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The Students are Revolting
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The Students are Revolting |
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Professor Gloom Member Elite
since 2000-07-23
Posts 3082of Depression |
Recently I have changed professions, from Chemist to teacher. (Excuse me while I pour a three finger glass of Canadian Mist on the rocks) It all started back in late December, with paper work and finger printing to check on my background. I was happy to find out that I am not a pervert or felon and began signing up for local schools as a substitute teacher. I picked the elementary schools because of the influence that teachers have at that age and the fact that all the fresh for college female teachers tend to be there. And although I had signed for the local middle school till today I had never been called. (sip) The morning started very calm, first period was the planning period for the math teacher. I was sort of excited about teaching math, which had been a fairly good subject for me in college. After many classes of simple addition of one digit numbers in elementary I was going to teach Algebra II. (at least during the second period) (sip here) These Eight graders were the ones that wanted to learn and we got into quadratic equations and found it enjoyable. The rest of the day was pre-Algebra and I doubt that very many of these kids wanted to learn, but third period went fairly well and they did the simple handouts and passed them in with very little problems. (sip here, better make that two sips for those of you following along at home) Fourth period was bad from the moment they walked in to the trailer, yes that’s right this was in the temps. After a few warning shots, I went to the phone and called for the Vice principal. The room quieted. They were worried, but no one came. No one but the secretary responded. I then lost control of the class as an educator. Now relegated to mere crowd control I was able to keep them from fighting, barely. (sip here) As they dispersed for lunch, which I was suppose to walk them down to the lunch room, I was left with quiet and quandary. Kindergarteners were better behaved. I went to the office to see why I could get no help when requested. And saw the vice principal, whom had been busy, but promised help in the afternoon. (sip here) He was good to his word, an honorable if overworked man, and the last two classes of pre-Algebra went better. In the last class I tossed out three students and I tried very hard not to, but they just wouldn’t keep their mouths closed at the proper time ( gave them three chances (probably should sip here)). The day seemed more of crowd control than teaching and I would recommend more barbed wire, shock collars and cattle prods. So with very little done, or so it felt, I move to my last period of the day. I was the Hall monitor. (sip here) I got to my post, without gun or cattle prod, to notice the girls bathroom being peeked out of and then giggles as the door closed. I flagged down a roving female teacher and had her go in a check things out. Just like a fine hound, she flushed them out. (please forgive the metaphors, just sip with me deeply). A girl and two boys exited before her. Now please remember this is only middle school and the girl was eight grade and perhaps fourteen. It turns out that one of the boys was from the High school down the road. One ran, the high school boy, but he was known to the teacher and the others went to the office. (sip here) Next, just minutes after that, a seventh grader left his class, noisily. He didn’t quiet down when asked to and ran off before I could stop him. Soon he was returned by two of the female teachers. He left again, I shouted him back into the class with a level two voice. Then he tried again, ducking into the class and coming out a door behind me ( nothing from the teacher inside the room) and off I ran after. He cowered before me and another teacher that was just happened to be stationed at the next intersection and he was hauled off to the office. I was told this was normal for him. (sip here) So ended my day and began my drinking. I would draw you some great conclusion and shine some of my wisdom upon it all, but I need to freshen my drink. So tell me your wisdom in a response or just shake your head and say “tsk tsk” Gloom |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
The degeneration began, I believe, in my time in school. Between 1967 and 1972, something went downhill in the teaching profession, and I am not sure that was the kids, at first. I saw it first hand in English Lit. I had just left my Advanced Shorthand and Typing III classes, and had gone to find that my French Teacher nee English Lit instructor had called in sick for the day, and we were treated to a sub. Sigh. Although he introduced me to McKuen, he also introduced me to slovenliness [were all the subs sick, too?], ill regard for his students, and a penchant to let machinery teach for him...he had put McKuen's LP poetry record on and we listened to Sloopy and a few other recordings...I fell in love with McKuen while watching the tie-dyed sub put his feet up on the desk. I left the room after class and saw my