I Need Spring Break
While I do enjoy being a teacher, several things have been eating away at me lately. As I stare at the enormous pile of papers and projects I have to grade this weekend, because I've had school meetings every afternoon this past week, I feel the need to rant.
Parents:
So, despite the bureaucracy and misguided parents, I think I'll stick with the profession.
Now, I'm off to tackle the pile of papers. Wish me luck.
Parents:
- Please do not give your child candy on the way to school. Especially your ADHD child. When I see him walking into class with a lollipop coming out of his mouth, I know it's going to be a rough day.
- Our Family Life program does NOT teach kids about the "homosexual lifestyle." We stick to the more relevant stuff, like the changes children can expect to happen to their bodies as they enter puberty.
- Our coverage of Ancient History (specifically Rome and Greece) will not include any instruction about, or glorification of, the "homosexual lifestyle." I assure you that homosexuality is not part of California's 6th grade curriculum standards.
- No child is perfect. They would be boring if they were! That being said, please allow your child to take responsibility for his missing homework assignments and poor grades, rather than making excuses or blaming me for not giving him enough time to do his homework in class. It's called "homework" for a reason.
- It's wonderful that you want to try all these new educational programs to help students achieve the standards set by the government. Could you just not try them all at once, please? We're spending so much time learning and implementing new programs that we don't have time to teach the curriculum!
- It would be lovely if teachers could get a raise next year. You must admit that us having to picket just to get a small cost-of-living-adjustment to our salaries was a bit extreme.
- While No Child Left Behind may have some good ideas, its educational goals are unreasonable. There is no way that 100% of all students in America will be testing above grade-level by the year 2014. It's an unrealistic expectation - fix this please.
- Children with special needs, English Language Learners, and kids from low-socioeconomic status (several of whom are homeless), will most likely not score well on the standardized tests. They've got other things they're worrying about. Please take into account all children when creating your educational goals, not just the "ideal kids" who come from stable, English-speaking families with supportive parents.
- It is projected that within the next 5 years, every single school in California will be under "Program Improvement." Could this be a problem with ALL the schools, or is the problem perhaps your method of assessing them? Just something to think about.
So, despite the bureaucracy and misguided parents, I think I'll stick with the profession.
Now, I'm off to tackle the pile of papers. Wish me luck.
You know, from a parent's side of things, I know that my son is the most ill-behaved in his class. And his class has a total of 32 students. I know his teacher does his best. But I think that she sometimes forgets that he's not just an ADHD kid. There's more to it. Things she cannot know. So when he gets frustrated in class, when he makes a social error, when he repeatedly stabs a pencil across his work so hard that it rips, I always hope that she can look at him with my eyes. That she can see he's a wonderful kid buried underneath layers and layers of difficulty. I can only imagine how hard her job is. But, for my son's sake, I sometimes wish I could loan his teacher my eyes.
You're so right Maggie. My student with ADHD is a constant challenge, but he is also a great kid with a wonderful sense of humor. When he's doing things that are disruptive, it can be hard to remember that sometimes. But as an educator, I feel it's my job to see not only the negative aspects of a child's behavior, but the positive as well.
I just wish his parents were more aware of how things like sugar and lack of sleep (he stays up very late playing violent video games) affect his learning and the classroom environment.When I've told them, they kind of laugh it off as no big deal.
I truly admire your courage in taking on a new profession a couple of years ago. I've seen you in action - you are a spectacular teacher (and I am NOT just prejudiced!). And, finaly, love the new header!
Do the parents want you to teach homosexuality? Where did that come up? In all my years of teaching, that is one subject that never came up.
I agree with you to the millionth degree about the rest. It is the same here on the opposite coast in all areas you mentioned.
Jenni-
Liz said, "Wow! You get to teach History! How cool is that!"
:)
I guess she doesn't do it much.
She has papers to grade also but we decided since I had a weekend off we are going to Monterey! I may not get another weekend for quite some time.
:p
Family first!?!?!?!?!?!?
mmrussianadoption:
Actually, the parent who has voiced concerns about homosexuality is ultra-religious and paranoid about a "homosexual agenda." She doesn't want her son recruited, I guess. Fortunately, she has begun homeschooling him, which should make her feel more in control of the curriculum he is being taught.
Jeff:
Family first is definitely important! I'm hoping that next year I'll still be teaching 6th grade so all the prep-work I've done this year can carry over. That should give me a bit more free time. Tell Liz I said "Hi!"
I, honestly, feel your pain. Can you imagine high school?
those kids are fortunate to have you teach them history. they're enthusiastic reception and understanding is a reflection of your abilities. i HATED history when i was school and yet, i now LOVE helping my daughter understand it.
thanks for stopping by my blog.
:)
maria
I too am having an "I seriously dislike my job sometimes" week - on the plus side I don't have to worry about moulding young minds ;-)
Oh - I forgot to say that I love the new header!
I don't know how you do it. I used to substitute teach and it was harder than I expected. If it was up to me I would give you a big raise.
I'm embarrassed but many of these reasons are why I left. I loved my kids. I loved the creativity. I loved making my classroom OUR room. I hated the BS that went with it.
I left after 5 years and went to work as a legal asst. which, in all actuality, is very much like working with 5th graders.
Hats off to you, our kids deserve to have good, quality teachers like yourself around, sadly due to a lot of circumstances those teachers leave due to frustration and defeat.
sadly I teach pre-k in KY adn get asked when I cover "growing up" (mainly for prek it's teeth loss and getting excited for bath time.. what fun) parents ask me if I'm teaching the Homosexual Agenda. I do giggle every time a 4 yr old parent comes up to ask me if homosexuality will be covered in the "One tooth, two teeth, three teeth, MORE!" lesson plans.
Ahh parents.
Very pretty new look, Jenni.
I give you so much credit for doing what you do. It's such an important job, thankless as it is and made more difficult with all the politics that goes along with trying to improve the system. You all deserve so much more than you're compensated.