I taught middle school, grades 6-8, but I spent most of my time in a 7th grade classroom. I taught fourteen years here in Georgia, and I don't know if I will ever go back due to the politics of it all.
Middle school is definitely the most difficult. Did you ever consider going to another level or change school where the administration might be different? They are not all the same and every school is not the same.
I taught in three schools. I spent two years at the first school. I changed schools because I wanted to be close to my family. The second school had a principal who failed to discipline the students. She was a bully and had favorites and was cliquish. The students behaved horribly as a result of her failing to do her job. I only spent one year at this school. The third school I spent eleven years at. When I began, the school environment was vastly different. The principal was respectful to all staff. He wasn't overbearing, and he actually supported his teachers. He was a great principal. However, he died during my eighth year at the school, and the last three years we had a different head principal each year. They were too authoritarian for the staff, especially the first and third of those other principals. The last year I taught, most of my discipline referrals were ignored in terms of the students receiving any discipline, and it caused major classroom behaviors, of which the principal continued to be unsupportive. I enjoyed teaching, and I was a very successful teacher, but after fourteen years, it starts to become stale, and it gets harder and harder to deal with students whose behavior worsens about every year. The stress put on a teacher's emotional health is not something that most principals or any other workers in the school have to deal with. Teachers get sick from the job. I felt horrible the last few years after an auto accident, and the job was too much for my body and brain to handle and to heal appropriately. I am now working a minimum wage job, which has forced my wife to go back to work. However, I work on tips and I'm able to pull in about 70% of my teacher salary, and with my wife's income we are able to pay the bills. I also have a lot less stress and feel a lot better emotionally and physically.
The problem starts and ends with poor parenting, period. The students come into the classroom on day 1 already having more issues than Vogue. It's disgraceful
@@DarthFurie I see this as a mental health therapist. The parents have this denial and arrogance that it is our job to fix their child's behavioral issues. Many of the problems I have seen are parenting issues and parents have let the patterns get SO out of control for years with no accountability, discipline, or consequences then expect us counselors to fix the vogue of issues in an hour session. Their expectations are extremely unrealistic and unreasonable while lacking any accountability of how they have contributed to the problem. I give them tools to heal and help themselves but they must be do the work. I have many teachers as clients and we deal with similar issues from parents and the broken systems.
I'd say part of the problem is that students are not allowed to fail. If you fail them you better have a mile long paper trail of where you gave extra time, chances, calls home, make-ups, etc. It's nuts. A simple "Your student didn't do the work or study, what did you expect?" Should be all you need.
Parents don’t hold their kids with any responsibility or accountability. You wonder why kids nowadays don’t even know how to hold a broom right. Kids calls in sick 2 hrs after work start time. It’s sad how things have changed for the worst. But you can’t fire them, because then you have no workers, because all of them have the same work ethics.
When I was in school, I was kind of shocked how teachers cared more about my grade than I did. You can fail them. Now if you are failing everybody because you plain suck (trust me, you do), it's sad but forgivable.
@@drakirolopez7859 it’s not that many teachers suck, it’s because many teachers lose motivation to put in that extra effort because of all the problems that the school system has. If kids can pass their classes with doing just one assignment the whole school year or even pass by doing nothing, how motivated would you be to put effort into teaching your content, it’s a waste of time. If you don’t pass them, parents and admin gets on your case.
As a music teacher, you are exactly right. Some of my parents take it personally if their child doesn't pass everything in their lesson and that drifts down to the child. Here is an example: I had a child who would get so upset if she got something wrong or was terrified of giving a wrong answer (she is 7 years old). I had observed the parents and it wasn't them from what I can tell so I can be wrong. Here was the eye opening moment: I asked this student "do you ride a bicycle or bicycle with training wheels right now?" Her response? "I don't ride a bicycle." When I asked why, she said "I don't want to fall." This child was so terrified of failure that she wouldn't even try. We have been working on her confidence the limited time I get her and she has been taking baby steps in the right direction. Parents need to not take it as a personal insult if a child isn't perfect (any wonder why so many children beginning in the 1990's began being put in Ritalin and Adderal when they didn't behave perfectly?)
I quit teaching last year. For me it was the combination of rigorous academic expectations, combined with student behavior. If my administrator had said: "Listen, you're working with a rough group of kids. Do the best you can." Maybe I could have handled it. But we were constantly being pressured to teach a complex curriculum - and this to kids who did little more than argue and fight with each other. I honestly felt like I'd been directed to teach Shakespeare to a pack of monkeys. And to top it off, when the kids refused to participate in their own learning, I was held responsible. It was a recipe for insanity. There wasn't one teacher at my school who wanted to be there. Not one.
You can't have it both ways and keep all the students in class and expect everyone one else to learn when there are behavior issues. Only people in education seem to understand that but all the policy makers want "no suspensions". The rights of students who misbehave or interfere with the learning of other students seem to be more important than the majority.
@@lgee9027 As long as I've been teaching, I know it's true. However, you have to put it in context. Conditions have "created" these "behavior" students. I've worked with privileged, racist, entitled white children as well as other ethnicities who were equally obnoxious in behavior. The difference (in my experience) is they get cottled or receive a slap on the wrist because their parents are lawyers or doctors or whatever. My worse treatment didn't come at the hands of black students...and I've taught known gang members who"tried" me, but once they knew they could trust me they gave me the utmost respect. Now they didn't always do their work, but they didn't disrespect me nor did they tolerate it from other students. Truth be told kids in general across the board are very disrespectful, rude, entitled, lazy...need I go on. And of course I'm not talking about all but a large portion across all ethnicities, it's just pronounced differently.
"If they're not in the classroom, they're not going to be learning." Indeed. And if those same kids are in the classroom, nobody is going to be learning.
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE ...sounds like a too convenient cop-out of responsibility...pass the buck to the teacher....blame and point the finger elsewhere...stick their head in the sand and ignore the problem...so sad!
This isn't even true. The idea that kids don't learn unless they're in the classroom is nonsense. They learn plenty all day every day wherever they are...just not what's on the school curriculum because that stuff is irrelevant to their lives. People learn what they need to learn regardless of where they are. Also, not everyone is academic in nature. Maybe these students would cooperate if they were learning practical, useful everyday skills instead of useless Math, History or whatever.
My favorite high school teacher said the number one problem with low performing students was their behavior. He told me this in 1999. So nothing has changed.
Behavior is a huge problem that must be discussed! It really should be exposed. Working in many of the schools both public and charter is like working in a jail.
@@Tonia682 Exactly. My brand of misbehavior was drawing cartoons on notebook paper or folding paper airplanes. Threatening a teacher or throwing around furniture in the classroom? I might as well leave school and hit the road. That behavior would not be tolerated for a minute.
I used to be a substitute teacher and middle school was easily the toughest kids to deal with. You know it's time to change jobs when you're very close to hitting the students. I didn't want to end up on the news and in jail so I left
You are pushed to the LIMIT. No one should have to work like this. Society's ills are so bad that the job is impossible. I don't know why anyone would go into the field. Sadly, what you want to do is usually not what you CAN do.
@@jillsalkin7389 i tried. I’m quitting in the morning after two days on the job. I to teach. What goes on in American classrooms is NOT teaching. Its being a warden.
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE It depends on the school and grade. After being so miserable when I retired, I subbed the very next month, before the Covid shut down. I actually had mostly good experiences!! But, I witnessed how terrible it was in the school I had taught in. I would not sub there.
It's the parents mostly I blame. I taught in an excellent school but parents complained about the least thing. And how dare you advise them their children for having issues with certain topics and need extra help or they will compain if you have to reprimand them its never their fault always yours and the schools.
32 year teaching veteran here. It used to be highly unusual for teachers to walk off the job during the school year. It's becoming more and more common: in my last year of in-person teaching, 15% of our faculty quit during the school year. The frustration among staff with student misbehavior is beyond the limit.
Student behavior is a nightmare. The kids are mentally ill. That's why so many are now on medication. I got out of public school because the behavioral issues made me physically sick. If the teachers do not remove themselves from those toxic environments they will indeed ruin their mental and physical health .
back in the 1960s in class we would pray and say the pledge of allegiance to the flag every morning. even the principal would be with us on the intercom or loudspeaker. madam ohara the atheist she was, took prayer out of school. and it slowly over time eroded the innocent fabric of learning in school. if you dont believe that fine, but just look around. but have you ever seen so much commotion in our schools before. in multiculture regions it is a full blown ZOO. but we cant say that anymore , right ?
One good thing to come of Covid home instruction is parents are forced to deal with their brats and see exactly what their teachers have been warning them about. I get a huge smile on my retired face when I think of some of the parents and kids I dealt with now doing the home instruction thing. Priceless. Oh to be a fly on the wall.....
Oh, bravo & how right you are! At the height of the pandemic, I called my HS student's parents & spoke to Mom, briefly. She put dad on the phone & said, "I have a zoom meeting & their dad will tk over for me & then she just started laughing hysterically. This father of 3 students was utterly distraught (2 elementary, 1 high school). He began to cry over the phone & said, "Being with my kids is the worse time in my life." He talked abt being trapped & he was inconsolable. So, I just told him to hang in there & I never got to tell him his child ghosted the entire final quarter. The worse time in my life was the passing of my mother, really.
I quit teaching after 10 years because the students just keep getting worse and the administration is really more interested in collecting a paycheck than actually running the school. I got fed up after hearing "What do you expect me to do about it?" more times than I can count from parents after calling them about their child's behavior. The kids were also way behind in their studies because the teachers would spend a majority of the time trying to get control of the classroom instead of teaching. I'm now studying to be a therapist. I feel I can help troubled students better in a more controlled environment. What's more, now that school is out due to COVID, I'm getting calls from some parents looking for advice because they can't get their little angels to do their school work at home.
If the students sense any weakness or vulnerability in a teacher, mob mentality takes over, and misbehavior becomes a game to them - each one trying to out do the other. That's what happened to me. I got NO support from administration. I retired after 24 years.
NICHOLS RETIREMENT EMPIRE It wasn't just the students. My 3rd year of teaching, I was sexually harassed by a principal the whole school year. Fortunately, a few years later, I was one of 6 women who testified against him, and he lost his job.
Very true. I taught for 10 years, and I had my classes under control probably 85% of the time. Even if you're not weak, they will constantly test you again and again...so if you come in sick, tired, under personal distress, whatever... they sense it and those will be your worst days. They can tell within seconds of seeing your face and hearing your voice. Unfortunately, those are the days you're least able to handle it. I rarely asked for outside help b/c I knew nothing would change. To lead a pack of 20+ is not easy. You have to be the dominant force all the time, but if you're too tough, they will overthrow you like a corrupt government. My last few years teaching, the effort it took and the emotiinal, physical and mental drain it had on me to manage classrooms wasn't worth it. I had to save myself.
I’ve had 3 very different careers in my life (retail management, mortgage banking and 20 years of teaching). Being in the public school system is by far the most stressful and difficult minute-by-minute career I’ve had. Weekends are spent “earning” my summer “vacation”. Kids come with SO MUCH BAGGAGE and attitude it’s almost impossible to actually teach anything!!
My wife left teaching 11 years ago (taught 2 years). She currently homeschools our three children and couldn't be happier. I ask her every year if she would like to go back to private/public teaching and she always says "no" without hesitation.
Yes our kids are staying home in the fall, too. We've had enough of the misbehavior, disruptions and bullying in school. Our administration did nothing effective to take care of any of it. My kids became depressed and angry by the end of year. I will never send them back to regular school.
Great point. I remember immigrating from Nigeria at 14 to a public school in nyc. I changed high school 3 times in 3 years. I was shocked how unruly the kids were. The students would curse out the teachers and the teachers would laugh with them. No, no no. I thought to myself that if any student tried that in a Nigerian school system, even the parents would discipline the kids with the teachers. I do think the policies here in United States is giving students too much power and not preparing them for life. This is very sad, especially in urban centers. I am not sure why we have lapsed policies on education here in United States. We are not helping people. Contrary, we are destroying lives. Thanks for sharing.
Totally agree with you. But the politicians don’t. They don’t understand what it takes for a school system which helps students, to be effective and functional. They make laws that enable kids to behave the way they do with no consequences for what wrong they did. They don’t look deeper into the situation of what schools need and only think on the surface level of what the problem of the school are. This is why the US is ranked on the bottom almost dead last in academics on the list compared internationally.
You are so correct! No where in the world are children permitted to attack, curse at and disrespect adults the way they do here. Its disgusting. Parents will make excuses for some strange reason. Ive had parents cry to me...because their 5 year old HITS THEM!! I had a student and her mother told me she was slapping her husband in the face and that she would ask her why....why do you do this to us. She was crying as if she were the victim when she is the adult and has the responsibility to teach this kid what is acceptable behavior!! I feel like we need training for parents before they have kids in the US. Thats why we are one of the lowest in education in the world.
For every child like yours that I taught (for 30+ years,) there were 5-6 complete morons. Yes, I said morons as it truly describes some of the kids I taught. And, sadly it wasn't their fault. It was the school board, parents and district.
@@alisonb9963 @Alison. Stop blaming stuff on imaginary enemies like "school board" and "district". Put the blame where it belongs: It's 1000% the parents fault if students misbehave in any way.
As a teacher it feels like you're in an abusive relationship. Students disrespect you, curse at you, some might even thread you and you can't defend yourself + nobody has your back. Nobody talks about the impact it has emotionally and psychologically, and how it wears you down. I've seen teachers change over time.
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE I identify with everything you say and I don't even live in the US, but I think these problems are present in many different countries, no matter culture. Where I live teachers usually have between 40-50 students per class (some classrooms you can't even pass between seats), on top of that physical punishment is legal. One time we had a student come in crying and hyperventilating. Her mother hit her across the chest with the cell phone charger right before dropping her off school. She was bruised. There was nothing we could do other than comfort her. You can imagine the high percentage of kids in a classroom with "bad" behavior. Some are avoidant, quiet and shy and others their bodies are there, but their minds are not.
This is exactly what I told my husband. I felt like I was being emotionally abused all day. It broke me down. I quit after 2 years and took my child out of public school.
I totally get that. When kids weren't being disrespectful/abusive, it felt like a great day, until the bad behaviour started again. This is similar to the cycle of abuse that happens with spousal violence.
Obie, I appreciate your sentiment and know the "real" teachers out there do too. One of the very best things members of the public could do to improve public schools would be to request state constitutional amendments to take the "public schools" off the political playing board. How? End the popular election of school board members and superintendents; instead have an authority appoint the best and brightest; the most accomplished; the most disciplined: The kind of people you want your kids to grow up to be! As is, too often parents send their kids to institutions where they are brought down, emotionally, culturally, and socially; the "lowest common denominator" is the anti-thesis of education, which is the higher plateau of wisdom, discipline, accomplishment, moderation, thinking, etc.
Please remember the teaching assistants, they're the ones getting spat on, punched, kicked and have to remove these unruly children and sit in another room with them. Teachers and teaching assistants need support.
It’s true their underpaid, people keep saying that for decades, and perhaps even centuries to come, but nothing ever happens, or will happen, it’s just all talk.
In my first and only year of teaching, someone attempted to bribe me, I was intimidated by administration, groped by a drunk mom, harassed over the phone and email, falsely accused of sexual harassment, and students and even other teachers spread rumors defaming my character. This was only in a span of 9 months because school was shut down in March. I came in to work every day scared of what would happen next. It started affecting my physical and mental health. I had back pain and was falling asleep while at my desk. I came to work angry and left angrier. I have experience substitute teaching in impoverished inner city schools, and the academic and behavioral problems I witnessed simply made sense. Of course they were scared, frustrated, and hopeless -- their lives were spiritually and materially empty because of poverty, abuse, neglect, etc. But this full-time position was in a wealthy community with a reputation and pride in their schools. These were people that had everything laid out for a privileged, fulfilling life, yet they acted nastier than those with real problems. It took a long time to sort out how I could love and trust people again after knowing what people are capable of. I resigned, moved, and started my own business. I am much happier now and my health has improved.
