Been in a public school lately?

Apr.19,2006 | 13Sisters76

[13Sisters76]

I'm wondering how many have been in a public school lately, to see the awful mess they have become. Or to see, first hand, what kind of children we have coming up who will be running things one day. I teach at a public high school in a large south-central metro area. I started here this year. Before this, I had been teaching in the military system, which I now realize is very different from the regular public schools. The difference being that where parents actually have something to lose, they WILL control their children. I want you to know something of what it is like. Our "children" are beasts. They are rude, disrespectful, full of themselves, pretentious, out of control, sex obsessed and stupid. They know they don't have to behave because there isn't a thing on God's earth we can do to them. The teachers cannot control the classrooms and we can't MAKE them learn anything. These little savages breeze through the system learning as little as possible. It isn't a stretch to realize that if a few of them can write their name, play ball or recite the words to the latest rap song, that is enough to graduate them. I WISH everyone could see an example of their reading, comprehension and writing "skills". I can promise you, you would be outraged. What's even worse, they DON'T care. They don't want to hear about the future. They don't want to hear about excellence. They are stupid and proud. We spend a fortune on Special Education- would you like to know how most of that money is being spent? The resources of special education are being spent on kids who are too disruptive for a regular classroom. These kids aren't "differently-abled" for the most part. I had one little darling tell me that he was there because he didn't want to do the work. That's all. I would love to bring you all in for an afternoon with an "honors class". I MUST wonder what, exactly, are the standards for "honors". There are a precious few kids in these classes who actually ARE brighter than the rest and, for them, I feel a great deal of sympathy. The atmosphere in these classes, as well, is not the least bit conducive to learning. One cannot teach when one cannot control the classrom. One cannot control the classroom when one if faced with parents who view discipline for their children as a lawsuit better than winning the lottery. One cannot teach or control the classroom when one is faced with parents as stupid and worthless as their kids. I will be leaving the public school system at the end of this year. The very people who have allowed this state of affairs to continue will remain in place until the people of this country learn to stand up to the left wing education establishment who have helped to create this abysmal "black hole" and until parents are forced to take responsibility for their horrible kids. Until then, I urge the parents of young kids to get them OUT of it- private school, home school. There are other,FAR better, choices. I'm heading for some OTHER type of job. I wanted to teach; I wanted to make a difference. Now, I am just bitter and angry. And more conservative than ever.

[13Sisters76]

The very best I can believe about YOU is that you are a liar- or taught when MY mother was in school. I'll bet I can imagine ANY "conditions" you say you faced. How many of those adult literacy students are finally learning to read AFTER being in the public school system. That's unfortunate that you are "sick of me" or those LIKE me- it sure beats the hell out of paying attention to the problem, doesn't it?

IF you were a teacher, what drove YOU out?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Of course, there are always difficult things, but it's looking to solve problems and improve things that counts.

I think that part of the problem is that a lot of people simply are not cut out to be teachers. They waltz in with the idea of cute little tykes gazing up at them adoringly while they share their wisdom.

That's not reality.

Teaching your own kids is, in a way, very easy. Because you love them you look for solutions and ways to help. You usually don't feel the same connection to kids that are not your own. You aren't inclined to put the effort in. People who can do that have "the heart of a teacher" and they are all to rare.

You have it. Others don't.

[ArmyTeach]

...which is why, with secondary and early childhood certifications and enough graduate credits for a masters degree plus some, I have had a ball over the last 20 years teaching and facilitating the education of the truly great, our American soldiers.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

How many of those adult literacy students are finally learning to read AFTER being in the public school system.

All of them. And how many of my future students will be adults that you have failed?

I'll bet I can imagine ANY "conditions" you say you faced.

Really? I taught in Moshi Tanzania. Many of my students were orphaned Somali's. No, my dear, you have no idea.

[LK44-40]

I remember when public schools used to teach people about paragraphs.

Your point is legitimate but unnecessarily rude, IMHO.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

You have Freep mail

[SandwicheGuy]

I remember when public schools used to teach people about paragraphs.

