

By Matt

May 9, 2005 03:10 PM | Link to this

No one has to endure what she went through. It does not say in one single sentence in a teaching contract that you have to deal with verbal abuse. Do most teachers deal with it? Unfortunately. In the real world, I would NEVER allow anyone to talk to me that way, and there is no way I am going to let a 14 year-old child do it.
Don’t feel bad regardless of what Lucia or others may say.
Any sane human being who is honest about the kids understands why you left. No need to feel bad.

By Stacey

May 9, 2005 03:15 PM | Link to this

What people need to realize is that these are HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, not elementary!!!!! If they can’t figure out that their futures are on the line, then I don’t want them wasting my taxpayer’s money and destroying a good teacher’s desire to teach. You will find something elsewhere. Try elementary where the children are still “somewhat” moldable. In High School, if the kids don’t care there is very little you can do.

By Jennifer

May 9, 2005 03:16 PM | Link to this

I am very, very sorry that you had to endure this type of treatment. There is nothing that constitutes this type of behavior from children; and, that is just what they are: Children.

I am sure you have had no luck with their parents, either. You are correct when you say some parents just want their kids to be in school to get them out of their hair. This is a sad reality.

Although I do not have any answers for you, I do want you to know that I understand. I, too, was in a classroom setting and, although it was only filling in the last six months of school for another teacher, I got a much better grip on what teachers go through each and every day and the barriers they have to get around just to teach.

Although I understand why you feel bad I do not think you should. I am sure you stuck it out to the best of your ability but there is no reason to put yourself through any more mental anguish.

Sadly, yes, the children will see this as they have won but what can you do? Teacher’s hands are tied when it comes to discplining students and it’s rare that the administration is behind them because they fear lawsuits. My answer is: Let them sue. But I know that is much easier said than done because of all of the red tape. It sounds to me like the majority of the students you were trying to teach need to be placed in another school setting so they do not bother the children who really do want to learn; they really do exist.

Children do not see school as a place where they must be obedient because that is not enforced at home. I am sure they act the same way to their parents and their parents probably act the same way towards them. As a matter of fact, I was in a store over the weekend and a little girl (about 6 yrs old) wanted to look at the jewelry her mother was looking at because she thought it was very pretty and shiny. What did her mother do? Smacked her down and yelled at her for being in her way. All the little girl wanted to do was to see what mommy was looking at. The very next move the child made was to lash out at the mother. It’s a constant cycle. I feel very, very sorry for her.

To those of you who feel she should have stuck it out and who feel as if she should feel badly for her actions I say to you, what do you do to contribute to the school system? What answers do you offer?

When we moved to another school district I realized just how many students there were in my middle daughter’s Language Arts class: 35 students to 1 teacher. So, I started volunteering my time. Although there weren’t many days I could be in the classroom to help because I also worked, I tried to help where I could. The amount of disrespect that i received was astronomical. They do not even know me. I am a stranger to them and I was treated horribly. So, I started thinking what could I do to counteract what was happening to me. I started sitting directly next to the students who were causing most of the problems and little by little they began to realize that I was not going to tolerate being abused by them or allow their teacher to be abused. I also let them know that I would be more than happy to call their parents in and when they told me that I would regret that because their mom would be mad my reaction was, “it seems to me as if YOU are going to be the one to regret it, not me” and with that things started to calm down. Unfortunately, my hours at work changed and I was no longer able to sit in the class and babysit teenagers.

I also believe that if a student is a repeat offender, especially a violent offender, the parents should have to be held accountable if they have been called in and seemingly refuse to do anything about it or answer, “what did you do to make him/her mad?” What did I do? I think the question is more properly placed on the student.

Again, I am very sorry that you had to put up with such disrespect. I guess the kids are ok with saying, “do you want fries with that?”

By taleya

May 9, 2005 03:19 PM | Link to this

I agree with lucia…students will test you to the limits if they see you mean what you say they will eventually comply. When I began teaching my students were the exact same way, but I refused to tolerate nonsense bottom line. In your defense I believe if adminstrators did a better job at disciplining students with severe behavioral problems many of these issues wouldn’t exist.

By dgr

May 9, 2005 03:21 PM | Link to this

First and foremost I feel terrible for this teacher. I can feel your pain. Today I broke up two fights within an hour period. This occupation is not a cake walk. I wish you would have stuck it out for YOU, because now you feel bad, this move might have been counter productive for you. I just want to know where were the administrators and did they provide you with any support? Any person that is outside of the education world - this is not the exception - this is the NORM. Its very sad but true. I’m in my third year of teaching and cannot imagine doing this until retirement. I hope this teacher finds some peace with her decision and can hopefully regain her composure enough to try again in another setting to make an impact on children’s lives.

By Jim

May 9, 2005 03:26 PM | Link to this

Just another sad story about the failed govermnment school system. Be glad there are alternatives. The sooner you get your kids out of that environment the better.

By Trent

May 9, 2005 03:27 PM | Link to this

I taught for 8 years. My last day was at the end of last school year, but I had submitted a letter of resignation 6 months earlier. So, like the people above have written, there was probably a better way for you to leave. But I don’t blame you either.

It sounds like things had been so bad for so long that maybe the best thing you could do for yourself and for the students was to get out of there. Nobody should have to work in an environment like that. If you were treated that way as a construction worker, admin assistant, bank teller, attorney, etc - you would have filed an enormous lawsuit citing harassment. At the same time, since the students clearly were not responding in a positive way to you, your presence was only entrenching their lousy behavior.

I understand “the calling” to be a teacher, but I don’t understand the martyr complex that so often accompanies it. You chose the job, therefore you are not a victim - so stop acting like one. And it is vain for a teacher to assume that because the job is hard or unpleasant for her, that it will be for another. Sometimes the best solution for everyone involved is for you to get out of there, give someone else a shot, and find a situation that is a better fit for you.

By Abby

May 9, 2005 03:38 PM | Link to this

I’m not sure if the previous comments were posted by teachers or not. However, I am a teacher and have been now for 7 years. If you aren’t a teacher, you could not possibly understand what this poor lady is saying. I have encountered these same behaviors and somehow (by the grace of God)I kept the hope alive that it would get better. My strategy was to improve my level of students from general to advanced and thankfully, that worked for me. Schools always give the worst classes to new teachers. They have to constantly choose which battles are worth fighting and if they are too strict, this is the price that they have to pay. So my point is, do not berate this teacher for quitting. Teaching is NOT for everyone. I am sure she did her best and I agree that sometimes you have to put your own mental health first. One of you stated that the children “won” in this situation. I would hardly say that anyone “won”, but rather the students lost whether they realize it now or not.

By b. white

May 9, 2005 03:41 PM | Link to this

I teach middle school students. To my amazement I am the one who has changed. I changed my attitude. I no longer demand all the “stuff”, instead I smile more, bully less. It works. At times it was me against them. No longer is it. Now it is, “How can I help?” It is your grade, responsibility, etc; but I will help if I can! What a difference it has made. This may not make since. Yet I was the one who needed to change, and yes I did.

By NotMyProblem

May 9, 2005 03:41 PM | Link to this

You absolutely did the right thing. These worthless idiots deserve the non-education they are going to end up with, and shouldn’t even be allowed to attend school with that kind of treatment of a teacher. They should be thrown out, locked up, taught some manners and stuck into some boot camps that would teach them a thing or two about self-respect and how to treat other human beings. These thugs and morons will end up behind bars sooner rather than later. Be glad you had the courage to walk out before you got carried out on a stretcher.

By Ms. Howard

May 9, 2005 03:45 PM | Link to this

Obiviously you were at your breaking point. There comes a time as adults we have to make a decision on what we will or will not put up with. You have made the best decision for you. I wish you luck in the future :)

By b. white

May 9, 2005 03:46 PM | Link to this

Sorry I misspelled sense!!!

By MoJo

May 9, 2005 04:03 PM | Link to this

You should have rode out the term. Start fresh with a new crop next year. Quitting never solved much of anything.