I agree with your points completely, but I would also like to add that veteran teachers that can completely handle classroom management are quitting in droves because they’re sick of this constant battle. After 19 years teaching ruined my health (respiratory/auto immune)-that, and the constant tension of having to keep a lid on a faulty pressure cooker is what made me quit.
I used to feel ashamed that I only made it though one academic year before quitting. It's good to find this community online and realize that surviving a whole year was actually an achievement. I'm not a cop or an authoritarian person in any way. Teachers seem to be made scapegoats for all of our society's ills (and for $30,00 a year).
You can clean houses for more than that, but when a pandemic comes, you'll have 0 work and nobody will help you with money (that not self-employed people got, which is how we had 108k drug overdose deaths last year). No pension. No insurance. No paid leave...and people can and will move without telling you beyond a few days before. So, you can lose a lot of money that way.
“They grew up respecting teachers. That’s why they want to be a teacher.” This speaks to my soul so much! I am a teacher on his 4.5 year teaching and with this COVID on top of all I have to deal with teaching I don’t think I’m going to make it to year 5.5. Thanks for your wisdom!
Get out now, while you can start a different and much more rewarding career. The longer you linger in the mediocre world of teaching (public or private) you're wasting valuable time and losing money. Trust me, it. is. not. worth. it. now days.
I have to disagree unless they are in their late 40's and above. I watched the change during my time outside of Atlanta in the public school system. We didn't have a junior high or middle school so high school was 8th - 12th grade. I watched the school, parent, student dynamic change from 1980-1984 (I graduated early to get out of there.) In 8th & 9th grade, you respected the teachers and principals. Last place you wanted to end up in was the office for misbehavior. I knew also that if I got in trouble at school that my parents were waiting to get me once I got home. By the 11th grade, the teachers had lost all respect when we got a wimp of a principal and the racial crap starting coming in. The seeds of today were planted long, long ago.
When you say I don’t want to hang out with 13 year olds, I want to teach, I agree with you. I don’t want to play games with them when I’m on lunch duty. I just want to have my me time. I spent the whole day with them already and I paid my dues
The worst thing I find, being a newly retired teacher, is when we go to Church they find out I was a teacher and immediately ask if I want to teach Sunday School. I politely decline while on the inside, I'm like "Oh, hell NO!" Though I do enjoy tutoring one on one with a motivated, intelligent student.
@@alisonb9963 Oh wow! YEahhh it's always the assumption like it's the same thing and it's not. Teaching the Word and teaching are two different things.
I taught for thirty years and definitely agree that administrative support is something you do not get. Period. People complain about how many students are sent to the office for discipline but my response is this. How many students get sent to the office for being on time? Doing their homework (if the teacher is lucky enough to be allowed to give students books. I wasn't for my last five years). Students who behave, are quiet and at least try to pay attention do not get sent to the office. Those who get sent are the ones who act up even if so many people think that we are abusing their rights. Any student that acts up in class and disrupts class is a thief for that person is stealing a good education from the students who do come to school to learn.
Absolutely! I strongly suggest that parents who have raised their children right in every which way take their kids out of school right away and (if they can financially afford it) enroll them in tutoring centers and/or hire private tutors. As a tutor myself who has also been a classroom teacher for many years, the amount of productivity that occurs within one hour of tutoring often surpasses what (if anything) students and teachers cover within one whole day of classroom instruction.
Where are principals like Joe Clark? If we had administrators actually willing to take tough action and fight bad environments, think how much better our ENTIRE country would be today.
It takes a special type of person to be a teacher and deal with what they have to deal with from the parents, students, and administrators. My hat is off to them. Thank you for sharing!
I grew up in a inner city housing project in the 60's and early 70's (Milwaukee). Most of the parents in our neighborhood had zero respect for education let alone teachers, and passed that on to their children. In other areas I've lived, the problem was that both parents worked and expect the schools and video games to raise their kids for them -- and as Jane Martin stated below, they will defend their children no matter what they do instead of disciplining them.
I think you said something really profound and that is parents of these kids have no real interest in their kids learning anything. Their kids pick that up and they don't see any reason why they should behave when their parents don't even care if they do or not.
I believe you are absolutely right about it beginning at home with the parents. Children are put up on a pedestal by a lot of parents. They aren't taught to listen to adults and obey--they're allowed to run wild and do whatever they want to do. When I was a child, we were under the authority of any adult. If your neighbor saw you misbehaving, they could straighten you out. Not anymore--the parent most likely will defend the child no matter what they said or did. They believe they will "grow out" of bad behavior. Ha! I'm sure paddling has gone by the wayside, so what recourse do teachers have--sent them to the principal's office where they have a little chat? Yeah, that'll show 'em!
Rachel M about 10 to 20 percent of students in most classrooms have some special need, it could be medical, behavioral, learning disabilities or something else. Some of those students may act out due to those issues. Those are not the students I am talking about here.
Rachel M I am not specifically talking about particular student behaviors. I am talking about general student misbehavior that teachers in general have to deal with. All teachers know there are many reasons for the misbehavior. Every student is different.
Absolutely. My last two kids went to public elementary school for the first time after homeschooling for five years and the only complaints they had were discomfort watching kids act out, watching kids disrespect teachers, and not getting to learn all the lessons that were planned. I absolutely think parents should be held accountable for the neglect in raising their kids and not teaching them core values to set them up for an excellent adult life. I just keep telling them to continue to set an example to other students, and that I’m sorry they have to experience that. Does administration realize the negative effects the misbehaving kids have on the good kids that want to learn!?
As a teacher, my life became so much better once I finally created a system that did not acknowledge the administration's existence. At my old school, sending a student to the principal was like sending them to a therapy session. They basically came back with a lolli pop and highfived everyone when they walked back into my room; only later for the principal to call me into the office and ask me about what I did wrong to make the student act that way. In my state, our schools lose points for every OSS, ISS and expulsion. So for a principal who is desperate to bring up their school's grade, they will send all the worst of the worst right back into the classroom for the teacher to carry on their backs every year. I created a system that used positive reinforcement, rewards, negative reinforcement and punishment. I nit picked every single thing that the students did until they followed my rules to a T. I also would roleplay with them about what it looks like to break rules and what a classroom should look like instead while following them. If they acted out, I learned to give them minimal attention. These kids do not react to being yelled at or vented to. They only respond to action. You also have to ignore the backtalk. A kid can backtalk and role their eyes until they fall out of their head as long as they are doing what I have told them, I do not engage in their power struggle game. There is so much more to the ways that I have changed. But 1st thing is first, these kids are not being given the same time and guidance as we were given. You have to become their parent, model, and teach it to them. Also, screw your administration. They don't know how to handle the demands being thrown at them by the state. They will let you down. Expect them to let you down so that you can move on!
C R taking care of issues your self I'd absolutely the best thing! I always thought sending unruly students to the administrator meant I could not handle them.
This is the best suggestion I’ve run across. I have positive reinforcements and rewards in my class. What are your negative reinforcements and punishments??? They must really work well. Please share.
Very well said! I've learned to treat my classroom like it's an island. Principals (unintentionally) make things worse because they do not know your students and they drank too much of the brainwashing kool-aid from the district. I NEVER coddle or give extra attention to the students that act out because I know that's what they want. I shake my heads at the teachers that waste so much of their energy on the problem students that they will never be able to "fix." Coddling and restorative justice only hinders the students.
@@KennethSee Amen. I took a long term sub English position. I have no desire to form "relationships" or parent students. I don't recall having relationships with any of my teachers. I loved school, I loved learning, and we behaved in class. What I walked into this year is just unbelievable, and I will be walking right out at the end of the year.
In my country (Finland) teachers biggest nightmare are not kids at school but their childish parents threatening teachers when their kids got bad test results. This didn't happen in 1970's. Parents backed teachers then much more. Since 1980's things have gone worst direction.
One year, in my 3rd grade class, I have 6 boys that were tremendous drains on me and the rest of the class. I believe that two had mental health problems. Unbelievable stress and frustration because I was so unhappy that they took so much time away from educating others.
I left the public and charter school systems because of the stress caused by teaching. I then went into the private and independent sector thinking that it would be better. These kids also have behavioral issues. Many of them have learning disabilities and ADHD. The only difference between the wealthy private school kids and inner city low income children is that they are not aggressive. They do not fight with each other or the teachers. However with that said they do not obey rules, they think they can do whatever they want. They can be rowdy and unruly. They think they’re smarter than the teacher because their parents are esteemed doctors or hedge fund presidents. As a teacher you can’t do anything with this spoiled entitled brats. If they’re failing you had better pass them. These kids also are held accountable for nothing. The administration blames you, the teacher for everything. You also better watch what you say and how you say it. You will lose your job immediately. As you can see working the private sector has a different set of problems. Teaching is no longer the rewarding profession that it was. This is because we as a whole no longer value education. School is a business on all levels. Schools are paid based on enrollment. Education is primarily for the purpose of making money and earning a living. However the true purpose of education is allowing the stimulation of the mind. Until we get back to that we will remain in the state we’re in.
@@johnstauffer8772 Actually the kids are very smart, that's another part of why it's so heartbreaking, as a teacher you see their great potential being hindered because common sense has often times been abandoned...
I think you hit the nail on the head. However, the shitty part is, I know what it takes to be a good teacher and get difficult kids engaged, but the effort it takes is not worth the pay. That’s why I’m leaving. It’s simply not worth it!
Students have to much rights in the classroom. if a student doesn't want to do work, we are told to let them be, or find a way to motivate them. If a kid is high, or has no interest in school, what are we supposed to do. Teachers cannot be psychologist, counselor and teacher. You expect to be all of that and we all have higher degrees and get paid less than those in the private sector. Yet, we are tasked to educate the future. How is that working?
As a member of this appropriately-named "Generation Z", I honestly am TERRIFIED of my fellow young people. They have no virtue, no respect for authority, no willingness to learn from the past, and no desire to put in genuine labor. Some days I really feel like I'm living in the midst of Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution in China (it's only thing I think you can compare this to). Those of us younger folks who DO have good values and work ethic (far too few) often feel exhausted and burnt out from dealing with BS and insanity on a constant basis. The next 10 years or more are going to be an utter catastrophe...and these people will be our coworkers. God help the good people still in America.
"Teachers cannot be psychologist, counselor..., etc." That's right, and it would be illegal for them to act in capacities for which they are neither trained nor legally qualified. The teacher's unions should be all over the school districts for demanding and/or allowing their teachers to act in these capacities.
I have been in education for 13 years and am calling it quits. I’m going into retail management. Teaching is just no fun anymore, there is no accountability for the students and no consequences for student behavior issues. And I am in Iowa in a small rural district.
Thank you Sir for taking up for teachers. I teach at a Title 1 school in Miami-Gardens, kindergarten. I have 5 year olds throwing chairs at me, spitting on me, scratching me, using profanity, etc. When this happens, teachers are not allowed to have a reaction....while the chair is hitting you, you are expected to remain calm. I've been asssulted so many times. Nothing happens. The bad students have remained in my class. This has resulted in me having anxiety, panic attacks, shaking in the classroom as I try to remain "calm" while a kid is being disrespectful. If you refer the kid for counseling, they do circle time under an oak tree, counselor has a puppet in her hand asking the kids, "How do you feel today?" ....if you do too many referrals, that's counted against you under the umbrella of learning environment, at the end of the year (I-Pegs). Salute to my fellow teachers.
I teach Kindergarten and some of my students are extremely disrespectful. One student has been suspended every week since school started. It’s not a joke in these classrooms and I completely understand why everyone quit.
I lasted six weeks. Students at our school were almost never suspended because a directive from our governor (Rauner of Illinois) directed that suspensions be minimized, which is consistent with pressure from civil libertarians, since African-American students are suspended disproportionately to the student population. I suspect his directive was motivated by that pressure. Actual student misbehavior, not racial profiling, however, is the source of suspensions and other forms of discipline. I taught math. I suspect the challenging, technical nature of what I taught might have had something to do with students' unwillingness to try to learn math. Significantly many students persistently misbehaved and made a majority of my classes ungovernable. After a few of our teachers were assaulted, I among them, I decided to quit. When I left, the teachers' union was preparing to file a grievance against the district for failing to provide adequate security for teachers, things had become so bad.
I believe that is going to continue to happen because of the governments determination to keep each student in school and in class regardless of behavior.
Students get punished based on their behavior period, the race crap needs to end. There are no laws holding anyone back from achieving whatever they want in this country.
It's crazy because withholding suspensions is NOT going to stop students later going to prison. Just look at Chicago. Crime is getting worse. Coddling never works!
I taught seven years in an urban high school. I can honestly say parents were ALWAYS respectful and tried to work with me. The students were challenging, but what drove me out was the administrators. We had some good ones, but there were too many bad ones. I don't think the American public has any idea just how many administrators are employed in each and every public school district, nor do they have any idea of the bloated salaries they receive. If the public had any idea of what goes on in public education (and what doesn't) there would be universal outrage.
I agree with most of the comments here, I am a 20 year Art teacher that has decided to sub this year due to stress and exhaustion. This has been a great idea, I pick and choose what school I go to. I have watched schools from the same Charter be so vastly different! I was in an innercity area where administrators we're walking around with bullhorns and kids were running the show, same Charter in another area, the teachers collectively were running the show. Kids were not different as far as demographics but the culture in the building just shouted respect. Teachers consistently supported each other, it was like a village...teachers constantly in hallways checking in on other teachers, popping by so that students could see that I wasn't alone but had a team of teachers with me at any moment and administrators held parents accountable ---and that particular principal bragged about her waiting list---a strategy I would use to manage parents lol. Somehow all these factors worked. If you throw teachers to fight the present jungle alone, kids know it too and will bully the teacher. The days of lone ranger classroom management are over, you have to use a team. I come in to a school and get the principal's number, the disciplinary Dean, a couple of teachers in the hall, I get mostly male teachers if I am in Middle School (sorry if this seems objectifying of men but kids respect a fatherly figure --more like fear it) and I stress that they will be walking in and checking. Which most of the time when I make these requests, they do. They want the sub to stay because I will walk out...Maybe that is what you meant by why some kids will not give one teacher a hard time over another. I had all these variables in place and one very tough girl who could see law and order and that I had admin watching every period was so upset with me (for not letting her do what she wanted), she wanted to bully me by inserting herself into every redirection I had towards a student, when I told them all that they could not comment on my class management or interfere, she stopped, 20 minutes later her body started shaking she was so mad I didn't let her do what she wanted in "my" classroom. I don't claim to win every battle but I do know that if administrators push back on these crazy parents it does trickle down to teachers who feel supported. We have a principal here in Texas who wrote a dress code for parents, I applaud that because she is taking a stand to reshape the culture of that school and if you come in with yoga pants, tattoos exposed and hair rollers and everything hanging out, that says a lot to the school about how you respect us and how you are preparing your child for learning. There are ways to push back and I think the key is a strong principal that is not afraid to push back and discipline.
Some districts will let principals decide everything and give them a lot of power. Others dictate to principals and will only let them go so far with disciple and parents! My district was very involved in telling schools what to do with discipline. Sounds like the one you are in leaves it up to the principals or individual school/
My priority is ensuring that the children who aren’t interested in learning do not destroy the learning of other children. That’s my priority and I defend that stance no matter what.
Thank you for this. I have recently resigned, due to leave at Christmas. Obviously, work load and expectations of the job have increased immensly however, my reasons for leaving way heavily on pupil behaviour. I have found it hard to actually say this to my head teacher as I feel a bit of a failure; behaviour management always being a strength of mine (so I'm told!}. It also always feels so wrong to blame children rather than the job expectations and frustrasitons itself. I work in two schools, one in a deprived area and the my main school in an extremely affluent area. Behaviour is so different as I am dealing with social conditioning as you spoke about and the other type of social conditioning which is arrogance whereby parents are mostly high earners such as lawyers, Doctors, Bankers etc, and the teacher is a mere "teacher'. So, I am fed up fighting it. I am a good teacher and I have so much to offer and I love teaching. Unfortunatley, attitude and behaviour from all walks of life and backgrounds is making the job impossible and I for one, am very sad to be leaving after 18 years.
