Tuesday, March 10, 2009
My rant
At the end of 5th period today after attempting to help some students with a lab, I was told to "shut up" by a student as he was leaving. This made me very angry. Of course, I spoke to the other teacher and she gave him an office referral. So his punishment will either be detention (stay after school and goof off), In School Suspension (sit in another classroom all day and goof off), or suspension (vacation day). Isn't the idea to correct the behavior, not reward it? If the tables were turned and I told a student to shut up, I could be fired, or at the least severely reprimanded. Such double standards.
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6 comments:
As a teacher, I am very disappointed with the general "jerk" attitudes that the majority of the students have in 2009. It's all stacked against us and we're fighting a lost cause. I wonder how many of the recent unemployed statistics aren't just like the student you described.
We are done for it. On tha't note, can't wait to go to work tomorrow.
Sorry for the doom and gloom, but the kids have got me down lately too.
Well the week before spring break is always hard...more than anything I am upset at myself for not helping the kids more.
It is frustrating when we can't reach a student or connect with them, because I know if I really connect with a kid, I've got them. I agree that the week before break is hard, weather is up and down, kids are tired, daylight savings has thrown us all off, and of course, the school year is 75% done. I am excited for the day when I can allow my inner energy to bubble out slowly and steadily. Seems like I run low on energy after a long day of labs or teaching, and now I have coaching on top of that, til 5pm or what will be later as games approach. The funny thing about kids is how they bond to you. Kids that yelled and hated come back a year later after graduation and they will just hug you and grin ear to ear. So I try to remember that, even when they "hate" me, they need me.
Thanks for reminding me not to loose sight of the reason why I teach. The kids do need us in their lives as stable adult figures who care for them through thick and thin.
Maybe when he said that to you, he was actually saying it to some one else in his dream. Some aspects of the moment just triggered an automatic response. Perhaps he is more likely to get away with it in school, as compared to home where if he said it, he could be tortured. So you were his pressure release valve. Maybe you did him a favour by letting him vent. If one can't vent, then they will implode instead of explode.
I have to agree with you that the punishment always seems more of a reward but unfortunately now days discipline seems to have gone out the door. Once again let me say that I really admire you teachers who still continue with your good work no matter how unrewarding and difficult it is. When something like this happens, let your thoughts go to that one person in the class you are really helping and that needs you.
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