By sub no more

May 9, 2005 04:05 PM | Link to this

I used to be a substitute in middle and high schools. No more. Most kids were so rude and disrespectful, they left some subs in tears. The teachers close by couldn’t offer much help because they had classes of their own. The pay for subs is not worth the stress. I say, I wish we could reward the good kids, since they don’t get acknowledged enough, but, unfortuneately we have to put our energy on the rude ones. I wonder how they will survive in society after I see how they are in the classrooms.

By Jennifer

May 9, 2005 04:09 PM | Link to this

I can definitely relate to what this teacher went through and understand completely why she quit.

I made it through my first year of teaching by the skin of my teeth. I was teaching 7th-grade Language Arts in Maryland, and I struggled with classroom management. I also had trouble motivating them to even do their work. They could fail 1 core subject (math, science, history, language arts) each year without going to summer school, so some kids selectively failed my class.

When I moved to GA, I though that if I taught high school, at least the kids would be self-motivated to complete their work. After all, we have the Hope scholarship down here, and they have to have English to graduate.

I was placed in a “good” school in Cobb, but I could only take it for a couple of months. It was MUCH worse than my 7th-grade experience! Here are some of the things that happened:

After the keys incident (it was on a Wed.), I was so shaken, frustrated, overwhelmed, disillusioned, and angry that I resigned on Friday. Sure, it may have empowered the kids (they wouldn’t work for the substitute either), but it was the first time that I FELT EMPOWERED as a teacher. I’m tired of being blamed for their lack of respect, motivation, and discipline. I thought I wanted to teach. However, it’s not worth my mental health to do it. I left the field, went to graduate school, and now have a fulfilling career where doing my job is not a battle. I’m glad you quit—no one should have to be abused. Maybe if enough of us actually quit instead of putting up with it the administrators will do something about the conditions and work with the teachers to resolve the discipline problems in the classroom instead of hoping that it will just go away.

By Jennifer

May 9, 2005 04:14 PM | Link to this

I do not believe it is correct to think students who are unruly should not be allowed an education. True, they are not acting responsibly but they are still children. Children who do not really know what they want and what they can achieve. Not educating them will only cause more harm in our society when they are older. At least by providing them with an education they may see there is a way out of whatever they are trying to get away from. Not teaching them only causes more criminal activity in the future.

However, I do believe problem students need to be removed from the typical school setting as they are not going to be able to learn. They will also make it nearly impossible for others to learn.

By FunkyGee

May 9, 2005 04:15 PM | Link to this

Jennifer - go get your own column instead of filling up this one. Who wants to read something this long on a blog?

By MCM

May 9, 2005 04:20 PM | Link to this

Politicians and educrats do not function in the real world of education. Millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent on attempting to close the achievement gap. Maybe it’s time to stop wasting money on those who do not value an education and adopt a European or Asian model of education.

By Jennifer

May 9, 2005 04:23 PM | Link to this

FunkyGee—there are actually at least two different Jennifers who are writing; we just both happen to be verbose.

By T. Drain

May 9, 2005 04:23 PM | Link to this

Jennifer, I’m glad that you showed that this is a problem in all schools…no matter how “good” or deep in Cobb County they are.

By LISA

May 9, 2005 04:29 PM | Link to this

Teacher my heart go out to you!!! and I want judge you!! you pretty much just had enough and you also ran out of gas.Your not the only one who have walk out the classroom,I mean you just had enough.Teacher I know you know that wasn’t the proper thing to do but you had to do what you had to do!!this is what happen when you have kids being raise by the street tv and one parent who is doing the best she know how.the problem will not stop with gang and disrespectful kids until the farther get back in the home and play there part.God have ordained the man to be accountable for the family and he also said the man is like the foundation without it the house will fall.Teacher keep your head up,and just know that you gave your best but your best is not good enough!! Not with kids who are hoozing from hurt and grief from other issue beside school.

By Jake

May 9, 2005 04:45 PM | Link to this

There always have and always will be discipline issues in school, so it’s largely a matter of degree.
These situations are exacerbated nowadays by ignorant parents and timid administrators that will not support the teachers in matters of discipline, just as we saw last week with Mr. Neace. Quitting to save herself was the only rational alternative. These ‘kids’ are already in high school, it’s too late to save them. The foundations for respect and discipline should have been set a long, long time ago. These children will become their parents, as most children will.

By Mr. Parr

May 9, 2005 05:07 PM | Link to this

Please, unless you’ve been in front of a classroom, you have no right to criticize this woman’s decision to quit.

Educating a child in manners and behavior is NOT the job of public education. If a child verbally abuses a low paid teacher just because they think it’s funny, it’s the parents’ fault for not teaching that child about respect.

We as a society need to get over this concept that every single student should get a world class education. Those students who realize the power of education and desire it will get their schooling, don’t worry.

Don’t weep for those kids who were rude and abusive and didn’t learn anything. They’ll survive. They might struggle for the rest of their lives in low-paying blue collar jobs, but whose fault will that be? Certainly not the schools. The opportunity is there for children to get an education. An individual teacher or school can hardly be blamed if the student chooses not to avail himself or herself of that opportunity.

By C.R.H.

May 9, 2005 05:10 PM | Link to this

Teachers “disappear” all the time…usually 1st year people. I agree that this teacher had to do what is right for her, you are NOT to blame for their poor behavior. If they really feel like they “won”, they are in for a nasty surprise. They can spend 4 or 5 (or 6-7) years wasting their time and taxpayer money; in the end, they will be paying dearly for their lack of education. I always tell my kids that the 8 teachers they have are their ticket out of the life they seem to think is so bad & harsh.

By hildymac

May 9, 2005 05:15 PM | Link to this

I work in an alternative school where short term suspension kids are sent. They made it their GOAL last year to get me to quit - one of the kids was nice enough to let me know that when I had him again this year. They were holy terrors. But you know what? I’m glad I didn’t quit - I actually lightened up a little bit, and I realized that the problem was with some aspect of the kids’ environment, not really with me. Maybe their family was breathing down their backs. Maybe someone they loved had a destructive problem. Maybe the teachers at their home schools just didn’t feel like listening (and yeah, that DOES happen - sorry guys). Whatever the reason for their behavior, I wasn’t the cause - and I started seeing myself as the solution. I work with them, not against them, and never cave. All a lot of these kids need is someone to CARE ABOUT THEM. I have so many kids who are in long term suspension now who still come up to me and give me a hug. They’re basically good kids, but have outlying issues that compound their behavior. And nothing’s cooler to feel than when you get one of your hard-core students to smile at you and realize you’re there to help. When you quit, it was just one more person to give up on them - that excuse of “good for me” doesn’t work well when your responsibility is to take care of someone else - and if you’re a teacher, like it or not, that’s your responsibility. Sorry… comes with the job description.

By cd

May 10, 2005 08:26 AM | Link to this

To all who say the teacher should have “stuck it out”:

Are you out of you minds???!!!

If a convicted felon were the subject of abuse, you’d have every media outlet and civil rights group in the world crying foul.

But since it’s a teacher, I guess you feel a simple “buck up, candy a$$” will do. All of you should be ashamed of yourselves.

By lynn

May 10, 2005 09:02 AM | Link to this

I also have seen, even in elementary schools,where if there has not been a teacher from the beginning of the year, it is very hard, when a teacher is found. Even if there is a long term subsitute, kids will know that this person isn’t forever.

It is a very complicated situation, as teachers have lifes, and are entitled to have babies, take vacations, etc. Not to mention the myriad of emergencies that can cause them to be out.

What is inexcusable is when you have such poor administrators that a number of positions go unfilled all year.

By Claude

May 10, 2005 09:24 AM | Link to this

I agree with cd, you people are pathetic! Yyou are a part of what is wrong with education. Why is any of this behavior accepted??? I hope these knuckleheads car jack you and then you can wonder why did this happen? Why did someone take my car ? Why do they think they have the right? Oh society has fallen, what happen to values? oh my, oh, oh

By Sly

May 10, 2005 09:34 AM | Link to this

CD and Claude. You have to accept the lesser of two evils here, and the teacher sticking it out would have accomplished this. These kids are obviously big babies. But you can’t abandon them now. Plus its only for a few more weeks. After EOGs its all a joke anyway.