Unfortunately your story is not unique, there are so many teachers that leave it is sad. People need to know about this in the public, but it is not a top news story in today's world!
Your story sounds almost identical to mine, as I just resigned last week after 11 years of teaching at the same high school. When I first began, I couldn't wait to get to work. I'd get there early, prep PowerPoints, set up the class, put up new and interesting quotes and anchor charts, and inspire everyday--and the kids were SO amazing. Eager to learn, smart and attentive to detail (pre-smartphone generation). It didn't even feel like work--I could be me, the kids were responsive and the classroom dynamic was straight out of a Hollywood movie about great educators--and all this from inner city kids in bad neighborhoods. I even had parents come up to me after the school year, hug me, and say, "You were the best thing that ever happened to my child". This continued to go on year after year--until about 4 years ago. New principal, new superintendent, new top-down state micro-management + new generation of students + addictive social media and chronic cell phone use. It was a slow dive down. Greater than love, a kid needs security and limits. These students are not getting that at home and we cannot be their parents--as much as they need them. I remember the first time I had to take away a smart phone from a student (about 4 years ago). She threw a desk across the room. You read that right. The second time I had to do it, the student got up in my face, swore a blue streak that would have made Tarantino blush, and belittled me in front of the entire class. She had to be removed from the room. It just kept getting worse and worse from then on. I'd never thought that student behavior and constant micro-managing from administration could leave me so paralyzed at my job. I love teaching. I love my subject. I love the kids. I'd planned on retiring later on. But the walls kept closing in. I had to use the escape hatch.
I’m a JROTC instructor. There are two of us and we at the beginning of each school year encounter some of this. But because we are Army guys, we quickly settle all of this and the students begin to regulate themselves meaning one kid will boldly tell another to knock it off because he or she knows everyone is going to pay for it. We establish order. Some kids can’t get straight so they end up leaving the program. I know this can’t be the standard for the English department but maybe school districts should implement military style doctrine into the schools and hire more qualified veterans to regulate in a military manner similar to what JROTC does.
"There are two of us": That's a huge advantage. In schools there are NEVER two teachers in the same class. "We establish order.": I envy you guys. In schools, there are no consequences for bad behavior. All teachers can do it tell the parents and hope that they'll do something about it. We can't even suspend brats anymore.
I just can't think of how we'd do the same discipline in the classroom. If it were, ok, Billy misbehaved so everyone drop and do 50 push ups - that would be great. Maybe Billy misbehaved so everyone owes an essay for next friday. The problem is that's not allowed either.
It was hard for me to acknowledge that my difficulties in the classroom stemmed from my inability to manage a full class. I thought that if I kept trying it would improve, but I'm coming to accept that not everyone is cut out for some things.
Jem TS it really does take a certain person to teach. Some schools are easier but not everyone can do it. That is nothing to be ashamed of, it is better to realize it and try a different school or grade level or a non traditional teaching job.
That's exactly what I'm experiencing in this moment. In addition, every single class I leave the classroom , I get this feeling that I'm not good enough or that I'm a bad teacher...I thought I was going to teach people who really wanted to learn, but when I'm in the classroom it's like I'm not there for the kids 🥲.
@@lorenaprieto2488 I am a fantastic teacher. I have zero desire (or ability) to do "classroom management" I'll be going back to teaching community college and tutoring.
@@arricammarques1955 Let it snap! It's the only way for things to change. If there are no more teachers around, there has got to come a time of change.
As a former Foreign Language Instructor within the college / university level, I can say the problems are similar, only the age group alters. My contract wasn’t renewed after 5 years, and I can’t say I miss it much. Before the layoff, I’d considered changing industries- my salary didn’t match the cost of living, and I was completely burned out from having 165 students each term - 90% could not read on the 7-8th grade level in English; plus the corrupt administration wanted me to pass them (only fail 20 percent maximum). This doesn’t begin to include the student behavior problems I encountered daily and the many with psychological disturbances who had never received the proper help. The problem is who leads the institution, their priorities, and whether the goal is to generate revenue at the expense of everything else.
I have a friend who teaches Community College in Northern California (Alameda County) and said she is seeing behavior problems now, just like in high school. Students yelling at teacher, on phones, talking and playing during lessons, throwing chairs and slamming doors etc. It's just insane. But, it's our society that is really at fault for allowing this and not pushing back. We're circling the drain.
I taught a number of years in a community college. I ignored the administration and all the internal politics as completely as I could, because I knew that it would turn me off to the point I couldn't teach. The students I could deal with--no particular discipline problems, just incredibly ignorant. But the administration wanted me to pass everyone, even those who skipped the tests, because it was a required course, and the school would lose money if these people were "not in the system." Of course, they were too hypocritical to actually come out and say any of this point blank. But despite my good evaluations and good retention, I was simply deleted from the catalog. I once met the guy who redesigned the school according to business principles.--terrible values and really, really stupid.
I never got in trouble at school. I got spanked when I needed. I spanked my kids and taught them morals. I never had any teachers contacting me for behavioural problems. They all graduated and have jobs now and no police records.
I get the feeling that most administrators, know and understand this game and hate it as well. They're hands are tied by an ignorant school board. And, they have to come up with false data to show why their job is useful and shouldn't be cut. The whole system is broken and done.
These kids don’t have a home but a house. The home is broken. The lack of an authoritative parent, lack of healthy food, an unwillingness to learn and the music these kids listen to nowadays doesn’t help. It’s a pity that there are students that are willing to learn but cannot because the teacher is too busy arguing with the bad students.
Kids these days are too disrespectful! I don't want to hang out with kids all day. Imagine dreaming of being a teacher and going to college for it. Working hard to find and finally getting a job only to be disrespected, humiliated and even attacked physically by a student! No thanks!
As for 'keeping kids in classroom'. Jesus Christ. The kids we are having to 'keep in the classroom' aren't learning one damn thing. If they were learning anything, they'd have never been 'put out of the classroom' in the first place. When they are 'kept in the classroom', not only do they not learn anything, they prevent anyone else from learning anything. - This whole notion has nothing to do with caring about kids, or learning. It's about passing the overwhelming problem of student behavior down to the teacher.
And its somewhat related to why I no longer teach. There's simply very little true discipline in the schools these days. Administrators often do the teachers a disservice, considering that many of them won't discipline students, some with extreme offenses.
I'm retired and saw massive changes during my time. Towards the end i completely stopped asking administration for help. It became clear that every situation was ultimately my fault anyway. My main complaint was that administration would interfere with my discipline. I found a "10 minute detention" very effective for many situations, but the administration disallowed it.
Lo Ro as years went by as an administrator I began to only follow policy. I knew when push came to shove I would not be backed up for doing anything else by the district. It frustrated me and the teachers.
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE you are so right. The district is mostly worried about headlines and i do understand that, but it really ties the hands of the people with boots on the ground. I volunteer in a classroom now and this 3rd year teacher is alredy burning out. The public really has no clue how bad it truly is.
Yeah, my admin wants the kids to work off their energy and play at recess but they were playing in the classroom so basically they had an indoor recess. lol
In all the time I’ve been a teacher and student there have been kids who won’t respect authority, but I agree that now it is almost commonplace. With schools adopting the “no 0” policy, this probably won’t change much because students don’t have to do much to pass
Yep . . . and you're correct, people don't want to talk about it. The myth of "if you have good classroom management" things will work, was one of many reasons I quit. Love my new job!
I noticed you teach online. How do I break into that industry. I'm certified but wanting to get out of the classroom. I look forward to hearing from you. You can also email me at kishmisocialmedia@gmail.com. Thanks!
I'd love to teach online. Finally a way to mute the kids who misbehave. Also the parents would have to take on the responsibility of raising their brats.
We have many ways to teach. Teachers are "encouraged" and I use that term loosely because the are actually being "required" to have online teaching as well as classroom teaching available. I say, since the teachers are already doing two jobs- classroom and online teaching for the same paycheck- which is absurd - then the students who cannot behave should be placed in another monitored classroom to take the course in the online format. You already have the tools available to the students- use them wisely!
I work subbing. On Friday I had high school juniors. I told them the first half of class was easy because they just had to read. I told them the 2nd part would be hard for me because I had to read aloud with them and I had almost lost my voice from a previous cough. They were surprisingly supportive and offered to read my parts for me...It all depends on what group of students are assigned to you. Sometimes you just luck out!
In high school, I remember my 9th grade math teacher (a nun) who was bullied by the students who behaved just fine in their other classes. This class was a noisy circus every day. The class was upstairs, and one day a student decided to slip out of the window and walk about on the roof of the adjacent one-story wing of the building. In his defense though, someone had flung his textbook out the window, so he had to go get it. The class was so wild that the principal had to come in and sit in the back of the room just to keep things from getting out of control. Obviously this intervention could not go on forever. But to this day I still remember watching this poor sweet nun get absolutely run ragged by classroom full of 9th graders...... and she was probably getting blamed for it by the administration.
Parents are losing control over their kids...too indulgent with them not enough respect or left on their own. Too much social media tv...what have you. It’s not a good future for many of them.
I resigned from my inner-city teaching position almost 6 years ago and you can watch my RUclips resignation speech (Rhode Island Teacher Says "I Quit!" ) to find out why. But, believe it or not, the worst behaviors I ever witnessed in my teaching career were in suburban "white" schools. One of them had the right idea - a burly "behavioral specialist" who could be called to the classroom any time a student got out of hand and, without missing a beat, the student was removed from the classroom and the teacher went on with the job of teaching. How these kids were dealt with is another story....
I’ve had the exact same experience. I taught 5th grade in an inner city and loved the kids but the administration was horrible. I moved to a private Christian school this year to teach kids school language arts. The kids are so completely toxic, rude, and disrespectful. The kids are running the show and the teachers are afraid to address behavior. I’m planning on leaving in June when my contract is up. These kids are absolutely miserable.
I'm sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, that seems to be the direction most schools are going today. It is very sad. I was lucky because I was old enough to retire and now all I do is tutor online
We are not as teachers or administrators going to fix society's problems. There is so much wrong in society today, and schools are just a reflection of that. Behavior is horrible because these kids are not held accountable and there are all kinds of excuses.
What job or profession allows verbal and physical abuse? NONE, teaching is that. I did not sign up to be sworn at, threatened, abused, etc. The system is crook.
I think people in lots of professions get verbally abused (especially over the phone) because of the customer is always right mentality. They are expected to not say anything back and the customer can say anything.
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE True however, I don't think you need a four year degree to do call centres. No excuse really but I just feel that teaching it's very condensed inside the classroom and with parents, you can't just hang up the phone and be done with it.
According to my son who is an 8th grader with difficulties in paying attention his solution to the problem is that schools should not only teach the curriculum but also to teach life skills like healthy cooking and cleaning. And for the older students to teach them how to spend their money wisely and live minimally. Such countries like India, Japan, Korea and I’m sure other Asian countries it is the students who clean the classrooms, the hallways, the bathrooms and even do the cooking. It may be advantageous for U.S. to adopt that mindset. I pray that when all this demonic govt shenanigans are over and get down to business that the new and improved forward thinking politicians will place their money in our future first, our most precious children. Parents and children need to be re-wired, re-trained to think Life First and return back to GOD.
Years ago I left a teaching job to go to a different district (better pay and closer to home). My replacement quit after 3 days. Why, because administration didn’t tell her about the disruptive, dangerous students in the class.
Chris my son went to college year round for 4 years so he could graduate with 2 teaching degrees! He was on the deans list every year made almost straight A’s all the way through college and worked at a part time job and also tutored other students! Well when he did his internship helping teach for 6 months, he decided he didn’t want to teach school as a profession because of the way the male students treated the teachers with such disrespect and anger ! He told me momma I’m so sorry I know how herd you worked yo put me through college on your own working 2-3 jobs and going without yourself so I could have a good education, but if I try to go in a classroom snd those kids come at me with the way I’ve seen while doing my internship you’d have to come visit me in jail cause I just wouldn’t take that from them ! I told him Jason you have your education and if you choose not to use those degrees then you haven’t wasted your education you can build on it and use it in other jobs ! My only care is for you to be happy in whatever you do because you’ll be working all your life!! Chris what you say is right today’s kids aren’t raised the way we were most of them come from a home where they do what they want and get away with it because for whatever reason the parents either won’t or can’t teach them respect for their elders ! They don’t start when the child is a baby snd continue on up through their childhood ti be accountable for their actions snd either suffer from or reap the benefit of their actions! I raised my son from the time he could crawl what was right and what was wrong , to listen when I spoke and act accordingly , that if he did wrong he had to answer for it and pay the price !!! Today’s kids haven’t berm taught that important lesson! It’s a shame because my son like many other teachers were great teachers who really cared and wanted to teach , but couldn’t take the abuse from the kids!! My son went on to law school and is now a para-legal and loves his job! Chris I know you had to haven a great teacher because your s kind and patient man who enjoys humor and teaching others ! And you do a great job when you cook on Tammy’s show for us , we really enjoy it when you cook too!! God bless ❤️🙏🙋🏻
I taught for 23 years and then got out. I just couldnt handle the POLITICS, STRESS and INJUSTICE anymore. I went back to college so I would be able to work with kids in a field that allows for MUCH MORE common sense and MUCH LESS stress and politics and its been a LONG time since I've been this HAPPY!
Sometimes when you send students to opportunity room, as an example, and then they send them back to you, it's almost a slap on the face for you. It encourages other students to act out because they think: I'll get sent back anyway.
I agree, if you have an admin like that the teacher has to be very careful because that is not an option. It will hurt their authority even more when that happens.
Yes... This! I'm not a teacher but I interpret for Deaf/hard of hearing students. So many times a disrespectful student gets written up and sent out only to get sent right back to class. I'm like...seriously. 🤦🏾♀️
Veteran teacher here. Lots of behavior issues with many students. I honestly think these kids are dying for attention and it doesn’t matter how they get it. Negative attention suits a lot of them just fine
Former teacher here who quit the profession twice. I watch this video and it was only towards the end. When I realize this was filmed in 2018, before the pandemic. So the pandemic made these issues even worse than he says. Good luck and Godspeed to all those out there and braving it in the classroom.
A good friend's mother taught for 36 years, retired in the 90s, she said the worst thing about teaching was the parents of these troublesome kids, defending their children's actions, a bunch of crazy Karens trying to tell teachers how to teach, and that the teachers received ZERO support from administrators and principles who ent over backwards to complaining parents instead of telling them to shut up and let the teachers do their job. The administration's are only concerned with placating irate parents, thus retaining their positions/jobs.
