Several of us were talking over the summer about schools in different areas. One of our friends (married to a public school teacher) offered their daughter the opportunity to go to the private "academy" for High school starting this year. His daughter and friends were appalled at the idea. They say the drug problem at the "academy" is worse than all the public schools in the county combined.
I was on a field trip to a zoo this week and was quite shocked at what I saw the students from the private schools doing there. I had to steer my class around them.
So, many times it has nothing to do with the type of school, and always has to do with the type of parents.
I completely agree. I am so thankful that my parents taught me good family values. I try to spread these to my students and their parents. It breaks my heart when families break apart for stupid reasons. Often, the kids in difficult circumstances may act out at school or crave attention because of the situation at home. Yet we, as teachers, are expected to be miracle workers and deal with each situation separately. Often, we become personally involved in efforts to keep families together, but sometimes it just doesn't happen.
I had a new girl move in, one of the best-behaved I have ever seen. Unfortunately, her dad has been out of work for some time and isn't looking real hard, the in-laws do not get along with the mom so they kicked them out of their house, the mom is mad at the husband for not getting a job, etc. etc. Now the husband has moved to a different place and the wife is living with her sister. I spent hours getting them ready to have their daughter come to our school and more time trying to help them, but to no avail. It really does make me sad. A couple of years ago, I had many hard home situations to deal with. I worked my tail off that year and while it was my hardest year, it was also my most rewarding. Note that I live in an area famous for family values and that is middle class.
There is no more important thing to me than keeping good families together. I have learned it firsthand. It helps the kids function much better as well. Such is the case with involved families, particularly having involved dads (something I really stress).
I am one who wishes that I could help every situation and I often try to, but it is really hard. If I do get extra money, I will use it to help my student's families. For me, it's not the money I teach for, it's to make a difference in people's lives and to be of service in any way I can.
You are a good person and I commend you.
I love my daughter's teachers, and appreciate the work they do. I like to believe they appreciate that we pay attention to what is going on. They know they will see one or the other, or both my husband and I on parent/teacher days, and that calls or notes sent home are appreciated in this house.
We are not parents that will always side with our child no matter what. We are the first to acknowlege that she has a tendency to talk incessantly, and can be as stubborn as a mule when she makes up her mind - two things we deal with on a daily basis and are not surprised when the same traits are noticed in the classroom.
I don't know how much time the teachers spend dealing with other parents because it is none of my business, but if the level of contact, at their instigation, I have with them is any indication, all I can say is we did the right thing in choosing to live in this school district.