By Clay

May 10, 2005 09:44 AM | Link to this

Come on! Now really, don’t be so hard on the kids. SOMEBODY has to fund the college educations of the kids who wanted to learn. I mean, more than likely they’ll end up chasing dreams through the lottery that they could have funded with an education, but hey, had they paid attention in math, they would have known the odds….these kids deserve nothing less than a boot camp.

By JR

May 10, 2005 09:46 AM | Link to this

I challenge all the critical bloggers on the site who don’t teach to be a sub for a week. I think your attitude will change! You may just learn something…

By David

May 10, 2005 09:53 AM | Link to this

NO LACY, THIS TEACHER DID NOT DIMINISH THE TEACHERS AUTHORITY, THE DUMBASS PARENTS AND DUMBASS ADMINISTRATORS SET THE TONE FOR THESE KIDS, I WORK IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENT, AND YES I WILL STICK IT OUT FOR 14 MORE DAYS, BUT AFTER 19 YEARS I’M QUITTING. I’VE SAID THIS BEFORE ON HERE, EDUCATION IS A (OR SHOULD BE) PRIVILEGE, AND SADLY, IT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THIS TYPE OF KID.

By David

May 10, 2005 09:58 AM | Link to this

AMY, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, DO YOU TEACH???AND IF YOU DO , DO YOU TEACH IN A SCHOOL WHERE THERE IS NO DISCIPLINE???SURE, YOU’RE RIGHT ABOUT LESSON PLANS AND PLANNING. THAT IS THE BASIS FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR AND CONTROLLING A CLASSROOM ALONG WITH SETTING CLEAR GOALS FOR BEHAVIOR. I’M WILLING TO BET YOU THAT THIS TEACHER TEACHES IN A SCHOOL THAT HAS ABOUT 70+% FREE LUNCHES AND ABOUT 2% PARENT INVOLVEMENT. I CAN ASSURE YOU, LESSON PLANS OR ANY OF THE OTHER THINGS YOU MENTIONED HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BEHAVIOR OF THESE CHILDREN.

By Robert

May 10, 2005 09:59 AM | Link to this

It all boils down to how much support the teacher has in the classroom. This support SHOULD come from fellow teachers in the department, the administration, and the parents. If any teacher does not have sufficient support, then they are doomed and therefore the students are doomed to be without education.

It is lack of support that CAUSES bad teachers. No one starts out in the teaching profession wanting to be a bad teacher. It is the continual chipping away at the teacher due to lack of proper support that CAUSES bad teaching. Eventually, the teacher stops trying and takes the “path of least resistance” such as videos, giving everyone As for sorry work, and so on.

By Amy W.

May 10, 2005 10:09 AM | Link to this

since apparently “only teachers” have the right to voice their opinions on the topic, as someone previously suggested, i guess my opinion counts just as much as anyone elses since i am indeed a teacher. :)

fyi— there’s no reason for me to “be ashamed of myself” because i believe she shouldn’t have quit. she should have approached the kids differently when she started teaching by fostering a supportive learning environment, especially since she knew the students had a long string substitutes. what kind of message is she sending to these kids when she quits? she was essentially backing down to their behavior.

like i mentioned before, i question how the teacher approached the classroom. clearly no one on this blog has addressed, or even considered my questions to the teacher…how do we know if she attempted to build a cooperative learning environment with the kids? how do we know she tried to make the lessons relevant to their lives? from reading her post, it sounds as though she held them to “high standards” by simply requriring them to reproduce facts and submit homework.

i also wonder from rereading her post if her students actually KNOW how to take notes on their own. how can she be sure that they were provided an aqeuate education in previous years? did she attempt to see what reading level these students are currently at, and then work on their literacy skills? maybe the kids didn’t want to do the work because they didn’t know how to work.

there are so many questions involved with this teacher, and unless someone can tell me otherwise (either her or someone who knows what she did in class), i think she could have done a better job with the students.

By David

May 10, 2005 10:16 AM | Link to this

Robert, you are SO right!!!and you know something else???STUDENTS CAN TELL AND SENSE WHEN A TEACHER IS NOT SUPPORTED!!!AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE. TEACHERS THEN BEGIN TO “THROW THEIR HANDS UP” AND JUST GIVE IN. THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE UNLESS THEY JUST GIVE UP THE PROFESSION. I have been teaching for 19 years, and yes, I used to be able to control my class (still can in most cases). I do the best I can to handle my own discipline. But lately the discipline is going through the roof around here. It doesn’t do me any good to call parents anymore. Five years ago a parent would praise me for calling them and they were very supportive. Now, 95% of my parental contacts are met with criticism from the parent!!!!So, I have ended up referring more kids to the office. The kids are not dealt with. My authority has been tremendously degraded over the last 3 years. When you deal with lousy parents, the administrators need to pick up the slack and “kick in” with some sort of equivalent of “tough love”.

By Amy W.

May 10, 2005 10:16 AM | Link to this

david, yea, there are probably other factors involved for why these students have bad behavior. you’re right, lesson plans aren’t everything. however, like i said before, i think its a combination of not enough support at home, not enough support of school, AND the way the teacher conducts her class (i.e. through classroom managment, lesson plans, etc). regardless, i still believe she shouldn’t have quit until the end of the school year.

By GC

May 10, 2005 10:19 AM | Link to this

The teacher in point walked into unknowingly into a minefield. The students, for whatever reason, had no intention of trying to learn anything and were primed to resist anything that was tried. Part of this may have been the age of the students, but it sounds more like she was unable to establish authority in the classroom. Some rare people automatically have it because of their personalities and organization. Most have to work for it; some never get it.

I’ve seen good students in good schools pull this same stunt. The key to handling this is to have a tough administration that will back up the teacher and provide meaningful help. There are plenty of them out there, but heaven help your if you’re in one of the schools where it doesn’t exist.

Even so, much of the key to handling this type of situation lies in never letting them know that you’ve been rattled, staying consistent in your demands, and realizing that things almost always improve after a horrible first year. Be the teacher; you’re there to teach, not to try to make friends. Remember, if they smell blood, they’ll turn into a pack of circling sharks, looking for an opportunity to take a bite.

By David

May 10, 2005 10:20 AM | Link to this

Amy, hear my heart and not these cold words on here. Where do you teach if I may ask, and what is the level of parent involvement at your school?I mean are you advocating that this type of child can be turned around 100% of the time?

By william

May 10, 2005 10:21 AM | Link to this

My heart goes out to you. I have had the same feelings many times throughout my teaching career, and those feelings are the kinds of things that will never be truly understood by the general public, the students, other teachers or even a spouse. I am fortunate enough to be able to find at least a few students who are responsible in all of the ways that you outline, and they are the ones that keep me in it. I think that you are definitely burned out, and there really is no remedy other than getting away. I am hoping that a break will help you recover and remember some things that have gone well, and maybe some day, you will see your way back to the classroom. For those who tell you that the students have won, they don’t know that it is more important for you to take care of you.

By chuck

May 10, 2005 10:23 AM | Link to this

In the letter, you said:

I have spent the weekend feeling like a wimp, a loser, a jerk.

One of the first things I learned when I became a teacher was that nobody else can make you feel any particular way. You determine how you feel and also how you react to what happens in your life. You don’t sound like a first year teacher to me, but if you are, I can understand the build up in frustration that led to your decision to quit. If however, as I suspect, you are a veteran teacher who moved to a new school, then I have to agree with your self-assessment.

Education is not for wimps. That said, I think the lack of support from the administration at your school, assuming that you reported these things to them, is appalling. The behavior, as you described it, is inexcusable. There are however, some things you could have done to make the situation better.

The first thing you could have done is to enlist the help of the administration. I can imagine that there are administrators out there who would have done nothing to help you (see Dacula High School), but I think most would go out of their way to make sure that a new teacher received adequate support. Most high schools have at least 2 assistant principals. If one does nothing, you go to the other. There are also guidance counsellors who can do classroom guidance with your students. They can stress the importance of each credit and also suggest ways you can effectively deal with misbehavior without having it escalate.

A second plan of attack is to find out who the most effective teachers in the building are and enlist their help. Most teachers are willing to help each other. As a new teacher, you should have been assigned a mentor teacher whose job is to make sure that your induction into the school climate goes smoothly and that you get all of the help you need to make sure that happens.