I’m a parent of 2 boys w/special needs. Son #1 barely graduated (only bc my mom literally held his hand the whole way.) Son #2 is now in 7th grade. It feels like our current education system is a rigid box that only some students fit into. I fit easily, I have a masters degree & wish I could go back! But my boys did not fit. We tried so many ways of helping them & getting any extra support we could. After years of trying their hardest but not measuring up, both believed they were stupid & not capable of success. It broke my heart to watch their self-esteem be crushed more every day. I desperately want to give them my love of learning. Despite my best efforts, it was like a train I couldn’t stop. They quit trying bc it was too painful to try so hard & continue feeling so inadequate. I pulled Son #2 out during Covid. Determined to find the solution I never did w/Son #1. Did research & stumbled upon the “Un-learning” or “Child-Led Learning” concept. My gut says this is the method my son needs, so I’m trying to create a “curriculum” that doesn’t feel like school, that envelops his natural curiosity, & shows him he IS capable & CAN succeed. I never planned to be a home educator & it’s so hard. I don’t know how teachers do it with 25+ students, all w/varying needs! No teacher can meet the needs of a kid like mine, esp. w/such a huge lack of support, funding, staff, etc. I have the greatest respect for you warriors! The majority of our teachers were wonderful. But each son had one who should never be teaching. The 1st time, I felt she was the expert & caved to the shaming she put upon both my son & I. I believed it was my fault. I tried to be “tougher” as she demanded, but that approach is ineffective & damaging for my kids. I feel guilty for not standing up for my son. No matter how hard we tried, we never heard anything positive. The 2nd time (different teacher) I couldn’t stand by & watch it happen again. Mrs. X treated my son & I like she hated us. I tried to work w/her, explain that he responds SO much better to positive feedback than constant negative. I empathized w/her bc his behavior is very difficult at times. He has severe ADHD (emphasis on the H!) The sad thing is he truly can’t control it, he’s trying as hard as he can, & it makes him feel like a bad kid. She seemed to think my efforts to create a plan to help him were an attack on her (bc I involved the principal after getting nowhere w/her- I never blamed her, only tried to partner w/her.) The more I tried, the worse Son was treated. My husband & I were separated at the time & she tried to get him to side w/her against me. He defended me & she sulked. Now 3 yrs later, if we see her in the hall, she literally turns away to avoid acknowledging us! We love most teachers, but I admit we now refer to her as “Roz.” I had to find a way to tell Son #2 that this wasn’t his fault. Still working to heal that. I still can’t believe a teacher could treat a kid so badly. One of the hardest parts is undoing the damage of all this. He’s very smart, constantly curious about so many topics & responds well to experiential-type learning. But those beliefs are tough to change. It’s a lot of pressure as a parent, along w/working full-time & managing health problems. I must make this work, tho- I’ll never forgive myself if I knew what he needed but couldn’t make it happen. I’ve seen tons of these videos. My heart breaks for teachers, parents & students! I can’t send him back to that, esp. bc I know his behavior is easily viewed as a lack of respect, not caring, needing attention, etc- & easily attributed to bad parenting. It is NONE of those things in our case- but it looks that way. This system can’t provide for the needs of all unique students. It’s not the fault of teachers & I appreciate all of you for your efforts. You shouldn’t be in this position. I just wanted to express that not every kid who looks “bad” or like he has “bad parenting” is really bad- he may be doing the best he can & needs a chance to succeed at the level of his abilities, someone to believe in him. His parent may be beyond exhausted & beaten down by being viewed as a bad mom, when she’s doing all she can to help a challenging kid that she loves more than life itself. Both kid & mom may have to steel themselves to enter the school, & leave w/heads hung in shame. Maybe we’re all doing the best we can under impossible circumstances. A little encouragement & support both ways may make a big difference. I know it did for us when we received it & would have when we didn’t. I know SO many of you do this every day & I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This country is coming apart at the seams. The hatred, violence, disregard for our fellow humans…the pressures on parents & teachers to manage the impossible…the stress of being unable to make ends meet, working too many jobs/hours, lack of self-care or support, mental & physical health deteriorating, etc, etc. How many of us are trying our hardest but falling apart? How does all this impact our families, marriages, parenting? How do you keep giving more (teacher OR parent) when you truly have nothing left? The nightmare of Covid & all the effects on our lives: losing usual sources of support & self-care, the deaths & grieving & fear, the terrible way this country responded, the lashing out at each other at a time when we should’ve been caring for our neighbors? The disregard by so many for human life (which I think is a defense against fear, etc.) The angels (teachers, healthcare workers, essential workers) risking their lives for us & being treated as disposable. The growing evidence of a system that allows a tiny fraction to have more than anyone needs, while the majority get the crumbs, working ourselves to death for a rapidly decreasing quality of life? What is the definition of a 3rd world country? All of this trickles down to our poor kids. This violence feels like they are expressing the things they cannot say in words- they are a reflection of the state of our communities. I don’t have the answer. I’m fighting to find one for my son. I had a teacher once who changed my life. Bc of him, I majored in political science & was determined to make the world better. I fell in love w/the ideals this nation was founded upon & I wanted to help bring them to fruition for everyone. I’m truly devastated by our collective situation. Even if you don’t think about this consciously, how is it impacting you? What about our kids? I’m sorry for the essay. I just wanted to give my perspective as a parent. To all teachers who care: THANK YOU! I’m so sorry that as a nation, we fail to support you so badly. It’s disgraceful. How do we expect to be prosperous if THIS is the education we give kids & the state of affairs we are raising them in? I worry about our future. If you’ve read this, thank you for letting me have a voice. To any parent who is struggling, you’re not alone. To anyone who is fighting to help our kids, bless you!! BLESS YOU!!
My first year teaching was a total disaster. At the end of the year my mentoring teacher took me aside and gave me single piece of advice. He said "be yourself"! Dont try to just copy what other successful teachers do. Just because it works for them doesnt mean it will work for you. Yes, you can use their methods as a guideline but you may have to modify it for your own personality. It may even be something that will not work for you at all. That advice got me through about 25 years and then the "state" began trying to "improve" things. Five tears later I was gone.
I’m Australian and l worked as a high school teacher for 11 years, teaching in 3 different schools, before l finally resigned. The main issue which wore me down was the behaviour and attitude of students and the fact that the senior management of the schools refused to do anything serious about it. I retrained as a nurse and am now much happier. The pay is less and l get fewer vacations but my job satisfaction is much greater with a good deal less stress. If l have to deal with adolescents, now it’s only one at a time!
I teach on a grade team of 6, and I'm the only one that can manage a room full of our students. We have a lot of kids prone to disruptions and pretty wild misbehaviors, and they 100% pick and choose to dial it up or down based on who is in the room. We do have a few who don't respect anyone, and their families are zero support, but I've formed a good relationship with most of them so I can make it work. Still, it's exhausting dealing with them, lol. Our admin is so hands off it's unbelievable, so the other teachers on the grade team often call me when they're having issues with the kids. It just takes everything out of you, the students came back from the pandemic lockdowns absolutely feral. I have legitimately never seen this level of violence and disruption before, and I'm almost a decade into working in urban Title 1 schools.
I'm not a teacher, but I drive school bus, and he's absolutely right. Most kids on my bus are great, but the few with bad behavior can make my job really hard and those kids always try to lead others astray. Also, whenever kids misbehave I always feel like I'm going to be somehow criticized or the kids given "one more chance" when they've already had several "last chances". Currently, I'm really debating not going back next school year........
What's the purpose of elimination of suspensions or expulsions? Seriously? I'm asking because you'd think parents would lay the consequences to the students. So police is now supposed to contribute to the discipline of students? I'm lost here.
I remember being in school as a living hell... It was terrible being in the same room with the classmates and having to deal with the people you're seated next to, it must be even more horrible for the teacher that has to deal with them all...
The present system has to be dismantled. Education should be considered a privilege - not a right. Once parents realize their kids must earn a place in school, parents will reform their child's behavior. If not, they should be placed in work programs to teach them trades and allow the kids who want to be in the classroom a safe place to learn free from the distractions of unruly kids. Bring back the old curriculum that taught meaningful information. Until then - homeschool!
@@CanoeToNewOrleans With immature people, period, you have to give them 2 choices and that's it. IF that. And there has to be consequences. Drug addicts, "well, if you don't want to hear how to stay sober, there's the door and you can't spin right back in next week. You have to be gone 6 months. If you don't die first. Choice is yours." Be surprised how many sit their a** back down and make more effort when they KNOW nobody's going right jump in and "save" them (to use more).
@@CanoeToNewOrleans My son was a horrible student. His life was going nowhere until he connected with the career he loves. He's a different person today because he found his niche in life. But school was not the anwser for him. Not all kids succeed with academic study. My father dropped out of school after seventh grade, but went on to become a skilled carpenter for his life's work. It's all about finding out what you love doing. We can't keep trying to shove square pegs into round holes....
I appreciate your perspective. You seem like a very reasonable and fair-minded administrator... wish I could have worked with you. I'm at low point in my life right now... teaching was the only thing I wanted to do after leaving the military... but I found that my cosmic timing was wayyyy off (became certified when the market for teachers burst like a water balloon) and that the profession had changed SO much just in the last 10-15 years it no longer resembled anything close to what I expected or remembered. I have had the worst experience even getting a job in the first place, and an even worse experience getting into the only schools that would have me that were toxic and chaotic. So now at my older age, no retirement to speak of, I'm finding that I may have to completely abandon this calling altogether, and I have NO idea where to go from here. It is absolutely criminal what has become of public education, made worse by the fact that the public money is held tight with a death grip.
Administrators are now being evaluated on disciplinary referral s/actions, so they will try to find a way to not "write up" the kids so it looks better on their data reports. The less incidents, the better the school looks. Glad to be retired last year!
Definitely a push fro federal, state, and district levels to lower the referrals. Especially with consequences that take them out of class. No doubt the move is away from consequences and referrals!
@@wampastompastomp I was in a small school district that couldn't be even considered"suburbs", but I think it applies across the board no matter how small or large the district. Its coming from the federal government.
Former Catholic school student here (1974-1988). I am literally stunned when I hear modern day teachers talk about the student behaviors that they endure on a daily basis. If I ever acted up even remotely like modern day kids, there would be hell to pay!
I taught 5th grade pre-pandemic & currently have a 4th & 6th grader so I’ve been on both sides of the issue. Student behavior is a direct reflection of the culture they live in. It’s easy to blame parents but really it’s a combination of contributors. Parents of 5th graders are often Millennials who were taught by their parents generation “because I said so” and rebelled against a world that told them to not ask questions & always respect authority. When they learned that authorities were often the perpetrators causing issues it broke their trust in the system. That mindset is deeply engrained in how the live and raise their children. Often, instead of attempting to rebuild that trust, schools (governments, churches, police forces, etc) play the “kids these days don’t respect authority” card. It’s true, they don’t. They’ve been taught not to and the systems around them are often not even pretending to try to understand and remedy that situation. Grades become seen as a control mechanism (sometimes they are) rather than a means to measure learning. Teachers, as the frontline, become the foot soldiers of the broken system and are caught in a struggle between a more & more disjointed and financially-strapped administration and their desire to help teach. I’ve been there on both sides. I’ve seen kids who balk any authority and sit in ISS for weeks :( Our system rarely considers how to restructure itself because of its desperation to secure funding to keep the ship afloat. Yes, parents absolutely influence their kid’s attitudes but we (as a society & education system) need to really need to address WHY so we can heal the source instead of the symptoms.
Wow I was going to say the same thing but you said it so much better! It’s not always about parents not “respecting” and following authority. We millennials were pounded into submission to later find out it’s all a scam. We did not have things explained to us and were ostracized for going against the grain. Then as we were in our early twenties we saw this new wave of parents teaching their children that the world revolves around them. That they can do no wrong. And culture is what’s killing the family unit, people working their butts off to survive and children are desperate for attention and to just be children. I know this post makes me sound angry and judgey but I’m really not. I’ve got 4 wonderful children whom I’ve done everything I can to break my family cycle of abuse and they are amazing kids. However I feel media and schools not standing up TO the children or giving them real consequences out of fear of lawsuits and uproar is not helping. There is also an agenda and way too much politics ingrained into the schools. We need to stop tip-toeing around these people because they are not the majority.
I was a public school teacher in Georgia. I absolutely loved it. I did have to shop around for a good school to teach at. I found it and I never had any problems. There are good schools and bad schools in the public school system. Some administrators just get it. Others don't. They make all the difference in the world.
Administrators taking the sides of unruly, disrespectful children over a mature adult teacher is part of the problem.
What grade level do you teach? And how long have you been teaching?
I taught middle school, grades 6-8, but I spent most of my time in a 7th grade classroom. I taught fourteen years here in Georgia, and I don't know if I will ever go back due to the politics of it all.
Middle school is definitely the most difficult. Did you ever consider going to another level or change school where the administration might be different? They are not all the same and every school is not the same.
I taught in three schools. I spent two years at the first school. I changed schools because I wanted to be close to my family. The second school had a principal who failed to discipline the students. She was a bully and had favorites and was cliquish. The students behaved horribly as a result of her failing to do her job. I only spent one year at this school. The third school I spent eleven years at. When I began, the school environment was vastly different. The principal was respectful to all staff. He wasn't overbearing, and he actually supported his teachers. He was a great principal. However, he died during my eighth year at the school, and the last three years we had a different head principal each year. They were too authoritarian for the staff, especially the first and third of those other principals. The last year I taught, most of my discipline referrals were ignored in terms of the students receiving any discipline, and it caused major classroom behaviors, of which the principal continued to be unsupportive.
I enjoyed teaching, and I was a very successful teacher, but after fourteen years, it starts to become stale, and it gets harder and harder to deal with students whose behavior worsens about every year. The stress put on a teacher's emotional health is not something that most principals or any other workers in the school have to deal with. Teachers get sick from the job. I felt horrible the last few years after an auto accident, and the job was too much for my body and brain to handle and to heal appropriately.
I am now working a minimum wage job, which has forced my wife to go back to work. However, I work on tips and I'm able to pull in about 70% of my teacher salary, and with my wife's income we are able to pay the bills. I also have a lot less stress and feel a lot better emotionally and physically.
Christ Follower thanks for your story. People need to hear different perspectives and understand how the state of education is in many places.
My brother quit teaching after 3 years, & enlisted in the Marines. He said Iraq was more peaceful
That’s very sad
"Take care of it yourself, and if you can't, you shouldn't be a teacher," is what I hear. At least in Iraq, I knew someone above me cared about me.
😂🤣😂🤣
Wow!
I totally get it.
Parents are a big part of this issue.
Parents are the problem!
That’s the root of the problem.
BIG TIME, but you're not aloud to say it.
The problem starts and ends with poor parenting, period. The students come into the classroom on day 1 already having more issues than Vogue. It's disgraceful
@@DarthFurie I see this as a mental health therapist. The parents have this denial and arrogance that it is our job to fix their child's behavioral issues. Many of the problems I have seen are parenting issues and parents have let the patterns get SO out of control for years with no accountability, discipline, or consequences then expect us counselors to fix the vogue of issues in an hour session. Their expectations are extremely unrealistic and unreasonable while lacking any accountability of how they have contributed to the problem. I give them tools to heal and help themselves but they must be do the work. I have many teachers as clients and we deal with similar issues from parents and the broken systems.
I'd say part of the problem is that students are not allowed to fail. If you fail them you better have a mile long paper trail of where you gave extra time, chances, calls home, make-ups, etc. It's nuts. A simple "Your student didn't do the work or study, what did you expect?" Should be all you need.
Parents don’t hold their kids with any responsibility or accountability. You wonder why kids nowadays don’t even know how to hold a broom right. Kids calls in sick 2 hrs after work start time. It’s sad how things have changed for the worst. But you can’t fire them, because then you have no workers, because all of them have the same work ethics.
When I was in school, I was kind of shocked how teachers cared more about my grade than I did. You can fail them. Now if you are failing everybody because you plain suck (trust me, you do), it's sad but forgivable.
@@drakirolopez7859 it’s not that many teachers suck, it’s because many teachers lose motivation to put in that extra effort because of all the problems that the school system has. If kids can pass their classes with doing just one assignment the whole school year or even pass by doing nothing, how motivated would you be to put effort into teaching your content, it’s a waste of time. If you don’t pass them, parents and admin gets on your case.
I graduated in 2009 so this must be something that happened in only the last ten years
As a music teacher, you are exactly right. Some of my parents take it personally if their child doesn't pass everything in their lesson and that drifts down to the child. Here is an example: I had a child who would get so upset if she got something wrong or was terrified of giving a wrong answer (she is 7 years old). I had observed the parents and it wasn't them from what I can tell so I can be wrong. Here was the eye opening moment: I asked this student "do you ride a bicycle or bicycle with training wheels right now?" Her response? "I don't ride a bicycle." When I asked why, she said "I don't want to fall." This child was so terrified of failure that she wouldn't even try. We have been working on her confidence the limited time I get her and she has been taking baby steps in the right direction. Parents need to not take it as a personal insult if a child isn't perfect (any wonder why so many children beginning in the 1990's began being put in Ritalin and Adderal when they didn't behave perfectly?)