ever-dependable, stern and lovable business teacher, Mr. Aoki, in the hallways. Impeccably dressed in suit, shirt and tie, shoes polished, his smile ever present, I thought to myself the difference between "old school" and "new wave"... I was glad to be introduced to McKuen, mind you, but I was disheartened then, and still am, that the kind of teacher I saw then gave room for the students to say, "but he [named teacher] [dresses/acts/behaves] this way...." How sad. How very, very sad... It takes a very sturdy, strong, no-nonsense teacher/educator to bring the kids up by their bootstraps today. I'll bet you will be able to do it.... |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Well now gloom, I substituted for a year in middle school on a daily basis in the same class room. The highs (few) were vey high and lows (many) were very low. Turns out I was miserable. Made me glad I didn't follow through on my certification. Never drank though. Suppose it might have helped. I always told my children to do social work as a hobby and find a career that actually earned an income. But they didn't listen either. However, you do have my respect and sympathy. But I gotta say, "what were you tinking?"  If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
I could have told you so~~~~  M |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Hey is this for real or is this a joke...if its for real they're going to have a hard time getting and holding a job...no need to worry as there are plenty of willing job applicants in India and China where I'm pretty sure that the teachers don't have these kind of problems...James |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
Now you know why the third A-girl did not go into teaching! Hope tomorrow is better.  .....jo |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
This is a good narrative, but I'm sorry you had such an experience. I'm a fairly recent deposit of public schools, and I'm a new Secondary education-English major, and I have to say that nothing you wrote really shocked me. I've tutored and been a part of classes and schools like you described, but dont give up hope.. some of us want to make a difference, like me, and I'm more stubborn than any of those kids are!  Thanks for postingOh, make me Thine forever |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
On the "up" side, I find it very rewarding teaching at a rural elementary level "most of the time". I've only had my tires slit once (by rivals at a basketball event, I hope)! At our school of 450 students, we can leave things out in the hallway and they are not disturbed. I've displayed new books, cool ball caps, etc. on bulletin boards and no one has bothered them. This week, a teacher put a very popular football jersey on her snowman to celebrate the Super Bowl. No one walked off with it, although they had their chance! I've even left my purse accidently on a cafeteria table and found it untouched hours later (lucky, huh?). Did I fictiously paint a fairy tale world? Of course, there are discipline problems! We just deal with them the best we can. Sip. Sip. Soak and hour or two in the tub! If I were to tell what some of these kids put up with at home... Sip, sip, sip... Unfortunately, sometimes their anger and frustrations can't help but manifest themselves at school. As to Sunshine's comment about the change in teachers. I don't think that is the problem for the most part. Most are professional and behave in such a manner. The teachers I see coming from college are better trained in organization and classroom management than ever before. I believe the children are different and not as prepared when they come to school! The first MAJOR change I noticed was when the electronic games and videos became widely used in the home. They conveniently became the babysitter in many instances. I believe there is a decrease in listening and reading comprehension because children spend less time in two way conversations and problem solving situations with adults. I'm glad you wrote this. Something really happens to our sweet little ones when the hormones start raging at the junior high level! Those teachers deserve a few extra dollars and a few less students! Hang in there until you get a class of your own. Things are much different when you are able to lay out your expectations and set the tone at the beginning of the year. miscellanea [This message has been edited by miscellanea (02-05-2005 01:50 AM).] |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Misc'e, I think you're right on that last part. That was "my time" and certainly not this grandma's "today" time... |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Sunshine, I know what you're saying. I've had teachers who sat with their legs propped up. I don't work with any--they're all too busy to sit down! If I wouldn't have witnessed the change in kids over just a few years when the videos and electronic games came out, I would not have believed anything could have impacted education the way they have. Thanks, Professor, for bringing the discussion. |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Silly me...I thought it was a rant! If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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