Sometimes, it helps to ask a popular/effective teacher to talk to individual students and ask them to give you a break. We are often times given the impression in a school culture that we are isolated and that once we close the door to that room, we are on our own. That should NEVER be the case. I have taught with new teachers on a number of occasions and have always made it a point to help them learn the ins and outs. I offer to help any way I can and then demonstrate my willingness to actually follow through on the help.

Some administrators give the impression that if you can’t handle discipline on your own, that they won’t renew your contract. That almost never happens in the real world, because in schools like the one you described, there aren’t a lot of teachers beating down the doors to teach there. If a student is disrespectful to you in YOUR CLASSROOM, they cannot be allowed to stay there. If you have to send 10 students to the office to make the point, then do it. Administrators have ways to deal with student misbehavior that are not available to you. When they get tired of dealing with them on a daily basis, they will finally take steps that solve the problem.

Finally, under Georgia Law, you can exclude disruptive students from your classroom. The key is that you have to document the misbehavior over time and the steps that you have taken to correct the behavior. After that, the kid has to be placed in another classroom. There is little you can do about students who lack motivation. The key for them is that if they fail a class in high school, they don’t earn the credit and they have to take it again. Give them what they earn and go on with your life.

The key is to leave that stuff at school. Don’t dwell on your failures, but rather on those students who ARE trying. Work with them to bring positive peer pressure to the others. Show them that you really do care BUT they are responsible for their own learning. Don’t take any crap, but be nice about it. That’s the best advice I can give you. High expectations should be the norm so don’t lower your standards. It takes time to change a school culture, but it often starts with ONE PERSON who won’t give in and won’t give up. You gave up. I don’t know how easy it will be, but your career can recover from that. You just have to take active steps to make that happen. One thing you might want to do if you ever want to be hired again is to take some classroom management classes this summer. Then you have some ammunition to use when you go in for another interview and they ask you what happened. That is about the only kind of preemptive action that may enable you to get a job at a decent school.

By tsk tsk

May 10, 2005 10:23 AM | Link to this

You obviously are ill-suited for teaching children. What’s wrong with schools in Georgia today? Poorly prepared ‘teachers’ like you. This isn’t a new phenomenon either, teenagers have acted out in this way for 50 or 60 years — IF they knew that the teacher didn’t have the wherewithal to function in their position. The problem is not the parents, it’s not the students; it’s ‘teachers’ like YOU.

By Amy W.

May 10, 2005 10:30 AM | Link to this

i don’t name school names to protect the innocent. :) however, i am fortunate to work at a school with a lot—sometimes too much—parent involvement.

i don’t think the school where the teacher worked has a lot of parent involvement, which is unfortuate. if this is the case, i only think the teacher has even more of a responsibility to support his/her students and help foster a safe and cooperative learning environment.

i’ve worked at these types of schools in other urban areas, and i have many colleagues who still work in these schools and love it….fyi, i left because i moved to a different city, not because i quit in the middle of the school year.

no, i don’t think you can change 100% of the students. however, if a teacher knows the demographics, literacy levels, poverty levels, etc., of the area she’s working in, she should alter how she approaches the students. not everyone learns the same way. i’m definitely not suggesting that she lower her standards. however, she needs to assess where they are and work from there instead of entering a school and assuming that students already know how to properly take notes, annotate, etc.

By mike

May 10, 2005 10:34 AM | Link to this

I have been a teacher for many years and I know how you feel. If you would have recieved more administrative support then things would have been much different. You are very justified in holding students to a high standards.

By Donald Howell

May 10, 2005 10:38 AM | Link to this

I do not blame you one bit for leaving. I used to teach at Iverson Business School in Norcross and ICT in Chamblee. At both schools, the students could do as they please without regard to authority and consideration for fellow students. The administrations did not care how students behaved because to lose students meant to lose profits. I left both schools and started tutoring while attending graduate school.

By David

May 10, 2005 10:38 AM | Link to this

TSK, SORRY BUT I HAVE 2 WORDS FOR YOU, DUMB A*. SURE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN MISBEHAVING FOR YEARS. BUT NOT THIS WAY BECAUSE THE PARENTS USED TO BE BETTER PARENTS AS A WHOLE. I KNEW NOT TO MISBEHAVE. WE HAD A PRINCIPAL IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHO MADE HIS ROUNDS AROUND THE SCHOOL 3 TIMES A DAY. ANYONE IN THE HALL WAS PADDLED BY HIM, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. MOST PARENTS IN THAT DAY WOULD ALSO PUNISH THEIR KIDS WHEN THEY GOT HOME ON TOP OF THE PUNISHMENT AT SCHOOL. NOW THIS WASN’T THAT LONG AGO. THE ‘70’S IN NEWTON COUNTY (COVINGTON). IT’S THE PARENTS MAINLY WHO ARE AT FAULT. IF I’M NOT MISTAKEN, I THINK YOU HAVE A CHILD IN MY SCHOOL NOW. I CALLED YOU SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND YOU TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT YOUR CHILD IS EXPERIENCING WERE MY FAULT, AND YOU WENT FURTHER TO SAY THAT I WAS PICKING ON YOUR CHILD. MY PARENTS WERE BOTH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. RULE NUMBER 1 FROM MY PARENTS: DON’T YOU EVER COME HOME FROM SCHOOL COMPLAINING ABOUT A TEACHER.

By lucia

May 10, 2005 10:43 AM | Link to this

Chuck: If this teacher couldn’t figure out the very common sense strategies you outline before now, she probably doesn’t need to be a teacher anyhow. With any kind of job you solicit support from others and model those who have more experience and skill. That isn’t unique to education. That’s life.

By David

May 10, 2005 10:45 AM | Link to this

Amy, I agree that some of the problems may be alleviated by using some of your approaches…alleviated somewhat. Yes and I do think she should have stuck it out only to give her the satisfaction of maybe feeling better about herself. Her confidence level may be affected by her quitting. Then again we really haven’t walked in her shoes you know. You know I have 11 years left before retirement. I’m stopping after this year. There comes a time I think when the alternative does not look that bad..lol…

By Trent

May 10, 2005 10:47 AM | Link to this

Lots of blame being tossed around here, as is usually the case with this forum. Obviously there is a great deal of frustration, and with it being so close to the end of the year, I recognize the boiling point.

Maybe this is for a different discussion, but has anyone stopped to consider that, systemwide, the problem IS the system? That instead of assigning blame for what’s wrong with education, we should instead ask - What do we mean by “an Education”?

I am not talking about shifting priorities either. I am talking about re-evaluating the entire paradigm.

Maybe part of the problem in this case was that the students did not see any relevance between what they were doing in the class and their own lives. “You’ll need this for college / a job” is not a valid reason. We do not think that way any more in our culture of instant gratification. Students first need to understand what’s in it for them now, then maybe they will jump on board for the ride.

By dahreese

May 10, 2005 10:54 AM | Link to this

Prior to a successful stint teaching choral music in Georgia, my last 13 years of teaching were in the In-School Suspension program; a mixture of those who cared or didn’t; those who could or could not, or both. Mostly it was the same students reappearing at my door. Some as many as 40 times.

Those who criticize the lady for leaving (who made the right decision for herself and for her students) are wrong, including the “experienced” teachers. Judging some of their responses above, these may be in the classroom, but they live in lah, lah land when they contine to be “professional” and trying to cover up the severe academic and discipline problems. There aren’t “just a few”.

Multiply the home problems of a single child or family by 20 (or more) and you will get some idea of what teachers have to deal with on a daily basis. Yet, are expected to teach.

And the critics, especially politicians and editorial critics (the people who control the purse strings of education) know it. They ought to try public school teaching a few years instead of just running off at their mouths.

But don’t expect them to do either one, they won’t.

Nothing is going to get better in education until they too stop being too lazy to dig down into their pockets and pay for what they say they want.

There’s nothing “Wonnnderrrfull…” about being a teacher. It’s danged hard work.

By mike

May 10, 2005 10:54 AM | Link to this

Tsk, You have obviously never been in front of a clasroom in your life. Classroom behavior has changed a great deal in the past 30 years. In an age of endless litigation involving school, administrators and teachers have had their hands tied when it comes to dealing with poor behavior. Parents are abdicating their role as disciplinarian to take up the much easier position of best friend and so become a hinderance to teachers instead of a help to their childs eduction.The end result is a generation of young people with little guidance at home and educators with little control students without parental support.