I quit teaching last year. For me it was the combination of rigorous academic expectations, combined with student behavior. If my administrator had said: "Listen, you're working with a rough group of kids. Do the best you can." Maybe I could have handled it. But we were constantly being pressured to teach a complex curriculum - and this to kids who did little more than argue and fight with each other. I honestly felt like I'd been directed to teach Shakespeare to a pack of monkeys. And to top it off, when the kids refused to participate in their own learning, I was held responsible. It was a recipe for insanity. There wasn't one teacher at my school who wanted to be there. Not one.
You can't have it both ways and keep all the students in class and expect everyone one else to learn when there are behavior issues. Only people in education seem to understand that but all the policy makers want "no suspensions". The rights of students who misbehave or interfere with the learning of other students seem to be more important than the majority.
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE Thank you for your honesty.
LOL im in the current situation
Michelle Love he is telling the truth!!! Im sorry and Im Black and I teach Black students🤷🏽♀️ Im praying I can find something new this summer
@@lgee9027 As long as I've been teaching, I know it's true. However, you have to put it in context. Conditions have "created" these "behavior" students. I've worked with privileged, racist, entitled white children as well as other ethnicities who were equally obnoxious in behavior. The difference (in my experience) is they get cottled or receive a slap on the wrist because their parents are lawyers or doctors or whatever. My worse treatment didn't come at the hands of black students...and I've taught known gang members who"tried" me, but once they knew they could trust me they gave me the utmost respect. Now they didn't always do their work, but they didn't disrespect me nor did they tolerate it from other students. Truth be told kids in general across the board are very disrespectful, rude, entitled, lazy...need I go on. And of course I'm not talking about all but a large portion across all ethnicities, it's just pronounced differently.
"If they're not in the classroom, they're not going to be learning." Indeed. And if those same kids are in the classroom, nobody is going to be learning.
I agree with you but that is the "best practice" the wise gov't has decided on!
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE ...sounds like a too convenient cop-out of responsibility...pass the buck to the teacher....blame and point the finger elsewhere...stick their head in the sand and ignore the problem...so sad!
@@singmysong1167 the load on the teacher is terrible!
Preach
This isn't even true. The idea that kids don't learn unless they're in the classroom is nonsense. They learn plenty all day every day wherever they are...just not what's on the school curriculum because that stuff is irrelevant to their lives. People learn what they need to learn regardless of where they are. Also, not everyone is academic in nature. Maybe these students would cooperate if they were learning practical, useful everyday skills instead of useless Math, History or whatever.
My favorite high school teacher said the number one problem with low performing students was their behavior.
He told me this in 1999. So nothing has changed.
Lol no except the behavior is much worse all around
Oh it's changed, but not in a good way.
What we as teachers thought was behavioral issue in 1999 doesn’t come close to 2022 behaviors.
Behavior is a huge problem that must be discussed! It really should be exposed. Working in many of the schools both public and charter is like working in a jail.
@@Tonia682 Exactly. My brand of misbehavior was drawing cartoons on notebook paper or folding paper airplanes. Threatening a teacher or throwing around furniture in the classroom? I might as well leave school and hit the road. That behavior would not be tolerated for a minute.
I used to be a substitute teacher and middle school was easily the toughest kids to deal with. You know it's time to change jobs when you're very close to hitting the students. I didn't want to end up on the news and in jail so I left
You are pushed to the LIMIT. No one should have to work like this. Society's ills are so bad that the job is impossible. I don't know why anyone would go into the field. Sadly, what you want to do is usually not what you CAN do.
@@jillsalkin7389 i tried. I’m quitting in the morning after two days on the job. I to teach. What goes on in American classrooms is NOT teaching. Its being a warden.
@@KennethSee I used to work in Corrections you don't want to do that either
@@merricat3025
That's what it's like working in the schools. It like working in a jail.
@@KennethSee
I agree. It's like working in a jail.
I lasted one month as a substitute teacher. I felt like I was more of a zookeeper than a teacher.
Being a sub is so hard people would not believe it.
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE It depends on the school and grade. After being so miserable when I retired, I subbed the very next month, before the Covid shut down. I actually had mostly good experiences!! But, I witnessed how terrible it was in the school I had taught in. I would not sub there.
Candacy for sainthood in my opinion!
It's the parents mostly I blame. I taught in an excellent school but parents complained about the least thing. And how dare you advise them their children for having issues with certain topics and need extra help or they will compain if you have to reprimand them its never their fault always yours and the schools.
@@janetmcgowan1181 No degree for parenting, sadly.
32 year teaching veteran here. It used to be highly unusual for teachers to walk off the job during the school year. It's becoming more and more common: in my last year of in-person teaching, 15% of our faculty quit during the school year. The frustration among staff with student misbehavior is beyond the limit.
Amen!
Student behavior is a nightmare. The kids are mentally ill. That's why so many are now on medication. I got out of public school because the behavioral issues made me physically sick. If the teachers do not remove themselves from those toxic environments they will indeed ruin their mental and physical health .
@@Geneiveve Medicated without no cognitive behavior therapy in place, no less...
back in the 1960s in class we would pray and say the pledge of allegiance to the flag every morning. even the principal would be with us on the intercom or loudspeaker. madam ohara the atheist she was, took prayer out of school. and it slowly over time eroded the innocent fabric of learning in school. if you dont believe that fine, but just look around. but have you ever seen so much commotion in our schools before. in multiculture regions it is a full blown ZOO. but we cant say that anymore , right ?
@@Geneiveve Try private schools. They are very different.
One good thing to come of Covid home instruction is parents are forced to deal with their brats and see exactly what their teachers have been warning them about. I get a huge smile on my retired face when I think of some of the parents and kids I dealt with now doing the home instruction thing. Priceless. Oh to be a fly on the wall.....
That was the gist of parent complaints: I have to deal with my kid all day.
Oh, bravo & how right you are!
At the height of the pandemic, I called my HS student's parents & spoke to Mom, briefly.
She put dad on the phone & said, "I have a zoom meeting & their dad will tk over for me & then she just started laughing hysterically.
This father of 3 students was utterly distraught (2 elementary, 1 high school).
He began to cry over the phone & said, "Being with my kids is the worse time in my life." He talked abt being trapped & he was inconsolable. So, I just told him to hang in there & I never got to tell him his child ghosted the entire final quarter.
The worse time in my life was the passing of my mother, really.
@@Falconlibrary LOL
Having Children is for SUCKERS!!!
true
I quit teaching after 10 years because the students just keep getting worse and the administration is really more interested in collecting a paycheck than actually running the school. I got fed up after hearing "What do you expect me to do about it?" more times than I can count from parents after calling them about their child's behavior. The kids were also way behind in their studies because the teachers would spend a majority of the time trying to get control of the classroom instead of teaching. I'm now studying to be a therapist. I feel I can help troubled students better in a more controlled environment.
What's more, now that school is out due to COVID, I'm getting calls from some parents looking for advice because they can't get their little angels to do their school work at home.
Because classroom abuse of teachers is not taught in college. If it was, there would be NOteachers.
If the students sense any weakness or vulnerability in a teacher, mob mentality takes over, and misbehavior becomes a game to them - each one trying to out do the other. That's what happened to me. I got NO support from administration. I retired after 24 years.
I hate to hear stories like that Valerie. You are right it is fine line and then totally out of control. Then it is almost impossible to get it back!
NICHOLS RETIREMENT EMPIRE
It wasn't just the students. My 3rd year of teaching, I was sexually harassed by a principal the whole school year. Fortunately, a few years later, I was one of 6 women who testified against him, and he lost his job.
That's horrible!
24 years?!!? I wouldn't have put up with that crap for 24 days.
Very true. I taught for 10 years, and I had my classes under control probably 85% of the time. Even if you're not weak, they will constantly test you again and again...so if you come in sick, tired, under personal distress, whatever... they sense it and those will be your worst days. They can tell within seconds of seeing your face and hearing your voice. Unfortunately, those are the days you're least able to handle it. I rarely asked for outside help b/c I knew nothing would change. To lead a pack of 20+ is not easy. You have to be the dominant force all the time, but if you're too tough, they will overthrow you like a corrupt government. My last few years teaching, the effort it took and the emotiinal, physical and mental drain it had on me to manage classrooms wasn't worth it. I had to save myself.
Oh man, I can't imagine being a teacher in today's school system!
It's not easy brother!
The Ripe Tomato Farms half shit these kids do today I would get in trouble at home
It's is rated in the Top 5 Most Regrettable Jobs.
Its truly the hardest job
I’ve had 3 very different careers in my life (retail management, mortgage banking and 20 years of teaching). Being in the public school system is by far the most stressful and difficult minute-by-minute career I’ve had. Weekends are spent “earning” my summer “vacation”. Kids come with SO MUCH BAGGAGE and attitude it’s almost impossible to actually teach anything!!
"They grew up respecting teachers and that's why they wanted to become a teacher" That was me
Same for me I always wanted to be a teacher.
Does anyone here remember what civility once felt like?
My wife left teaching 11 years ago (taught 2 years). She currently homeschools our three children and couldn't be happier. I ask her every year if she would like to go back to private/public teaching and she always says "no" without hesitation.
Little consequences for non-compliant behaviours. Classrooms should be safe, not a battlefield.
Yes our kids are staying home in the fall, too. We've had enough of the misbehavior, disruptions and bullying in school. Our administration did nothing effective to take care of any of it. My kids became depressed and angry by the end of year. I will never send them back to regular school.
that is great
Great point. I remember immigrating from Nigeria at 14 to a public school in nyc. I changed high school 3 times in 3 years. I was shocked how unruly the kids were. The students would curse out the teachers and the teachers would laugh with them. No, no no. I thought to myself that if any student tried that in a Nigerian school system, even the parents would discipline the kids with the teachers. I do think the policies here in United States is giving students too much power and not preparing them for life. This is very sad, especially in urban centers. I am not sure why we have lapsed policies on education here in United States. We are not helping people. Contrary, we are destroying lives. Thanks for sharing.
Totally agree with you. But the politicians don’t. They don’t understand what it takes for a school system which helps students, to be effective and functional. They make laws that enable kids to behave the way they do with no consequences for what wrong they did. They don’t look deeper into the situation of what schools need and only think on the surface level of what the problem of the school are. This is why the US is ranked on the bottom almost dead last in academics on the list compared internationally.
You are so correct! No where in the world are children permitted to attack, curse at and disrespect adults the way they do here. Its disgusting. Parents will make excuses for some strange reason. Ive had parents cry to me...because their 5 year old HITS THEM!! I had a student and her mother told me she was slapping her husband in the face and that she would ask her why....why do you do this to us. She was crying as if she were the victim when she is the adult and has the responsibility to teach this kid what is acceptable behavior!! I feel like we need training for parents before they have kids in the US. Thats why we are one of the lowest in education in the world.
Truly.
Black kids in the USA are all kinds of messed up. They have zero respect for education.
It is because of the changing values in America that started since the 90s
I raised my son the way my parents raised me, and he turned out to be a fine, hard working, respectful young man.
@Exiled Lioness I agree
That's exactly why it is so hard to teach in urban schools. They are not like you, your parents, or your children.
@The Exiled Lioness Thankfully, he is also fully aware of how damaging modern relationships are, so there will be no grandchildren.
For every child like yours that I taught (for 30+ years,) there were 5-6 complete morons. Yes, I said morons as it truly describes some of the kids I taught. And, sadly it wasn't their fault. It was the school board, parents and district.
@@alisonb9963 @Alison. Stop blaming stuff on imaginary enemies like "school board" and "district". Put the blame where it belongs: It's 1000% the parents fault if students misbehave in any way.
As a teacher it feels like you're in an abusive relationship. Students disrespect you, curse at you, some might even thread you and you can't defend yourself + nobody has your back.
Nobody talks about the impact it has emotionally and psychologically, and how it wears you down. I've seen teachers change over time.
Never heard it described like that but you're spot on.
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE I identify with everything you say and I don't even live in the US, but I think these problems are present in many different countries, no matter culture.
Where I live teachers usually have between 40-50 students per class (some classrooms you can't even pass between seats), on top of that physical punishment is legal. One time we had a student come in crying and hyperventilating. Her mother hit her across the chest with the cell phone charger right before dropping her off school. She was bruised. There was nothing we could do other than comfort her. You can imagine the high percentage of kids in a classroom with "bad" behavior. Some are avoidant, quiet and shy and others their bodies are there, but their minds are not.
So true!! Yes constant abuse. It is not logical to stay in an abusive toxic environment just because you care about the kids.
This is exactly what I told my husband. I felt like I was being emotionally abused all day. It broke me down. I quit after 2 years and took my child out of public school.
I totally get that. When kids weren't being disrespectful/abusive, it felt like a great day, until the bad behaviour started again. This is similar to the cycle of abuse that happens with spousal violence.
Teachers have my upmost respect. Teachers have a tough job. They are definitely underpaid. They deserve better.
Obie, I appreciate your sentiment and know the "real" teachers out there do too. One of the very best things members of the public could do to improve public schools would be to request state constitutional amendments to take the "public schools" off the political playing board. How? End the popular election of school board members and superintendents; instead have an authority appoint the best and brightest; the most accomplished; the most disciplined: The kind of people you want your kids to grow up to be! As is, too often parents send their kids to institutions where they are brought down, emotionally, culturally, and socially; the "lowest common denominator" is the anti-thesis of education, which is the higher plateau of wisdom, discipline, accomplishment, moderation, thinking, etc.
“Utmost”
Please remember the teaching assistants, they're the ones getting spat on, punched, kicked and have to remove these unruly children and sit in another room with them. Teachers and teaching assistants need support.
It’s true their underpaid, people keep saying that for decades, and perhaps even centuries to come, but nothing ever happens, or will happen, it’s just all talk.
Sigh. I learned more in in-school detention than in the actual class. Teachers need to be replaced by robots. Please... go away.
In my first and only year of teaching, someone attempted to bribe me, I was intimidated by administration, groped by a drunk mom, harassed over the phone and email, falsely accused of sexual harassment, and students and even other teachers spread rumors defaming my character. This was only in a span of 9 months because school was shut down in March. I came in to work every day scared of what would happen next. It started affecting my physical and mental health. I had back pain and was falling asleep while at my desk. I came to work angry and left angrier. I have experience substitute teaching in impoverished inner city schools, and the academic and behavioral problems I witnessed simply made sense. Of course they were scared, frustrated, and hopeless -- their lives were spiritually and materially empty because of poverty, abuse, neglect, etc. But this full-time position was in a wealthy community with a reputation and pride in their schools. These were people that had everything laid out for a privileged, fulfilling life, yet they acted nastier than those with real problems. It took a long time to sort out how I could love and trust people again after knowing what people are capable of. I resigned, moved, and started my own business. I am much happier now and my health has improved.
I agree with your points completely, but I would also like to add that veteran teachers that can completely handle classroom management are quitting in droves because they’re sick of this constant battle. After 19 years teaching ruined my health (respiratory/auto immune)-that, and the constant tension of having to keep a lid on a faulty pressure cooker is what made me quit.
I have to say you are right...it is getting tougher and that is the sad result!
I used to feel ashamed that I only made it though one academic year before quitting. It's good to find this community online and realize that surviving a whole year was actually an achievement. I'm not a cop or an authoritarian person in any way. Teachers seem to be made scapegoats for all of our society's ills (and for $30,00 a year).
You can clean houses for more than that, but when a pandemic comes, you'll have 0 work and nobody will help you with money (that not self-employed people got, which is how we had 108k drug overdose deaths last year). No pension. No insurance. No paid leave...and people can and will move without telling you beyond a few days before. So, you can lose a lot of money that way.