I remember when there wasn't HTML paragraph tags. Reformat it for her and she will never do it again. What is you comments on the contents, if any?

[dalereed]

Depends on your definition of lately!

I was in one in 1955!

[ClearCase_guy]

It's poorly written. It's whiny. It's misanthropic. The point that public schools are a mess is hardly news. Most people make that point better than she did, AND they properly format their post.

[SandwicheGuy]

Your screed, even if it made valid points (I think it did not) was utterly unreadable.

And that is your solution, to rank on the poor woman instead of helping? Your observation, while quite accurate, is also totally useless, begging the question of why make it. Put in some paragraph marks for her, it should be a minutes work for you, and be a hero.

[SandwicheGuy]

It's poorly written. It's whiny. It's misanthropic. The point that public schools are a mess is hardly news.

Ah, well... I enjoyed the post. Did you catch her observation that militaty schools were different than public schools, and her thought that it was because military parents could be held accountable for their offspring?

[pax_et_bonum]

I substitute in a public high school and would like to say that your description is excellent.

I disagree with you on one point, though. My classes are not out of control. I wouldn't sub if I couldn't control the kids.

Welcome to FR!

[Amelia]

It's your first year? Did you have student teaching, and was it in a public school, or did you teach for several years previous to this in a DOD school?

You obviously weren't prepared for this type of student, and you obviously aren't getting any support from the administration.

My bet would be that they've decided you're a prissy old white woman who's easily shocked, made the comment about getting laid as much to get a reaction from you as anything else, and then laughed like crazy when it worked.

I'm also betting there are some people in that school who can control those kids. My advice would be to learn what you can from them, finish the year (if you can, or maybe tell them you can't deal with the lack of support, and leave), and find some place that is a better fit for next year.

[thefactor]

i am a police officer in new york city. within my precinct, there are a number of specialized units a cop might join. the one position i would never put in for is "youth officer." i begin work right when the public school kids are exiting their buildings. we call them "savages in training." i understand your frustration and can sympathize. good luck in your new career.

don't worry about the grammar police around here. they bust on my lack of capitalization. i like annoying them.

[moog]

think that part of the problem is that a lot of people simply are not cut out to be teachers. They waltz in with the idea of cute little tykes gazing up at them adoringly while they share their wisdom. That's not reality. Teaching your own kids is, in a way, very easy. Because you love them you look for solutions and ways to help. You usually don't feel the same connection to kids that are not your own. You aren't inclined to put the effort in. People who can do that have "the heart of a teacher" and they are all to rare. You have it. Others don't.

Good pearls of wisdom. I do think that some people in too many situations (talking about life here) don't look for wasy to solve things, but look to do the blame game, emphasize the negative, and whatnot.

But you are SOOOO right. You have to know what's real. That's why I've become a little more adaptive and flexible over the years. Some things are just not worith it to get too upset about and you move on with life. I've realized long ago that I hardly will ever get my way (if I had a penny for all the times things haven't gone my way, I'd be a zillionaire), but I try to learn from the roadblocks and use them to make myself a better person.

Some people expect to get their way every time and for people to bend to their will, go after people who disagree with them, pass the buck, and so on. And that happens in all walks of life or on any side of politics.

I have learned long ago that as a teacher, I'm not going to satisy everyone. It's near impossible (with 75 very different personalities to deal with every year). I just try the best I can.

I put in the time because I can (uh-oh, I'm not waxing Clinton-esque, don't worry:). Many teachers are busy with their own children, other jobs and responsibilities, and so on. There are some here who take care of sick relatives and other things. I see it with parents too. Some just don't have all the time they would like to (who does?). I don't have any children of my own and my wife is quite busy on her own. I can afford to give a little more time than the average bear. It also helps that I live in the neighborhood. I couldn't put in as much time when I had a 2 hour commute each way some years ago as well as a second job.