By Sly

May 10, 2005 11:14 AM | Link to this

Hey Mike ! I before e except after c. Remember that one! Dufus.

By George

May 10, 2005 11:15 AM | Link to this

As a teacher, many of the comments here have been difficult to read. First, there are those who think that this dreadful situation is the norm in public schools. It’s not. What this teacher endured in not representative of “kids today” or the general state of public education. No one should use it to justify denigrating all young people or to advocate for privatization.

Second, and more disturbing, there are those—including a few teachers—who advocate the “get-tough” approach. Acting meaner or more oppressive will only ensure greater resistance. I suggest that everyone go back and read what Amy W. wrote in the third response. It was one of the most thoughtful comments posted.

By chuck

May 10, 2005 11:16 AM | Link to this

dahreese, this is not a problem that can be solved by throwing money at it. This is an administration AND teacher problem. Every school ought to have a formal induction process for new teachers. That process ought to include a REAL support system. The state of Georgia will pay a teacher to mentor a new teacher. The money is already there. It is a matter of a principal OR his designee making sure that it happens. Department chairs OFTEN get an extra planning period at the high school level. They also get paid a supplement. Their job description should include a section on their responsibilities to new teachers. You must be a member of GAE. Most of them think that all of the problems of education would just magically disappear if we spent more money or got paid more. I’d rather have legal protection so that I could do my job without the worry of a lawsuit, than a raise right now. Ask “doc” Nease at Dacula what would have helped him. NOT more money, but a better administration would be my guess.

By FedUpDemocrat

May 10, 2005 11:59 AM | Link to this

I wish all of the teachers in public schools would walk away from a thankless job, the aimless kids and the unaccountable parents. Some times you have to let them (parents and kids) understand what failure is before they can learn.

By Anita

May 10, 2005 12:07 PM | Link to this

Its obvious by some of the harsh statements on here where KIDS are getting their behavior patterns from. Everyone has a LIMIT. She reached hers. Thank God she left and didn’t harm herself on anyone assigned to her. Unfortunately, the REAL issue remains how do we keep quality, interested, trained, eager teachers in the classroom in a society where rudeness is encouraged, excused, overlooked, and sanctioned as ‘someone elses’ job to handle. A teachers job is to educate; not parent. The administrators job is to provide the appropriate atmoshere in which the staff and students can achieve the desired goals. Bottom line; everyone failed to do their job. ScoreBoard: National test scores: 0 Students: 0 Parents: 0 Teachers: 0 Everyone lost.

By Monica

May 10, 2005 12:10 PM | Link to this

FedUpDemocrat,

The reason most teachers won’t walk off the job is that we love kids. I sympathize with this woman who had an unfortunate experience in the classroom. There have been times in my career where I have let a student get the best of me as well.
That said, for every one child who is as unruly as those described in this woman’s letter, there are at least 10 who are good kids. They want to learn, they show respect for their teachers, and they will one day be productive citizens of society (sometimes in spite of their parents and their teachers!). I teach because I love teaching. The pay is not top dollar, the “3 months vacation” is a myth, but I still love teaching. Not all teenagers are bad! Most of them are fun to teach!

By Sara

May 10, 2005 12:17 PM | Link to this

The problem is the parents—especially poor, black parents. They expect things to just to be handed to them.

Hey, it works for welfare and that’s where most of them will be with their kids by six different men!

By K

May 10, 2005 12:22 PM | Link to this

Whoa there, Sara. There are two sides of everything, dear. For every poor black mother with 6 different baby daddy’s, there are meth smoking, trailer park dwelling, red neck, bleached blonde poor white trash. Get a grip and stay on task. You seem to have a shorter attention span than some of the kids these people are posting about. You say the problem is the parents… with an attitude like yours, I’m SO sure your kids are angels, darling. (Note the dripping sarcasm.)

By Anita

May 10, 2005 12:24 PM | Link to this

PS: Some of students described sound like co-workers of mine! Disrespectful of authority, won’t follow directions, won’t complete assigned tasks, only concerned with lunch, breaks and departure time, socialize all day instead of assisting customers, violent and confrontational when addressed, quick to threaten to sue if you challenge their right to do nothing on company paid time. Education and degrees are nice; but basic manners, character, integrity, respect, personal sense of responsibility and a flexible personality are priceless!

By James

May 10, 2005 12:26 PM | Link to this

I’ve taught for 5.5 years as of today. I told my wife last night that when she graduated from college as a nurse that I would be quitting my job as a teacher. Why you ask? My south fulton co. students have ruined my sense of humor. I don’t have one anymore… and that’s really sad because it used to be the best part of me. Now I go home each day and wonder if I can face getting up in the mornings. I’m not a wimp, I’m not a looser, I’m just tired of dealing with kids that don’t care and have parents that don’t care either. I’m supposed to be a teacher a giver of knowledge. Not a baby sitter or momma and daddy.

Call this lady what you will but the vast majority of you will never have the balls to step in front of a classroom of high school kids and attempt to teach them day in and day out.

By Suwanee

May 10, 2005 01:01 PM | Link to this

Why must the teacher be responsible for reprogramming attitudes and behaviors just because she accepted a teaching position? Why must she have armour-plated emotions in order to be considered a good teacher? Why is it her fault that these young adults threaten violence when they are asked to work? And they are no longer children when they reach high school.

Behavior begins at home, not at school. Her “students,” and I use that term VERY loosely, are the products of their parenting and it is the PARENTING, or lack thereof, that is to blame for their atrocious behavior, not the teacher for not being able to withstand it.

Substitutes have always had a tough time but I saw absolutely no reason to think that the teacher should put up with that kind of behavior that if reported, brought no help from the administration. I say, “give me a break!” if you think those “children” COULD be reached or would be remotely interested in learning anything whatever the lesson plan.

Unfortunately, those are the same students that are going to cry “FOUL” when the only jobs they can get after graduation, if they graduate, will be the ones that start each day saying, “Do you want fries with that?” They are also the same people that as full-fledged adults, will blame their teachers and Society for their poor earning ability and lot in life.

They ask nothing of themselves. Therefore, they need to be reminded to be, “careful of what you ask for because you may get it.”

By hadenough

May 10, 2005 01:11 PM | Link to this

This is so sad…once again I say BLAME THE WORTHLESS PARENTS of these kids….IT ALL BEGINS AT HOME…..this lady seemed like a really good teacher….so so sad that the PARENTS don’t have control over their kids…WORTHLESS PARENTS…WORTHLESS KIDS….

By Robert

May 10, 2005 01:15 PM | Link to this

Teachers UNITE to help solve problems in education. Join the only real alternative to a teachers union that we have in GA…. MACE. Go to www.teachersadvocate.net.

By David

May 10, 2005 01:22 PM | Link to this

Well hello there suwanee, long time no hear from. I have to agree with you on the reprogramming thing you said. We teachers were trained in classroom management of basic problems. Not the problems we have today in fighting the parents and the administrators for lack of support. Good comments.

By Annette

May 10, 2005 01:28 PM | Link to this

Whaaaaaaaa I want to be a teacher. I want to make a difference.I want summers off. HAHA Funky Gee you need to shut up also.

By A Teacher

May 10, 2005 01:35 PM | Link to this

Annette: I want to not think about work non-stop at home. I want to be able to go to the bathroom when I need to without it being a big deal. I want to have more than 15 minutes to sit down and eat lunch. I would also like to make a difference and not feel like a babysitter a lot of the time. Summers aren’t that fun when you have to take courses, or you have no teacher friends with summers off to be social with. Good luck!

By Shauna

May 10, 2005 01:36 PM | Link to this

Sara,

You were dead wrong to put that post up here. I know plenty of WHITE children who are totally rotten. I also know alot of black children who are stereotyped by terrible teachers. You need to stick to the topic at hand and hopefully you will learn something.

For the record, all you teachers out there who say that we should walk in your shoes, I am trying hard to find out exactly what I need to do to get certified to teach and I am getting the run around. I get voicemail after voicemail and no one returns phone calls. So, some of us are trying and we are being slapped in the face by the people who claim they need our help.