Congratulations for getting out when you did.
A teacher doesn't even get as much respect as a prison guard in this society.
I lasted a day....
you are right it is an impossibility and admins and parents should teach
I almost quit teaching. I changed school . Much better.
Many times that helps.
“They grew up respecting teachers. That’s why they want to be a teacher.” This speaks to my soul so much! I am a teacher on his 4.5 year teaching and with this COVID on top of all I have to deal with teaching I don’t think I’m going to make it to year 5.5. Thanks for your wisdom!
I teared up at that line. I have always loved school and thrived in it. And for the first time in my life, the classroom is where I'm drowning.
Get out now, while you can start a different and much more rewarding career. The longer you linger in the mediocre world of teaching (public or private) you're wasting valuable time and losing money. Trust me, it. is. not. worth. it. now days.
I have to disagree unless they are in their late 40's and above. I watched the change during my time outside of Atlanta in the public school system. We didn't have a junior high or middle school so high school was 8th - 12th grade. I watched the school, parent, student dynamic change from 1980-1984 (I graduated early to get out of there.) In 8th & 9th grade, you respected the teachers and principals. Last place you wanted to end up in was the office for misbehavior. I knew also that if I got in trouble at school that my parents were waiting to get me once I got home. By the 11th grade, the teachers had lost all respect when we got a wimp of a principal and the racial crap starting coming in. The seeds of today were planted long, long ago.
When you say I don’t want to hang out with 13 year olds, I want to teach, I agree with you. I don’t want to play games with them when I’m on lunch duty. I just want to have my me time. I spent the whole day with them already and I paid my dues
The worst thing I find, being a newly retired teacher, is when we go to Church they find out I was a teacher and immediately ask if I want to teach Sunday School. I politely decline while on the inside, I'm like "Oh, hell NO!" Though I do enjoy tutoring one on one with a motivated, intelligent student.
@@alisonb9963 Oh wow! YEahhh it's always the assumption like it's the same thing and it's not. Teaching the Word and teaching are two different things.
I taught for thirty years and definitely agree that administrative support is something you do not get. Period. People complain about how many students are sent to the office for discipline but my response is this. How many students get sent to the office for being on time? Doing their homework (if the teacher is lucky enough to be allowed to give students books. I wasn't for my last five years). Students who behave, are quiet and at least try to pay attention do not get sent to the office. Those who get sent are the ones who act up even if so many people think that we are abusing their rights. Any student that acts up in class and disrupts class is a thief for that person is stealing a good education from the students who do come to school to learn.
The rights of the people who act right are always trampled on by those who do not.
Absolutely! I strongly suggest that parents who have raised their children right in every which way take their kids out of school right away and (if they can financially afford it) enroll them in tutoring centers and/or hire private tutors. As a tutor myself who has also been a classroom teacher for many years, the amount of productivity that occurs within one hour of tutoring often surpasses what (if anything) students and teachers cover within one whole day of classroom instruction.
Where are principals like Joe Clark? If we had administrators actually willing to take tough action and fight bad environments, think how much better our ENTIRE country would be today.
It takes a special type of person to be a teacher and deal with what they have to deal with from the parents, students, and administrators. My hat is off to them. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Paul!
I grew up in a inner city housing project in the 60's and early 70's (Milwaukee). Most of the parents in our neighborhood had zero respect for education let alone teachers, and passed that on to their children. In other areas I've lived, the problem was that both parents worked and expect the schools and video games to raise their kids for them -- and as Jane Martin stated below, they will defend their children no matter what they do instead of disciplining them.
It's tough and kids definitely need guidance from home!
I think you said something really profound and that is parents of these kids have no real interest in their kids learning anything. Their kids pick that up and they don't see any reason why they should behave when their parents don't even care if they do or not.
You are so right!
I believe you are absolutely right about it beginning at home with the parents. Children are put up on a pedestal by a lot of parents. They aren't taught to listen to adults and obey--they're allowed to run wild and do whatever they want to do. When I was a child, we were under the authority of any adult. If your neighbor saw you misbehaving, they could straighten you out. Not anymore--the parent most likely will defend the child no matter what they said or did. They believe they will "grow out" of bad behavior. Ha! I'm sure paddling has gone by the wayside, so what recourse do teachers have--sent them to the principal's office where they have a little chat? Yeah, that'll show 'em!
They do not have much accountability Jane.
Rachel M about 10 to 20 percent of students in most classrooms have some special need, it could be medical, behavioral, learning disabilities or something else. Some of those students may act out due to those issues. Those are not the students I am talking about here.
Rachel M I am not specifically talking about particular student behaviors. I am talking about general student misbehavior that teachers in general have to deal with. All teachers know there are many reasons for the misbehavior. Every student is different.
Jane Martin that is why public school is crap. However private a,student gets thrown out. public cannot do that.
Agreed
I think the right to education should be retracted for students who disrupt and undermine other students learning opportunity.
100% this. If a student can’t be a civilized human being then they don’t need to learn math and reading until they can.
@@KennethSee Exactly! Thank you. Why do we (teachers and other students) have to tolerate bad kids' intolerance and temper tantrums.
Absolutely. My last two kids went to public elementary school for the first time after homeschooling for five years and the only complaints they had were discomfort watching kids act out, watching kids disrespect teachers, and not getting to learn all the lessons that were planned. I absolutely think parents should be held accountable for the neglect in raising their kids and not teaching them core values to set them up for an excellent adult life. I just keep telling them to continue to set an example to other students, and that I’m sorry they have to experience that. Does administration realize the negative effects the misbehaving kids have on the good kids that want to learn!?
As a teacher, I can't agree more.
As a teacher, my life became so much better once I finally created a system that did not acknowledge the administration's existence. At my old school, sending a student to the principal was like sending them to a therapy session. They basically came back with a lolli pop and highfived everyone when they walked back into my room; only later for the principal to call me into the office and ask me about what I did wrong to make the student act that way. In my state, our schools lose points for every OSS, ISS and expulsion. So for a principal who is desperate to bring up their school's grade, they will send all the worst of the worst right back into the classroom for the teacher to carry on their backs every year. I created a system that used positive reinforcement, rewards, negative reinforcement and punishment. I nit picked every single thing that the students did until they followed my rules to a T. I also would roleplay with them about what it looks like to break rules and what a classroom should look like instead while following them. If they acted out, I learned to give them minimal attention. These kids do not react to being yelled at or vented to. They only respond to action. You also have to ignore the backtalk. A kid can backtalk and role their eyes until they fall out of their head as long as they are doing what I have told them, I do not engage in their power struggle game. There is so much more to the ways that I have changed. But 1st thing is first, these kids are not being given the same time and guidance as we were given. You have to become their parent, model, and teach it to them. Also, screw your administration. They don't know how to handle the demands being thrown at them by the state. They will let you down. Expect them to let you down so that you can move on!
C R taking care of issues your self I'd absolutely the best thing! I always thought sending unruly students to the administrator meant I could not handle them.
This is the best suggestion I’ve run across. I have positive reinforcements and rewards in my class. What are your negative reinforcements and punishments??? They must really work well. Please share.
Very well said! I've learned to treat my classroom like it's an island. Principals (unintentionally) make things worse because they do not know your students and they drank too much of the brainwashing kool-aid from the district. I NEVER coddle or give extra attention to the students that act out because I know that's what they want. I shake my heads at the teachers that waste so much of their energy on the problem students that they will never be able to "fix." Coddling and restorative justice only hinders the students.
I didn’t sign up to parent other people’s kids. I signed up to teach English.
@@KennethSee Amen. I took a long term sub English position. I have no desire to form "relationships" or parent students. I don't recall having relationships with any of my teachers. I loved school, I loved learning, and we behaved in class. What I walked into this year is just unbelievable, and I will be walking right out at the end of the year.
In my country (Finland) teachers biggest nightmare are not kids at school but their childish parents threatening teachers when their kids got bad test results. This didn't happen in 1970's. Parents backed teachers then much more. Since 1980's things have gone worst direction.
Parents can be unreasonable sometimes!
One year, in my 3rd grade class, I have 6 boys that were tremendous drains on me and the rest of the class. I believe that two had mental health problems. Unbelievable stress and frustration because I was so unhappy that they took so much time away from educating others.
I left the public and charter school systems because of the stress caused by teaching. I then went into the private and independent sector thinking that it would be better.
These kids also have behavioral issues. Many of them have learning disabilities and ADHD. The only difference between the wealthy private school kids and inner city low income children is that they are not aggressive. They do not fight with each other or the teachers.
However with that said they do not obey rules, they think they can do whatever they want. They can be rowdy and unruly. They think they’re smarter than the teacher because their parents are esteemed doctors or hedge fund presidents.
As a teacher you can’t do anything with this spoiled entitled brats. If they’re failing you had better pass them. These kids also are held accountable for nothing. The administration blames you, the teacher for everything.
You also better watch what you say and how you say it. You will lose your job immediately.
As you can see working the private sector has a different set of problems.
Teaching is no longer the rewarding profession that it was.
This is because we as a whole no longer value education.
School is a business on all levels. Schools are paid based on enrollment.
Education is primarily for the purpose of making money and earning a living.
However the true purpose of education is allowing the stimulation of the mind.
Until we get back to that we will remain in the state we’re in.
Very well said.
This is why China and India are surpassing the USA economically. They value education there.
Add many have too low IQs!
Great comment
@@johnstauffer8772 Actually the kids are very smart, that's another part of why it's so heartbreaking, as a teacher you see their great potential being hindered because common sense has often times been abandoned...
I think you hit the nail on the head. However, the shitty part is, I know what it takes to be a good teacher and get difficult kids engaged, but the effort it takes is not worth the pay. That’s why I’m leaving. It’s simply not worth it!
Students have to much rights in the classroom. if a student doesn't want to do work, we are told to let them be, or find a way to motivate them. If a kid is high, or has no interest in school, what are we supposed to do. Teachers cannot be psychologist, counselor and teacher. You expect to be all of that and we all have higher degrees and get paid less than those in the private sector. Yet, we are tasked to educate the future. How is that working?
It's unsustainable. That's the reality.
It is not working. It's become an impossible profession to do without suffering terribly.
Education in reverse, sadly.
As a member of this appropriately-named "Generation Z", I honestly am TERRIFIED of my fellow young people. They have no virtue, no respect for authority, no willingness to learn from the past, and no desire to put in genuine labor. Some days I really feel like I'm living in the midst of Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution in China (it's only thing I think you can compare this to). Those of us younger folks who DO have good values and work ethic (far too few) often feel exhausted and burnt out from dealing with BS and insanity on a constant basis. The next 10 years or more are going to be an utter catastrophe...and these people will be our coworkers. God help the good people still in America.
"Teachers cannot be psychologist, counselor..., etc." That's right, and it would be illegal for them to act in capacities for which they are neither trained nor legally qualified. The teacher's unions should be all over the school districts for demanding and/or allowing their teachers to act in these capacities.
The public schools are a nightmare. I was so happy when my youngest graduated in 2009. My grandchildren will be homeschooled.
I have been in education for 13 years and am calling it quits. I’m going into retail management. Teaching is just no fun anymore, there is no accountability for the students and no consequences for student behavior issues. And I am in Iowa in a small rural district.
Joeshmotz yes it gets old
It’s not supposed to be “ fun”. It’s a job. And your job was to teach the curriculum. If the student doesn’t want to learn , so be it. Flunk him/ her.
Parents and society are too entitled in general.
Thank you Sir for taking up for teachers. I teach at a Title 1 school in Miami-Gardens, kindergarten. I have 5 year olds throwing chairs at me, spitting on me, scratching me, using profanity, etc. When this happens, teachers are not allowed to have a reaction....while the chair is hitting you, you are expected to remain calm. I've been asssulted so many times. Nothing happens. The bad students have remained in my class. This has resulted in me having anxiety, panic attacks, shaking in the classroom as I try to remain "calm" while a kid is being disrespectful. If you refer the kid for counseling, they do circle time under an oak tree, counselor has a puppet in her hand asking the kids, "How do you feel today?" ....if you do too many referrals, that's counted against you under the umbrella of learning environment, at the end of the year (I-Pegs). Salute to my fellow teachers.
It is like an impossible situation!
First grade teacher here and I appreciate your work so much!
5 YEAR OLDS are doing that?! Dear God, what has happened to our society?! We truly have gone insane.
I teach Kindergarten and some of my students are extremely disrespectful. One student has been suspended every week since school started. It’s not a joke in these classrooms and I completely understand why everyone quit.
The truth is the educational system is broken.
Completely broken, and it gets worse each year. So, if you can get out, do it.
@@jillsalkin7389 I got out quickly.
Trying too.
I lasted six weeks. Students at our school were almost never suspended because a directive from our governor (Rauner of Illinois) directed that suspensions be minimized, which is consistent with pressure from civil libertarians, since African-American students are suspended disproportionately to the student population. I suspect his directive was motivated by that pressure. Actual student misbehavior, not racial profiling, however, is the source of suspensions and other forms of discipline.
I taught math. I suspect the challenging, technical nature of what I taught might have had something to do with students' unwillingness to try to learn math. Significantly many students persistently misbehaved and made a majority of my classes ungovernable. After a few of our teachers were assaulted, I among them, I decided to quit. When I left, the teachers' union was preparing to file a grievance against the district for failing to provide adequate security for teachers, things had become so bad.
I believe that is going to continue to happen because of the governments determination to keep each student in school and in class regardless of behavior.
Students get punished based on their behavior period, the race crap needs to end. There are no laws holding anyone back from achieving whatever they want in this country.
It's crazy because withholding suspensions is NOT going to stop students later going to prison. Just look at Chicago. Crime is getting worse. Coddling never works!
I taught seven years in an urban high school. I can honestly say parents were ALWAYS respectful and tried to work with me. The students were challenging, but what drove me out was the administrators. We had some good ones, but there were too many bad ones. I don't think the American public has any idea just how many administrators are employed in each and every public school district, nor do they have any idea of the bloated salaries they receive. If the public had any idea of what goes on in public education (and what doesn't) there would be universal outrage.
There is a standard. Every student can't stay in the regular classroom. Disrupting the whole group for one is unfair to the whole group.
Ideally taking them out would help everyone else for sure!
I agree with most of the comments here, I am a 20 year Art teacher that has decided to sub this year due to stress and exhaustion. This has been a great idea, I pick and choose what school I go to. I have watched schools from the same Charter be so vastly different! I was in an innercity area where administrators we're walking around with bullhorns and kids were running the show, same Charter in another area, the teachers collectively were running the show. Kids were not different as far as demographics but the culture in the building just shouted respect. Teachers consistently supported each other, it was like a village...teachers constantly in hallways checking in on other teachers, popping by so that students could see that I wasn't alone but had a team of teachers with me at any moment and administrators held parents accountable ---and that particular principal bragged about her waiting list---a strategy I would use to manage parents lol. Somehow all these factors worked. If you throw teachers to fight the present jungle alone, kids know it too and will bully the teacher. The days of lone ranger classroom management are over, you have to use a team. I come in to a school and get the principal's number, the disciplinary Dean, a couple of teachers in the hall, I get mostly male teachers if I am in Middle School (sorry if this seems objectifying of men but kids respect a fatherly figure --more like fear it) and I stress that they will be walking in and checking. Which most of the time when I make these requests, they do. They want the sub to stay because I will walk out...Maybe that is what you meant by why some kids will not give one teacher a hard time over another. I had all these variables in place and one very tough girl who could see law and order and that I had admin watching every period was so upset with me (for not letting her do what she wanted), she wanted to bully me by inserting herself into every redirection I had towards a student, when I told them all that they could not comment on my class management or interfere, she stopped, 20 minutes later her body started shaking she was so mad I didn't let her do what she wanted in "my" classroom. I don't claim to win every battle but I do know that if administrators push back on these crazy parents it does trickle down to teachers who feel supported. We have a principal here in Texas who wrote a dress code for parents, I applaud that because she is taking a stand to reshape the culture of that school and if you come in with yoga pants, tattoos exposed and hair rollers and everything hanging out, that says a lot to the school about how you respect us and how you are preparing your child for learning. There are ways to push back and I think the key is a strong principal that is not afraid to push back and discipline.