BUT you do have one thing wrong--I count my students as my kids. That remains one of the big black holes in my life--that I have not been able to have the blessed opportunity to raise my own child. It's something that gnaws at me every day and that I ache for every day and something that I pray for every day. I see so many wonderful parents and the experiences they have with their children (as well as the ones my parents and we kids had) and I yearn for that as well. As the years go by, that feeling gets more urgent. I am still some years off from maybe adopting, but in the meantime instead of sitting there feeling sorry for myself, I try to do my best to serve others' children and realize how much God has blessed me. I have so much. It amazes me that he gives such a dumdum as me so many stinking (literally) chances.

I sure do appreciate your comments. People like you are what keep me going.

[Eagle Eye]

Not far from where I live.

But the area is already growing too fast so I'm not gonna say.

It won't take long before its success is what ruins it if we're not careful.

After 2007 I will have had 4 kids graduate. Of the first three, two have academic scholarships. The fourth will also.

If I didn't mention it before, the school probably has the most un PC mascot in the country--a revolutionary minuteman!!

[ConservPhant]

When I first read your post, frankly, I was insulted.

I am a 16 and a sophomores in suburban Virginia. I am in public school and have always been. My high school is more than 800 students over capacity and we, as well as the middle schools, have trailer complexes. There is a high school being built, but it will not be ready until I am in college.

I have been in an honors class since I was in 1st grade. I would be pulled out of class along with about 20 other kids. The subject would differ every year, but was usually science or English. In 5th grade, I started the elevated, or honors, math class.

There are very few "beasts" as you describe. I am never on "pins and needles," as another poster mentioned, to avoid offending anyone. There are no roving gangs in my school, nor where some friends go in the city. While a good many are rude and disrespectful, there are few that dare cut up in class, especially the honors.

In every class, there is only as much disrespect as the teacher allows. By the end of the first class, we know how much he/she will take and adjust accordingly. How much of this "disrespect" is from past years when they got away with it?

I have never been in a "wild" class. From Kindergarten, teachers have always had control. In the regular classes, and everyone has to take some, there is more talking and more disrespect, but I have yet to see a teacher lose all control.

In every single honors or advanced class I have ever taken, there has been little need for classroom control, as the kids actually worked! The best teachers make us think and perform beyond our abilities. From my 15 or so different honors teachers, only my Algebra I was not adequate for the job, and I was unfortunate to get her the last year of her career.

There are kids who do not belong in my honors or AP courses. Either they drop down or they work to keep up. It is obvious who does not belong as obvious as it is who does belong. Every year my classes get bigger and are filled with kids who want to work. To give a blanket statement that children are "beasts" and are "stupid" and "lazy" is very insulting to me and those who do work. People tend to focus on the bad ones and forget to see the good.

As an example, my class was the first one to not receive a weight for GT or advanced classes. This means that level 7s (honors) are worth the same as level 3s (special ed). Only Advanced Placement classes are given a weight. Instead of fewer kids signing up for them because of lack of incentive, the numbers continue to rise.

As for the drug and gang problem, there is very little. Occasionally one will hear talk about drugs and smoking, but that is rare. There are no gangs to speak of and few assaults, on grounds or not.

On a side note, anyone here with young kids, get them into music if it is not too late! Almost all of the kids in music are essentially good and are high achievers. The music kids band together, providing friends and support.

[SoftballMominVA]

This is my 16-year old daughter and her first post. I'm proud of what she does and of whom she is.

Any issues with her post--let her have it. She's a big girl and can take criticism with the best of them

Love ya, kiddo :)

[Amelia]

ConservPhant, Great post! I can see that you are doing well in school, and I can understand why your Mom is so proud of you. Your post is more articulate and better written than those of many of the adults here. I think two of your points bear repeating:

In every class, there is only as much disrespect as the teacher allows.

People tend to focus on the bad ones and forget to see the good.

The latter I think is especially true. Yes, there are problems in the public schools, just as there are problems in society. However, there also many good schools, many good students, and even many good teachers. It's quite easy to focus on the bad, however, because usually the bad examples are the ones who make the news.

Thanks again for your input! :-)