Good luck.

By tsk tsk

May 10, 2005 01:38 PM | Link to this

Regarding the response speculating that you have my child in your school: highly doubtful.

Regarding the response that I obviously haven’t spent time in front of a classroom: wrong. I relate to and reach the students. I don’t require their parents involvement in school any more than my parent’s involvement was required when I was in school.

These kids are basically the same as kids were when I was their age. There aren’t more problems with home life now than there were then, only different and more diverse ones.

By Suwanee

May 10, 2005 01:40 PM | Link to this

Hi David,

It is one thing to know classroom management; it is another to be required to live with or withstand the threat of physical violence in order to teach. Shame on everyone who blamed the teacher for the behavior of those students! Walk in her shoes before you judge!

By FunkyGee

May 10, 2005 01:42 PM | Link to this

Can’t shut up Annette. I need to bust on your type of lameO wannabes who won’t put in the effort required to get the job done. Gimme gimme gimme. I can’t take care of myself. You owe me my lazya$$ lifestyle. The real world chews up and spits out people like you and yours. Peace.

By Shauna

May 10, 2005 01:50 PM | Link to this

In response to this poor teacher, the only person that can say whether or not it was a good decision is her. If she has a mental breakdown trying to be a “good” teacher and hang in there, then where would the students be then. This poor woman sounds as if she were barely pulling through. If she hadn’t quit, then the parents really would have been mad if she had snapped in class and said something wrong or done something wrong. Like hit one of them. A person (teacher or not) at the end of their rope is dangerous and we definately don’t want our teachers to be dangerous. The students have that covered all on their own. These students should have been suspended or expelled. Or maybe sent to an alternative school so that someone could figure out exactly what was their problem. (other than being rude).

It sounds like help was needed on both sides of this coin.

By sd

May 10, 2005 02:03 PM | Link to this

You know, I’ve seen the antiquated way teachers teach today’s students. And while I’m not encouraging misbehaving in school, teachers is quite responsible for the way the children behave. If you assert yourself and are confident in who you are children will pick up on that and respond accordingly—doing what they are told. You also have to let them know that you are on their side so to speak. You want what’s best for them, not just to collect a paycheck or to have summers off. Although today’s children are extremely educated in the wrong’s of society, they still need to be guided. There is nothing wrong with you putting information on a sheet and handing it out. That’s what our teachers did. It’s a guideline. It gives them some idea of what to look for. I personally feel that most (W) teachers are apathetic towards the children, especially to the minority children. Some have stereotyped them as either not able to learn or not wanting to learn and have not taken the time to find out what makes them interested in paying attention to you. Just because parents send their children to school doesn’t make them necessarily want to be there. That’s true of all children. Knowing the situation those children were already facing—substitutes—you should have set things straight, taken authority and taught your class, but you chose to give up, quit. Instead of stressing quitting is not an option, you showed a lack of self-control by walking out of the classroom. Teachers say they want parental participation, but they really only want it if it’s to their advantage. If a parent disagrees with you then the parent is an idiot and the reason why the child is like he/she is. It’s clear from the comments you made that these children are Black. There is just as much going on in predominantly White schools as well. It’s just not publicized because we protect our reputation all the while exploiting the reputation of others. Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, lack of interest is just as prevalent in our schools it’s just that our children’s form of dress hasn’t been sprawled all over the media to target them as drug addicts or pushers. When a group of children walk through the doors of the school dressed in all black with black hair, nails and make-up we don’t think twice about paying close attention to them. As long as they’re quiet we leave them alone. That is, of course, until they shoot up a school. I think I would rather have children talking openly and candidly about what’s going on rather than quietly plotting and planning evil. You spoke of children running to see a fight. That’s indicative of all children, even some adults. Everything you mentioned the children in your class doing is indicative of what children, especially teenagers do. I think all white teachers who teach Black children should first learn who they really are for themselves and not take the media’s word for it.

By danielle

May 10, 2005 02:06 PM | Link to this

In school suspension is a joke. Some schools, the kids have to wait weeks to serve their time. There are not enough seats for everyone. I used to work in an ISS room, and I would get the same kids over and over. There was no consequence big enough for them. There won’t be any good consequences unless parents, teachers and the community work together to take back the high standards and expectations of these students instead of just letting them do what they want because they are too much work, and no one wants to deal with them.

By Shauna

May 10, 2005 02:12 PM | Link to this

sd,

Very well put. Thank you from a black parent that wishes that people didn’t just assume that our children were out to do wrong. I would love to be a parent in your class.

By the way, can anyone give me a website or a phone number so I can start the ball on finding out what I need to do to get certified to teach. I was serious about that.

By cd

May 10, 2005 02:12 PM | Link to this

When teachers form a REAL union, these problemes will lessen (not disappear.) It is no coincidence that Georgia teachers are forbidden to unite and determine the course to fix education and that Georgia is in the bottom of education.

Politicians are as ignorant as most of you.

By Monica

May 10, 2005 02:25 PM | Link to this

Shauna,

Try the Georgia Professional Standards Commission home page. There is a tab at the top for certification requirements. Good luck!

By sd

May 10, 2005 02:27 PM | Link to this

I just read Sara’s red-neck comment. That’s the problem right there. A lot of white teachers do feel that, all the while, trailer park kids are not thought to be ignorant and unable to learn when they show up with oil dripping from their hair with enough bumps on their face to make you dislike pizza for life. The attitude the teachers have towards these children is the same attitude white employers have towards some of their parents.

By Shauna

May 10, 2005 02:33 PM | Link to this

Monica,

Thank you

By sd

May 10, 2005 02:36 PM | Link to this

I do have to admit, teachers do need to get a grip. I believe in parent participation, but I am a little tired of my daughter’s fifth grade teacher sending projects home that need 99 percent of my participation. Teachers are lazy and just trying to get the curriculum crammed into a few weeks because they spend the whole year preparing for standardized tests. If you teach the curriculum the children will pass the test. And by teach, I don’t mean present the informationto the children and it’s up to them to learn it. Teachers don’t teach. They present the work and leave it up to the parents to teach it to their children. You think this is just a Black problem. Check out Sylvan Learning Institute. White children outnumber Black children by a great deal. Teachers just need to get their acts together. You let children run all over you. You say they’re disrespectful at home. I beg to differ with you. Most of these children’s parents are strict. It’s when they get a whimpy teacher that they come all unglued. Heck, if I knew I could come to work and not have to answer to my boss because he/she was soft and afraid of me, I’d clock in and go home.

By Patti

May 10, 2005 02:36 PM | Link to this

Shauna, In addition to the PSC, try this Web site for those seeking entry into the classroom without certification. Georgia has an intensive program that will help you get certified while teaching, though it requires you to first find a job in a local system.

By Shauna

May 10, 2005 02:42 PM | Link to this

Patti,

Thanks

By Anonymous Educator

May 10, 2005 02:46 PM | Link to this

I am amazed by the number of responses to my essay posted by Patti yesterday. Yes, I am the teacher that quit with three weeks left in the school year. I am not, however, surprised by the content of the responses. Warning: for those of you who hate long comments to a blog, this will be a very long entry. Do not feel obligated to read it.

My essay was edited for space, and I have no problem with that. What I am about the share was not in the original essay. Prior to this teaching assignment, I had not been a classroom teacher for a number of years. Circumstances occurred in the last year whereby I had the opportunity to “put my money where my mouth is” and return to classroom teaching.

You can count me among the voices that believe people too far removed from the classroom make many of the decisions about educational policy and pedagogy. People who have never been in a classroom make some of these decisions. Personally, I applauded the move by the GPSC to require classroom teaching five days per year as a requirement for renewal of teaching certification. Of course, the fact that the GA DOE was able to exempt itself from this requirement defeats the intention of keeping policymaking grounded in the classroom.

At any rate, I had the opportunity to return to classroom teaching, and I took it because not only I needed the income, but also because I felt I had been out of the classroom too long. Having recently spent several years as an administrator, I knew that returning to the classroom now would offer me an opportunity to reconnect with students and other classroom teachers directly, an experience missing far too long from my resume. Moreover, I was right.