Some districts will let principals decide everything and give them a lot of power. Others dictate to principals and will only let them go so far with disciple and parents! My district was very involved in telling schools what to do with discipline. Sounds like the one you are in leaves it up to the principals or individual school/
My priority is ensuring that the children who aren’t interested in learning do not destroy the learning of other children. That’s my priority and I defend that stance no matter what.
Thank you for this. I have recently resigned, due to leave at Christmas. Obviously, work load and expectations of the job have increased immensly however, my reasons for leaving way heavily on pupil behaviour. I have found it hard to actually say this to my head teacher as I feel a bit of a failure; behaviour management always being a strength of mine (so I'm told!}. It also always feels so wrong to blame children rather than the job expectations and frustrasitons itself. I work in two schools, one in a deprived area and the my main school in an extremely affluent area. Behaviour is so different as I am dealing with social conditioning as you spoke about and the other type of social conditioning which is arrogance whereby parents are mostly high earners such as lawyers, Doctors, Bankers etc, and the teacher is a mere "teacher'. So, I am fed up fighting it. I am a good teacher and I have so much to offer and I love teaching. Unfortunatley, attitude and behaviour from all walks of life and backgrounds is making the job impossible and I for one, am very sad to be leaving after 18 years.
Unfortunately your story is not unique, there are so many teachers that leave it is sad. People need to know about this in the public, but it is not a top news story in today's world!
Your story sounds almost identical to mine, as I just resigned last week after 11 years of teaching at the same high school. When I first began, I couldn't wait to get to work. I'd get there early, prep PowerPoints, set up the class, put up new and interesting quotes and anchor charts, and inspire everyday--and the kids were SO amazing. Eager to learn, smart and attentive to detail (pre-smartphone generation). It didn't even feel like work--I could be me, the kids were responsive and the classroom dynamic was straight out of a Hollywood movie about great educators--and all this from inner city kids in bad neighborhoods. I even had parents come up to me after the school year, hug me, and say, "You were the best thing that ever happened to my child". This continued to go on year after year--until about 4 years ago. New principal, new superintendent, new top-down state micro-management + new generation of students + addictive social media and chronic cell phone use. It was a slow dive down. Greater than love, a kid needs security and limits. These students are not getting that at home and we cannot be their parents--as much as they need them. I remember the first time I had to take away a smart phone from a student (about 4 years ago). She threw a desk across the room. You read that right. The second time I had to do it, the student got up in my face, swore a blue streak that would have made Tarantino blush, and belittled me in front of the entire class. She had to be removed from the room. It just kept getting worse and worse from then on. I'd never thought that student behavior and constant micro-managing from administration could leave me so paralyzed at my job. I love teaching. I love my subject. I love the kids. I'd planned on retiring later on. But the walls kept closing in. I had to use the escape hatch.
You are too hard with yourself.
You might want to consider online teaching at Connections Academy, K12, etc.
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE I agree. It should be constantly in the public's view.
I’m a JROTC instructor. There are two of us and we at the beginning of each school year encounter some of this. But because we are Army guys, we quickly settle all of this and the students begin to regulate themselves meaning one kid will boldly tell another to knock it off because he or she knows everyone is going to pay for it. We establish order. Some kids can’t get straight so they end up leaving the program. I know this can’t be the standard for the English department but maybe school districts should implement military style doctrine into the schools and hire more qualified veterans to regulate in a military manner similar to what JROTC does.
"There are two of us": That's a huge advantage. In schools there are NEVER two teachers in the same class.
"We establish order.": I envy you guys. In schools, there are no consequences for bad behavior. All teachers can do it tell the parents and hope that they'll do something about it. We can't even suspend brats anymore.
I just can't think of how we'd do the same discipline in the classroom. If it were, ok, Billy misbehaved so everyone drop and do 50 push ups - that would be great. Maybe Billy misbehaved so everyone owes an essay for next friday. The problem is that's not allowed either.
It was hard for me to acknowledge that my difficulties in the classroom stemmed from my inability to manage a full class. I thought that if I kept trying it would improve, but I'm coming to accept that not everyone is cut out for some things.
Jem TS it really does take a certain person to teach. Some schools are easier but not everyone can do it. That is nothing to be ashamed of, it is better to realize it and try a different school or grade level or a non traditional teaching job.
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE Exactly. I'm looking at non-traditional jobs in education, and adult education.
That's exactly what I'm experiencing in this moment. In addition, every single class I leave the classroom , I get this feeling that I'm not good enough or that I'm a bad teacher...I thought I was going to teach people who really wanted to learn, but when I'm in the classroom it's like I'm not there for the kids 🥲.
@@lorenaprieto2488 I am a fantastic teacher. I have zero desire (or ability) to do "classroom management" I'll be going back to teaching community college and tutoring.
I agree. Students are out of control, chaotic classrooms
It's a tightrope waiting to snap!
@@arricammarques1955 Let it snap! It's the only way for things to change. If there are no more teachers around, there has got to come a time of change.
As a former Foreign Language Instructor within the college / university level, I can say the problems are similar, only the age group alters. My contract wasn’t renewed after 5 years, and I can’t say I miss it much. Before the layoff, I’d considered changing industries- my salary didn’t match the cost of living, and I was completely burned out from having 165 students each term - 90% could not read on the 7-8th grade level in English; plus the corrupt administration wanted me to pass them (only fail 20 percent maximum). This doesn’t begin to include the student behavior problems I encountered daily and the many with psychological disturbances who had never received the proper help. The problem is who leads the institution, their priorities, and whether the goal is to generate revenue at the expense of everything else.
I have a friend who teaches Community College in Northern California (Alameda County) and said she is seeing behavior problems now, just like in high school. Students yelling at teacher, on phones, talking and playing during lessons, throwing chairs and slamming doors etc. It's just insane. But, it's our society that is really at fault for allowing this and not pushing back. We're circling the drain.
Agree------Sometimes I feel like I can have the most amazing lesson and they would still say my lesson was horrible and boring. I just can't win!
@@BeTrue-42 Wow, what content area do you teach? Let’s correspond, my email is on the profile.
I taught a number of years in a community college. I ignored the administration and all the internal politics as completely as I could, because I knew that it would turn me off to the point I couldn't teach. The students I could deal with--no particular discipline problems, just incredibly ignorant. But the administration wanted me to pass everyone, even those who skipped the tests, because it was a required course, and the school would lose money if these people were "not in the system." Of course, they were too hypocritical to actually come out and say any of this point blank. But despite my good evaluations and good retention, I was simply deleted from the catalog. I once met the guy who redesigned the school according to business principles.--terrible values and really, really stupid.
I never got in trouble at school. I got spanked when I needed. I spanked my kids and taught them morals. I never had any teachers contacting me for behavioural problems. They all graduated and have jobs now and no police records.
Education requires consequences for non compliant behaviours.
It's sad how teachers can't have these kinds of conversations with administration and parents.
I get the feeling that most administrators, know and understand this game and hate it as well. They're hands are tied by an ignorant school board. And, they have to come up with false data to show why their job is useful and shouldn't be cut. The whole system is broken and done.
@@alisonb9963 Very well said! That's exactly it! I never really get mad at admins anymore because they are just tools being used by the system.
Oh we do! But they ignore us!
I know I’m late but my uncle quit teaching because of the students. That was over 20 YEARS ago. Huh.
The skill of classroom management is the beast that no one can fully prepare you for. Each group has a different dynamic.
These kids don’t have a home but a house. The home is broken. The lack of an authoritative parent, lack of healthy food, an unwillingness to learn and the music these kids listen to nowadays doesn’t help. It’s a pity that there are students that are willing to learn but cannot because the teacher is too busy arguing with the bad students.
Kids these days are too disrespectful!
I don't want to hang out with kids all day. Imagine dreaming of being a teacher and going to college for it. Working hard to find and finally getting a job only to be disrespected, humiliated and even attacked physically by a student! No thanks!
Not only that. Have you ever had students' parents trying to sue you for giving their child a bad mark or for telling the kid to be quiet? xD
As for 'keeping kids in classroom'. Jesus Christ. The kids we are having to 'keep in the classroom' aren't learning one damn thing. If they were learning anything, they'd have never been 'put out of the classroom' in the first place. When they are 'kept in the classroom', not only do they not learn anything, they prevent anyone else from learning anything. - This whole notion has nothing to do with caring about kids, or learning. It's about passing the overwhelming problem of student behavior down to the teacher.
And its somewhat related to why I no longer teach. There's simply very little true discipline in the schools these days. Administrators often do the teachers a disservice, considering that many of them won't discipline students, some with extreme offenses.
I'm retired and saw massive changes during my time. Towards the end i completely stopped asking administration for help. It became clear that every situation was ultimately my fault anyway. My main complaint was that administration would interfere with my discipline. I found a "10 minute detention" very effective for many situations, but the administration disallowed it.
Lo Ro as years went by as an administrator I began to only follow policy. I knew when push came to shove I would not be backed up for doing anything else by the district. It frustrated me and the teachers.
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE you are so right. The district is mostly worried about headlines and i do understand that, but it really ties the hands of the people with boots on the ground. I volunteer in a classroom now and this 3rd year teacher is alredy burning out. The public really has no clue how bad it truly is.
Yeah, my admin wants the kids to work off their energy and play at recess but they were playing in the classroom so basically they had an indoor recess. lol
It seems society is in a state of managed decline but the decline is accelerating.
In all the time I’ve been a teacher and student there have been kids who won’t respect authority, but I agree that now it is almost commonplace. With schools adopting the “no 0” policy, this probably won’t change much because students don’t have to do much to pass
Yep . . . and you're correct, people don't want to talk about it. The myth of "if you have good classroom management" things will work, was one of many reasons I quit. Love my new job!
Teaching online is the only way i would consider teaching as a professional
I noticed you teach online. How do I break into that industry. I'm certified but wanting to get out of the classroom. I look forward to hearing from you. You can also email me at kishmisocialmedia@gmail.com. Thanks!
I loved teaching online during COVID. No disruptions to distract the kids trying to learn.
I'd love to teach online. Finally a way to mute the kids who misbehave. Also the parents would have to take on the responsibility of raising their brats.
We have many ways to teach. Teachers are "encouraged" and I use that term loosely because the are actually being "required" to have online teaching as well as classroom teaching available. I say, since the teachers are already doing two jobs- classroom and online teaching for the same paycheck- which is absurd - then the students who cannot behave should be placed in another monitored classroom to take the course in the online format. You already have the tools available to the students- use them wisely!
I work subbing. On Friday I had high school juniors. I told them the first half of class was easy because they just had to read. I told them the 2nd part would be hard for me because I had to read aloud with them and I had almost lost my voice from a previous cough. They were surprisingly supportive and offered to read my parts for me...It all depends on what group of students are assigned to you. Sometimes you just luck out!
In high school, I remember my 9th grade math teacher (a nun) who was bullied by the students who behaved just fine in their other classes. This class was a noisy circus every day. The class was upstairs, and one day a student decided to slip out of the window and walk about on the roof of the adjacent one-story wing of the building. In his defense though, someone had flung his textbook out the window, so he had to go get it. The class was so wild that the principal had to come in and sit in the back of the room just to keep things from getting out of control. Obviously this intervention could not go on forever. But to this day I still remember watching this poor sweet nun get absolutely run ragged by classroom full of 9th graders...... and she was probably getting blamed for it by the administration.
This is the only video I've found which addresses this! I just quit my teaching job because of student behaviour!
Parents are losing control over their kids...too indulgent with them not enough respect or left on their own. Too much social media tv...what have you. It’s not a good future for many of them.
I agree. One day they will best their parents.
Terrifying. Sad, because there are still kids who want to learn, and the awful ones make it nearly impossible.
TV has been around since the 50s, tho...and home video games since 1980.
I resigned from my inner-city teaching position almost 6 years ago and you can watch my RUclips resignation speech (Rhode Island Teacher Says "I Quit!" ) to find out why. But, believe it or not, the worst behaviors I ever witnessed in my teaching career were in suburban "white" schools. One of them had the right idea - a burly "behavioral specialist" who could be called to the classroom any time a student got out of hand and, without missing a beat, the student was removed from the classroom and the teacher went on with the job of teaching. How these kids were dealt with is another story....
Thank you for your response.
Was that in a public school?
There are very few kids who behave in the classroom anymore... it's not a white middle class or inner city school problem... It's everywhere
I’ve had the exact same experience. I taught 5th grade in an inner city and loved the kids but the administration was horrible. I moved to a private Christian school this year to teach kids school language arts. The kids are so completely toxic, rude, and disrespectful. The kids are running the show and the teachers are afraid to address behavior. I’m planning on leaving in June when my contract is up. These kids are absolutely miserable.
I'm sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, that seems to be the direction most schools are going today. It is very sad. I was lucky because I was old enough to retire and now all I do is tutor online
We are not as teachers or administrators going to fix society's problems. There is so much wrong in society today, and schools are just a reflection of that. Behavior is horrible because these kids are not held accountable and there are all kinds of excuses.
What job or profession allows verbal and physical abuse? NONE, teaching is that. I did not sign up to be sworn at, threatened, abused, etc. The system is crook.
I think people in lots of professions get verbally abused (especially over the phone) because of the customer is always right mentality. They are expected to not say anything back and the customer can say anything.
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE True however, I don't think you need a four year degree to do call centres. No excuse really but I just feel that teaching it's very condensed inside the classroom and with parents, you can't just hang up the phone and be done with it.
@@kcc879 true I got dog cussed plenty
@@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE Nothing has all of the stressors and insults, and sometimes danger, like teaching does.
Nursing is pretty close from the abuse from patients, families, hospital administrators and doctors.
According to my son who is an 8th grader with difficulties in paying attention his solution to the problem is that schools should not only teach the curriculum but also to teach life skills like healthy cooking and cleaning.
And for the older students to teach them how to spend their money wisely and live minimally.
Such countries like India, Japan, Korea and I’m sure other Asian countries it is the students who clean the classrooms, the hallways, the bathrooms and even do the cooking.
It may be advantageous for U.S. to adopt that mindset.
I pray that when all this demonic govt shenanigans are over and get down to business that the new and improved forward thinking politicians will place their money in our future first, our most precious children.
Parents and children need to be re-wired, re-trained to think Life First and return back to GOD.
I agree.
Sounds like how a prison is run. **Even prisons have church for those who choose to go.** That might actually work.
@Meradianstar 42 sounds like money is your god
Years ago I left a teaching job to go to a different district (better pay and closer to home). My replacement quit after 3 days. Why, because administration didn’t tell her about the disruptive, dangerous students in the class.
Chris my son went to college year round for 4 years so he could graduate with 2 teaching degrees! He was on the deans list every year made almost straight A’s all the way through college and worked at a part time job and also tutored other students! Well when he did his internship helping teach for 6 months, he decided he didn’t want to teach school as a profession because of the way the male students treated the teachers with such disrespect and anger ! He told me momma I’m so sorry I know how herd you worked yo put me through college on your own working 2-3 jobs and going without yourself so I could have a good education, but if I try to go in a classroom snd those kids come at me with the way I’ve seen while doing my internship you’d have to come visit me in jail cause I just wouldn’t take that from them ! I told him Jason you have your education and if you choose not to use those degrees then you haven’t wasted your education you can build on it and use it in other jobs ! My only care is for you to be happy in whatever you do because you’ll be working all your life!! Chris what you say is right today’s kids aren’t raised the way we were most of them come from a home where they do what they want and get away with it because for whatever reason the parents either won’t or can’t teach them respect for their elders ! They don’t start when the child is a baby snd continue on up through their childhood ti be accountable for their actions snd either suffer from or reap the benefit of their actions! I raised my son from the time he could crawl what was right and what was wrong , to listen when I spoke and act accordingly , that if he did wrong he had to answer for it and pay the price !!! Today’s kids haven’t berm taught that important lesson! It’s a shame because my son like many other teachers were great teachers who really cared and wanted to teach , but couldn’t take the abuse from the kids!! My son went on to law school and is now a para-legal and loves his job! Chris I know you had to haven a great teacher because your s kind and patient man who enjoys humor and teaching others ! And you do a great job when you cook on Tammy’s show for us , we really enjoy it when you cook too!! God bless ❤️🙏🙋🏻
I subbed today. Had to have student removed by security as he was under the influence of something. Sad. Other kids were amazing and doing good work.