To those of you who want to blame administrators for my experience—- Under the circumstances, I feel I had good support from school and departmental administrators. They quickly heard from me about problems I encountered in my classroom, and they truly tried to respond and support me. However, in a large metro-area high school, they were not able to devote all their time to my classroom, and it should not have been necessary. One other point, that was important in my view. Originally assigned to teach in a modular unit and experiencing horrendous discipline situations, the administration did move my classes into the main building at the semester break. That one change probably did the most to improve discipline than anything else tried or reviewed.

I must confess that I was only able to talk my principal into paying for three-days of pre-planning before I began in the classroom. I was lucky to achieve that. There was no orientation to the school or district and their procedures or policies. I learned all of that on the fly or when I had inadvertently violated some policy or procedure.

To those of you who want to blame my fellow teachers for my experience—- This was an area of weakness in my view. First, I was assigned three daily preparations and taught in a modular unit physically removed from the rest of the language arts department. My department chair told me she had asked another teacher at the school to serve as my mentor teacher. I never heard from this individual. Part of the problem was that the mentor was not in the language arts area, but in special education, which is physically located three buildings away from my modular unit. I did receive frequent contact, encouragement, and concrete assistance from my department head. I hold her in the highest esteem. Fellow language arts teachers were friendly and welcoming, but we had little opportunity to interact.

To those of you who blame parents—- I found parents, with whom I made frequent, nay even, continual contact, to fall into one of three categories: 1-those who “talk the talk”; 2-those who “walk the walk”; and, 3-those who could care less. Many parents when contacted would state their appreciation for the contact and tell me that they would make certain that whatever the problem was would occur no more. There were parents who were immediately defensive when contacted. They were the parents who wanted to know if I was contacting other parents or just picking on their child. These parents also were the most verbally abusive, usually profane in their responses. Some parents actually told me they couldn’t do anything with the child either. I even had one parent tell me that with all her children she taught them the best she could through the eighth grade, but that once they were in high school, they were responsible for themselves totally. She was too busy still raising younger children to continue to be responsible for a high school student. There were parents, however, who when contacted maintained contact with me to ensure that whatever the situation was with their child was resolved or being worked on with their support. There were parents who contacted me before I had opportunity to contact them. They, too, maintained consistent contact and were actively engaged in the learning process of their children. Among these three categories of parents, this last one had the smallest numbers. Those who paid lip service to my concerns had the largest numbers.

Those of you who want to know if I attempted to foster or create a sense of community with my students—-Yes, I did. I wrote and sent a letter to each parent or guardian introducing myself and inviting him or her to an Open House I held on my own in my modular unit one evening from five to 8 p.m. within the first two weeks of my hiring. Out of about 135 students, I met with eight parents that evening. At least, all parents received my letter. My second weekend on the job, I telephoned or attempted to telephone all parents or guardians. (Some phones were no longer in service.) My goal was for parents to realize I considered them a part of the learning process for their children. With my students, I did try to foster a learning community with them. They initially read and responded to a piece I had written on why I was a teacher. I asked them to describe for me what school would look like and how it would function if they could design and determine their own school. They read and responded in a variety of ways and media to the topics of learning, communication, reading, and writing. Students shared their dreams and aspirations for their own lives, and we discussed how this class might help them to achieve those goals. This was undertaken in whole class meetings, small groups, and one-on-one with me. Bear in mind, however, the pace in this effort had to be fast because we were just a couple of weeks from the fall semester exams. I tried at the beginning of the next semester to touch on these areas again and to tie them all to the planned curriculum. In all classes, I tried to be open, honest, and forthcoming. It was not enough with four of my five classes. With one class, my efforts did pay off. I have examined repeatedly what I did with that class that worked that I had not done with the other classes. Why did this one class jell as a learning community and not the others? I still have no explanation. In addition, when students would tell me that they wanted me to quit—-that they had done it before and could do it again—-my response was always that they would be unsuccessful in their quest.

This next section may seem defensive, and I suppose it is. Nonetheless, a part of my original essay that was edited “out” was that my decision to leave before the end of the school year was a result of a health problem that worsened because of my job. The week before I quit, I had spent three days on complete bed rest under doctor’s orders to bring down a dangerously high blood pressure reading of 220/164. In the end, I decided that the job was not worth having a stroke. In addition, think of the trauma my students would endure were I to have that stroke while in the classroom!

Additionally, like many people of my generation, I am responsible for an elderly parent. One day last month, I was summoned to an area hospital to be with a parent who had been taken there in an emergency. I missed several days of school until the situation stabilized. Students were aware of the situation, and many of the ones one would like expect, inquired frequently about my father’s condition since that time. The administration has not told my students that I quit. They have told students that I could not complete the school year because of health problems in my family. I consider this literally true, and it was important that students not know they had any part of my decision to leave.

By rj

May 10, 2005 02:51 PM | Link to this

I heard the principal of my child’s school say that out of a school of 2000 children there are only 100 children that give them a hard time. It’s the same 100 students in trouble over and over. Most of them came from the south fulton county school system. They were relocated to Clayton County. Now, the problems south fulton had has been passed to Clayton County. Along with their thug attitudes came the crime. I moved to Clayton County because there was a zero tolerance for violence in the schools. I didn’t want my child to have to fight or be interrupted in class because of an unruly child. It’s a shame.

By David

May 10, 2005 02:55 PM | Link to this

SD, how in the hell do you know most of “these” parents are strict…just answer me that ….don’t come back with any BS..just answer the question..unless you mothered or fathered most of them…

By David

May 10, 2005 02:56 PM | Link to this

and ps sd, you ought to enjoy taking up some time with your child and sharing in their project…

By Shauna

May 10, 2005 02:59 PM | Link to this

I commend you on your struggles and I truly understand the health issue. I have blood clots constantly and I understand that your health comes first. You are doing no one any good dead. Please, take care of yourself and your father. My prayer are with you and I will request that my church pray for you as well.

By Shauna

May 10, 2005 03:09 PM | Link to this

David,

To a certain extent, I agree with sd. It is not our job to do our children’s projects with them. Teachers now give the students projects that can only be done with a parents help. I want my child to learn to do a project from begining to end on her own. Of course I’ll be there to help and to answer some questions, but the instructions specifically state that parents must be completely involved. If we pamper our children when they have hard projects, what do they learn.

By Patti

May 10, 2005 03:13 PM | Link to this

Anonymous Teacher did indeed write of her health problems leading up to her decision to quit. I edited that part out to keep the blog topic focused and to a length that could be read quickly. In retrospect, I should have left the health issue in.

I too had no idea the reaction would be so strong.

Patti

P.S. I encourage others with stories to share to e-mail them to me for consideration as blog posts.

By Suwanee

May 10, 2005 03:39 PM | Link to this

To Anonymous Educator,

It’s the students loss. Anyone who now doesn’t think you did everything you could and still says the responsibility lies with your rather than the students and parents didn’t read your blog. No job and no one is worth your health.

By I_Teach

May 10, 2005 03:59 PM | Link to this

Chuck, You mentioned the GA law that allows teachers to remove disruptive students. What you did not mention, perhaps because you do not know,just how completely impossible it is to actually DO this.

If the parents won’t back you, and if there is no support from the administrators (someone mentioned other teachers in the department-get REAL- last thing they need to do is come put out other people’s ‘fires’.)you’re pretty much dead in the water. NCLB has strict attendance mandates, so now, the option of giving out-of-school suspension to distruptive students is virtually gone.

The teacher did what she had to do. Few jobs are worth getting physically ill over. I’ve been there. Taking blood pressure meds because the job is stressful is not an ideal way to live and work.

Someone else said that teaching is NOT for everyone.

Amen.

By I_Teach

May 10, 2005 04:07 PM | Link to this

SD I find your comments disrespectful,and downright ignorant.

Teachers are LAZY???? I no longer give projects tobe done at home, because parents (apparently like YOU) cannot bear to have your child do his/her project alone and get less than what you deem an appropriate grade. My students do projects here.

As for us being allowed to teach more the the curriculum and less ‘preparing for the test,’ you assume that this is OUR choice. Has it occurred to you that we are told when to begin reviewing, and what to review? I have worked in buildings where the entire grade level had to review at the SAME TIME EACH DAY

By I_Teach

May 10, 2005 04:09 PM | Link to this

SD I find your comments disrespectful,and downright ignorant.

Teachers are LAZY???? I no longer give projects tobe done at home, because parents (apparently like YOU) cannot bear to have your child do his/her project alone and get less than what you deem an appropriate grade. My students do projects here.

As for us being allowed to teach more the the curriculum and less ‘preparing for the test,’ you assume that this is OUR choice. Has it occurred to you that we are told when to begin reviewing, and what to review? I have worked in buildings where the entire grade level had to review at the SAME TIME EACH DAY and even turn in a schedule!!!!!

If we spend time reviewing, it is because we are told to pull up test scores schoolwide. Trust ME, we’d much prefer to TEACH instead of prepare for tests and cram curriculum in a rapid fire pace.

Go teach. Then you will have the right to criticize.

By the way: not all families with struggling children have the financial resources to send their children to tutoring!

By Jeannie

May 10, 2005 04:45 PM | Link to this

Wow! I stopped reading all the responses because they are bitter and off-course.
I’m a teacher with 8 years experience- elementary school, and a parent of 3. Our whole family is a part of the profession, so I assume I am allowed to comment. First of all, where was your mentor teacher? How about administration? How about your department members / head? You weren’t supported from the beginning, and good lesson plans and excellent behavior management won’t fix that. Secondly, take a deep breath, go get your masters, and come back and teach MY daughter! I hope someone with high expectations who is willing to TEACH is left when she gets to high school in 2 years. YOu sound like the kind of teacher who ought to be doing honors classes or AP. Still, I hope someone is out there expecting more of students. Thank you for not dumbing down the curriculum, and I’m sorry that it didn’t work your first time. We always need folks who can work at Walmart…

By D'Joane

May 10, 2005 04:50 PM | Link to this

It is amazing to me that most of the commentary has put the blame on the teacher in question. I can pretty much guarantee that the negative comments did not come from teachers or from people who have a clue.

Having personally witness some horror stories as a student from days of old as well as hearing stories from teachers in my family, I know that I’d be in jail if I had to teach in the average school - public or private. My father, who taught high school for many years prior to becoming disabled, often sent unrully students to the principal’s office only to have them be returned shortly thereafter. He spent more time trying to tell people to “sit down, shut up, stop passing notes, etc.” than he could actually spend teaching.

The tragic part about this whole matter is that the students are fully empowered while the teachers are treated as indentured servants. The average student knows that he/she can pretty much get away with anything because the system doesn’t push for student accountability. Teachers really have no leg to stand on when it comes to having full jusrisdiction over the classroom. And, yes, there are acceptions to the rule since poor behavior can be exhibited by teachers as well.

Quite frankly, I commend teachers like “Doc” who administer grades based upon behavioral issues including students who apparently suffer from sleep deprivation. If school boards were truly concerned about educating the students, they would work towards creating a hostile-free classroom environment conducive for learning vs. worrying about upsetting parents. Education has become a joke to most children because parents don’t generally do their part in holding the children accountable. Furthermore, school administrators have become mere puppets in the hands of parents and students alike.

In my opinion, it is not worth a teacher’s health, let alone a teacher’s pocketbook, to tolerate such poor behavior on an on-going basis. Had it been me, I might have left a few student casualties before marching out of the classroom. Therefore, the lady in this commentary doesn’t deserve to be demonized because she could have been facing a murder trial as I probably would had had I been in a similar situation.

By David

May 11, 2005 08:46 AM | Link to this

shauna, you are right…that last comment i made to sd was out of line i guess..was just a little irritated by her comment..i have 3 daughters and yes there are alot of projects…

By Heywood

May 11, 2005 10:51 AM | Link to this

Yes America, let’s demonize the teachers because it’s all their fault that little Johnnie is too stupid to read the operating hours of the liquor store he intends to rob. Come on let’s pass a few more liberal laws and seat a few more liberal judges to defend the laws so kids don’t have to go to school or attend classes at all before we hand over the diplomas. Since their “momma” is ready to “put her (teacher) in her place” I guess “momma” is geared up to support their little innocent children who coincidentally are too dumb to fill out a job application and expect their parents or the government to supply them with “a check” but all the more demand “respect”. No wait, a good portion of these children will be fine, upstanding members of their disrespective communities as “pharmaceutical salespersons” and “relaxation consultants”, people we in civilized society know as drug dealers and hookers.

By Hyacinth

May 11, 2005 11:08 AM | Link to this

A teacher has the responsiblity to teach.

Students have the responsibility to learn.

The solution is really that simple. Teachers cannot and should not be accountable for whether or not students choose to learn or choose to behave. It’s not rocket science. Students should be accountable.

After many years of teaching in public school, I now homeschool. Life is good.

No teacher should hang on a cross to salvage the unredeemable. Service is one thing. Servitude is quite another.

Hyacinth

By JR

May 11, 2005 11:26 AM | Link to this

Anyone see the high school survey which showed kids study an average of 3 hours per WEEK!!!!

Gee, I wonder why they are performing poorly….. 3 hours of homework in high school per week…. pathetic. You have to earn what you learn not stick a book under your pillow at night hoping it’ll sink in!!!!

That teacher did the right thing. HEALTH and FAMILY first, then the rest of life’s stuff……

By cd

May 11, 2005 12:52 PM | Link to this

sd, you are an idiot. You could never last a week in today’s learning environment. So keep your trap shut, ignorant fool.

By tam712

May 11, 2005 04:17 PM | Link to this

SD is not a complete idiot. Teachers are getting slacker every day. In my days the teacher made sure I understood my asignments. Today they just flunk you out for not compredhending the task. Never even bother to take five mins to help clarify what you don’t understand. It is a teachers job to teach…not raise a child. But they are paid to teach & they should do so.

By Borus

May 11, 2005 05:11 PM | Link to this

I’m a high school student and I can tell you that we have great teachers and we also have crappy ones. But then, I also work at a fast food joint and we have a great manager and a crappy one so I guess it’s just the way of the world.

But you know, the same kids are always in trouble at my school and most of them just get off. I was in one class where a kid took his privates out and told the teacher what to do with them. He was suspended for five days, but then came back. He kept harrassing that poor woman. They wouldn’t kick him out because he was “special ed.” I don’t know what kind of “special ed” but if he couldn’t keep it in his pants and kept saying gross things to the teacher (who was one of the great ones we have) he doesn’t need to be in school.

I feel bad for the teachers who really try and still get a bunch of crap from kids.

By another teacher

May 12, 2005 05:07 PM | Link to this

tam712 - what do you mean by “teach”? I plan lessons that incorporate different styles of learning, allow students to work with each other and alone, utilize technology, and integrate other subject areas. Most teachers I know do so as well.

When I present the lesson to my class, I have students sleeping, writing notes, sneaking in a game on their cell phone or gameboy, or doing homework for another class. When I write out directions and go over them, I still have students that didn’t listen in the first place and refuse to read the direction again.

Outside of the gameboy/cell phone, a lot of that stuff was going on when I was in school 25 - 30 years ago. I’m sure my teachers came up against some of the same issues. But, when a phone call home was made (or even threatened) it carried some weight. Now, when a student is disciplined, they have their parents come to school to defend their incorrect actions - the “Doc” situation is a perfect example of that.

I’m not saying all teachers are perfect or that it’s all the parents fault. Society is a different place now and there are more things challenging and drawing students attention away from learning.

What I am tired of, however, is the amount of teacher bashing that goes on both in this blog as well as in other forums. Has everyone’s experience with education been so negative? Those who post learned to read and write somewhere - I can’t think you were all educated in private schools.

Teachers are slackers? I think not. Most people I know who know what I do tell me repeatedly that they couldn’t do it.

By jim carater

May 16, 2005 01:59 PM | Link to this

If the government would stop taking care of these idiots - welfare, free lunch, section 8 housing, food stamps, etc. and jail those that can’t make an honest living we would all be better off. As a former teacher and current tax payer, I am for building more jails and fewer schools. If we got the idiots out of the schools that are not interested in learning and put them to work picking up trash or whatever we would be better off. There needs to be no such thing as a free ride for ANYONE. They should at least be required to do volunteer work to get any benefits at all.