Also sad that a school has to have in house security!
@@jenniferknight1511 yes I worked a ton of time with our resource officers and other police.
I taught for 23 years and then got out. I just couldnt handle the POLITICS, STRESS and INJUSTICE anymore. I went back to college so I would be able to work with kids in a field that allows for MUCH MORE common sense and MUCH LESS stress and politics and its been a LONG time since I've been this HAPPY!
Sometimes when you send students to opportunity room, as an example, and then they send them back to you, it's almost a slap on the face for you. It encourages other students to act out because they think: I'll get sent back anyway.
I agree, if you have an admin like that the teacher has to be very careful because that is not an option. It will hurt their authority even more when that happens.
Yes... This! I'm not a teacher but I interpret for Deaf/hard of hearing students. So many times a disrespectful student gets written up and sent out only to get sent right back to class. I'm like...seriously. 🤦🏾♀️
Veteran teacher here. Lots of behavior issues with many students. I honestly think these kids are dying for attention and it doesn’t matter how they get it. Negative attention suits a lot of them just fine
I would read every day in math class and had to beat up a bully, he was kicked out of class and I got A's the rest of the year.
Former teacher here who quit the profession twice. I watch this video and it was only towards the end. When I realize this was filmed in 2018, before the pandemic. So the pandemic made these issues even worse than he says. Good luck and Godspeed to all those out there and braving it in the classroom.
A good friend's mother taught for 36 years, retired in the 90s, she said the worst thing about teaching was the parents of these troublesome kids, defending their children's actions, a bunch of crazy Karens trying to tell teachers how to teach, and that the teachers received ZERO support from administrators and principles who ent over backwards to complaining parents instead of telling them to shut up and let the teachers do their job. The administration's are only concerned with placating irate parents, thus retaining their positions/jobs.
Majority change schools instead of aiding the children.
I’m a parent of 2 boys w/special needs. Son #1 barely graduated (only bc my mom literally held his hand the whole way.) Son #2 is now in 7th grade. It feels like our current education system is a rigid box that only some students fit into. I fit easily, I have a masters degree & wish I could go back! But my boys did not fit. We tried so many ways of helping them & getting any extra support we could.
After years of trying their hardest but not measuring up, both believed they were stupid & not capable of success. It broke my heart to watch their self-esteem be crushed more every day. I desperately want to give them my love of learning. Despite my best efforts, it was like a train I couldn’t stop. They quit trying bc it was too painful to try so hard & continue feeling so inadequate.
I pulled Son #2 out during Covid. Determined to find the solution I never did w/Son #1. Did research & stumbled upon the “Un-learning” or “Child-Led Learning” concept. My gut says this is the method my son needs, so I’m trying to create a “curriculum” that doesn’t feel like school, that envelops his natural curiosity, & shows him he IS capable & CAN succeed. I never planned to be a home educator & it’s so hard. I don’t know how teachers do it with 25+ students, all w/varying needs! No teacher can meet the needs of a kid like mine, esp. w/such a huge lack of support, funding, staff, etc. I have the greatest respect for you warriors!
The majority of our teachers were wonderful. But each son had one who should never be teaching. The 1st time, I felt she was the expert & caved to the shaming she put upon both my son & I. I believed it was my fault. I tried to be “tougher” as she demanded, but that approach is ineffective & damaging for my kids. I feel guilty for not standing up for my son. No matter how hard we tried, we never heard anything positive. The 2nd time (different teacher) I couldn’t stand by & watch it happen again. Mrs. X treated my son & I like she hated us. I tried to work w/her, explain that he responds SO much better to positive feedback than constant negative. I empathized w/her bc his behavior is very difficult at times. He has severe ADHD (emphasis on the H!) The sad thing is he truly can’t control it, he’s trying as hard as he can, & it makes him feel like a bad kid. She seemed to think my efforts to create a plan to help him were an attack on her (bc I involved the principal after getting nowhere w/her- I never blamed her, only tried to partner w/her.) The more I tried, the worse Son was treated. My husband & I were separated at the time & she tried to get him to side w/her against me. He defended me & she sulked. Now 3 yrs later, if we see her in the hall, she literally turns away to avoid acknowledging us! We love most teachers, but I admit we now refer to her as “Roz.” I had to find a way to tell Son #2 that this wasn’t his fault. Still working to heal that. I still can’t believe a teacher could treat a kid so badly.
One of the hardest parts is undoing the damage of all this. He’s very smart, constantly curious about so many topics & responds well to experiential-type learning. But those beliefs are tough to change. It’s a lot of pressure as a parent, along w/working full-time & managing health problems. I must make this work, tho- I’ll never forgive myself if I knew what he needed but couldn’t make it happen.
I’ve seen tons of these videos. My heart breaks for teachers, parents & students! I can’t send him back to that, esp. bc I know his behavior is easily viewed as a lack of respect, not caring, needing attention, etc- & easily attributed to bad parenting. It is NONE of those things in our case- but it looks that way. This system can’t provide for the needs of all unique students. It’s not the fault of teachers & I appreciate all of you for your efforts. You shouldn’t be in this position.
I just wanted to express that not every kid who looks “bad” or like he has “bad parenting” is really bad- he may be doing the best he can & needs a chance to succeed at the level of his abilities, someone to believe in him. His parent may be beyond exhausted & beaten down by being viewed as a bad mom, when she’s doing all she can to help a challenging kid that she loves more than life itself. Both kid & mom may have to steel themselves to enter the school, & leave w/heads hung in shame. Maybe we’re all doing the best we can under impossible circumstances. A little encouragement & support both ways may make a big difference. I know it did for us when we received it & would have when we didn’t. I know SO many of you do this every day & I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
This country is coming apart at the seams. The hatred, violence, disregard for our fellow humans…the pressures on parents & teachers to manage the impossible…the stress of being unable to make ends meet, working too many jobs/hours, lack of self-care or support, mental & physical health deteriorating, etc, etc. How many of us are trying our hardest but falling apart? How does all this impact our families, marriages, parenting? How do you keep giving more (teacher OR parent) when you truly have nothing left? The nightmare of Covid & all the effects on our lives: losing usual sources of support & self-care, the deaths & grieving & fear, the terrible way this country responded, the lashing out at each other at a time when we should’ve been caring for our neighbors? The disregard by so many for human life (which I think is a defense against fear, etc.) The angels (teachers, healthcare workers, essential workers) risking their lives for us & being treated as disposable. The growing evidence of a system that allows a tiny fraction to have more than anyone needs, while the majority get the crumbs, working ourselves to death for a rapidly decreasing quality of life? What is the definition of a 3rd world country?
All of this trickles down to our poor kids. This violence feels like they are expressing the things they cannot say in words- they are a reflection of the state of our communities. I don’t have the answer. I’m fighting to find one for my son. I had a teacher once who changed my life. Bc of him, I majored in political science & was determined to make the world better. I fell in love w/the ideals this nation was founded upon & I wanted to help bring them to fruition for everyone. I’m truly devastated by our collective situation. Even if you don’t think about this consciously, how is it impacting you? What about our kids?
I’m sorry for the essay. I just wanted to give my perspective as a parent. To all teachers who care: THANK YOU! I’m so sorry that as a nation, we fail to support you so badly. It’s disgraceful. How do we expect to be prosperous if THIS is the education we give kids & the state of affairs we are raising them in? I worry about our future. If you’ve read this, thank you for letting me have a voice. To any parent who is struggling, you’re not alone. To anyone who is fighting to help our kids, bless you!! BLESS YOU!!
So good to hear from someone with experience that can address the parental side! Many great points!
You are spot on...this is my 21st year of teaching & I’m resigning at the end of this school year 🥵
Wow that is a lot of time invested.
My first year teaching was a total disaster. At the end of the year my mentoring teacher took me aside and gave me single piece of advice. He said "be yourself"! Dont try to just copy what other successful teachers do. Just because it works for them doesnt mean it will work for you. Yes, you can use their methods as a guideline but you may have to modify it for your own personality. It may even be something that will not work for you at all. That advice got me through about 25 years and then the "state" began trying to "improve" things. Five tears later I was gone.
Should future teachers take martial arts classes?
I’m Australian and l worked as a high school teacher for 11 years, teaching in 3 different schools, before l finally resigned. The main issue which wore me down was the behaviour and attitude of students and the fact that the senior management of the schools refused to do anything serious about it.
I retrained as a nurse and am now much happier. The pay is less and l get fewer vacations but my job satisfaction is much greater with a good deal less stress. If l have to deal with adolescents, now it’s only one at a time!
I teach on a grade team of 6, and I'm the only one that can manage a room full of our students. We have a lot of kids prone to disruptions and pretty wild misbehaviors, and they 100% pick and choose to dial it up or down based on who is in the room. We do have a few who don't respect anyone, and their families are zero support, but I've formed a good relationship with most of them so I can make it work. Still, it's exhausting dealing with them, lol. Our admin is so hands off it's unbelievable, so the other teachers on the grade team often call me when they're having issues with the kids. It just takes everything out of you, the students came back from the pandemic lockdowns absolutely feral. I have legitimately never seen this level of violence and disruption before, and I'm almost a decade into working in urban Title 1 schools.
I'm not a teacher, but I drive school bus, and he's absolutely right. Most kids on my bus are great, but the few with bad behavior can make my job really hard and those kids always try to lead others astray. Also, whenever kids misbehave I always feel like I'm going to be somehow criticized or the kids given "one more chance" when they've already had several "last chances". Currently, I'm really debating not going back next school year........
Too many 'chances', not enough consequences for behaviour.
Los Angelos Unified eliminated suspensions and expulsions so the only discipline possible is done by the police.
That is what happens.
What's the purpose of elimination of suspensions or expulsions? Seriously? I'm asking because you'd think parents would lay the consequences to the students. So police is now supposed to contribute to the discipline of students? I'm lost here.
I remember being in school as a living hell... It was terrible being in the same room with the classmates and having to deal with the people you're seated next to, it must be even more horrible for the teacher that has to deal with them all...
The present system has to be dismantled. Education should be considered a privilege - not a right. Once parents realize their kids must earn a place in school, parents will reform their child's behavior. If not, they should be placed in work programs to teach them trades and allow the kids who want to be in the classroom a safe place to learn free from the distractions of unruly kids. Bring back the old curriculum that taught meaningful information. Until then - homeschool!
I am for doing away with compulsary attendance.
What makes you think the trades want them? What makes you think they'll work any harder in the trades school?
@@CanoeToNewOrleans With immature people, period, you have to give them 2 choices and that's it. IF that. And there has to be consequences. Drug addicts, "well, if you don't want to hear how to stay sober, there's the door and you can't spin right back in next week. You have to be gone 6 months. If you don't die first.
Choice is yours." Be surprised how many sit their a** back down and make more effort when they KNOW nobody's going right jump in and "save" them (to use more).
Ask any teacher, they'll do you there are plenty of parents who have no interest in reforming their child's behaviour.
@@CanoeToNewOrleans My son was a horrible student. His life was going nowhere until he connected with the career he loves. He's a different person today because he found his niche in life. But school was not the anwser for him. Not all kids succeed with academic study. My father dropped out of school after seventh grade, but went on to become a skilled carpenter for his life's work. It's all about finding out what you love doing. We can't keep trying to shove square pegs into round holes....
I appreciate your perspective. You seem like a very reasonable and fair-minded administrator... wish I could have worked with you. I'm at low point in my life right now... teaching was the only thing I wanted to do after leaving the military... but I found that my cosmic timing was wayyyy off (became certified when the market for teachers burst like a water balloon) and that the profession had changed SO much just in the last 10-15 years it no longer resembled anything close to what I expected or remembered. I have had the worst experience even getting a job in the first place, and an even worse experience getting into the only schools that would have me that were toxic and chaotic. So now at my older age, no retirement to speak of, I'm finding that I may have to completely abandon this calling altogether, and I have NO idea where to go from here. It is absolutely criminal what has become of public education, made worse by the fact that the public money is held tight with a death grip.
Check online public ed it may work for you
Sad. What happened to you was criminal. Welcome to "cultural marxism." Ain't it great living in a society of "absolute equality"?
Administrators are now being evaluated on disciplinary referral s/actions, so they will try to find a way to not "write up" the kids so it looks better on their data reports. The less incidents, the better the school looks. Glad to be retired last year!
Definitely a push fro federal, state, and district levels to lower the referrals. Especially with consequences that take them out of class. No doubt the move is away from consequences and referrals!
Does this also apply to suburbs? Or just urban districts?
I retired 2 years ago. No regrets.
@@wampastompastomp I was in a small school district that couldn't be even considered"suburbs", but I think it applies across the board no matter how small or large the district. Its coming from the federal government.
Former Catholic school student here (1974-1988). I am literally stunned when I hear modern day teachers talk about the student behaviors that they endure on a daily basis. If I ever acted up even remotely like modern day kids, there would be hell to pay!
I taught 5th grade pre-pandemic & currently have a 4th & 6th grader so I’ve been on both sides of the issue.
Student behavior is a direct reflection of the culture they live in. It’s easy to blame parents but really it’s a combination of contributors.
Parents of 5th graders are often Millennials who were taught by their parents generation “because I said so” and rebelled against a world that told them to not ask questions & always respect authority. When they learned that authorities were often the perpetrators causing issues it broke their trust in the system. That mindset is deeply engrained in how the live and raise their children.
Often, instead of attempting to rebuild that trust, schools (governments, churches, police forces, etc) play the “kids these days don’t respect authority” card.
It’s true, they don’t. They’ve been taught not to and the systems around them are often not even pretending to try to understand and remedy that situation.
Grades become seen as a control mechanism (sometimes they are) rather than a means to measure learning. Teachers, as the frontline, become the foot soldiers of the broken system and are caught in a struggle between a more & more disjointed and financially-strapped administration and their desire to help teach.
I’ve been there on both sides. I’ve seen kids who balk any authority and sit in ISS for weeks :( Our system rarely considers how to restructure itself because of its desperation to secure funding to keep the ship afloat.
Yes, parents absolutely influence their kid’s attitudes but we (as a society & education system) need to really need to address WHY so we can heal the source instead of the symptoms.
Wow I was going to say the same thing but you said it so much better!
It’s not always about parents not “respecting” and following authority. We millennials were pounded into submission to later find out it’s all a scam. We did not have things explained to us and were ostracized for going against the grain. Then as we were in our early twenties we saw this new wave of parents teaching their children that the world revolves around them. That they can do no wrong.
And culture is what’s killing the family unit, people working their butts off to survive and children are desperate for attention and to just be children.
I know this post makes me sound angry and judgey but I’m really not. I’ve got 4 wonderful children whom I’ve done everything I can to break my family cycle of abuse and they are amazing kids.
However I feel media and schools not standing up TO the children or giving them real consequences out of fear of lawsuits and uproar is not helping. There is also an agenda and way too much politics ingrained into the schools. We need to stop tip-toeing around these people because they are not the majority.
I was a public school teacher in Georgia. I absolutely loved it. I did have to shop around for a good school to teach at. I found it and I never had any problems. There are good schools and bad schools in the public school system. Some administrators just get it. Others don't. They make all the difference in the world.
Admin knows what goes on in their schools.
Thanks for the shout out!!