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.

[12th_Monkey]

I have worked in a school system for almost 7 years, and what you are saying is dead on. Our school system seems to loose control in middle school and it gets worse the higher up they go. teachers cower, principals usually bow to lunatic parents. We even had one mental defective parent threaten to sue because her little darling hurt his arm breaking into a candy machine.
There are a few good students, but they are few and far between. I can fully understand why American business farm out to other countries. Our educational system is grinding out wannabe rap stars with skills that barley let them say "you want fries with that"?
Everyone should do a drop in and see what is happening in their local district, it will shock you. Good luck to you 13Sisters76, you are not alone.

[Little Ray]

Don't know that they aren't using phonetics. I have seen her (made her!) sound out words, but sometimes she just seems to guess at words. Doesn't matter, I'm happy for now!

[moog]

rom the moment I gave birth to my first child I knew what my occupation was/is. Sadly, the Family unit no longer exists in most cases. Parents have left the raising of their Children to the system, and the system is the homosexual agenda and anti-Christian among other things. On another note, I will say that our schools are in dire need of teachers such as yourself. It is an uphill battle but the kids need you. Yes, there are more factors than one. Strong families and teachers can help. Kudos to you for being both.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

ROFLOL....Since becoming a member of FR, I've come to the conclusion that the best recommendation for a PS is if some Freepers kid goes there:).

The PS's that freepers kids go to are always great:)

Becky

[moog]

That is an early reading behavior. Kindergarten (at least here) is much more academic than it used to be. The kids come into my first grade class reading better every year.

[Blueflag]

Public schools do not teach teachers about html paragraphs and breaks.
Please give her one. (a break that is) FWIW, do YOU know what html stands for? Do you know what SGML stood for? WYSIWYG?

[moog]

Kind of how I feel when we teachers get blamed for everything. There's multiple things to consider and we shouldn't be making excuses and such. We need to get in and do something.

[bonfire]

Freepers are intelligent enough to live in areas with great school systems. I chose my town BECAUSE of the school system. Both times. Maybe we should start a thread that lists all the good Public School systems for Freepers looking to move!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Then you need to learn to read. I had no problem at all reading it.

I appreciate your article. People need to hear this more often.

Becky

[Little Ray]

I think you're right. She can also write forward and backwards with equal skill...

[Muzzle_em]

Even MADONNA claims that she does not let her child watch television!

[bonfire]

"Kind of how I feel when we teachers get blamed for everything. There's multiple things to consider and we shouldn't be making excuses and such. We need to get in and do something."

One word: Parents.

[moog]

I've been amazed at some "mirror-image" spelling tests over the years. HEHE It doesn't occur often, but drives me nuts when it does. :)

[Gabz]

Freepers are intelligent enough to live in areas with great school systems. I chose my town BECAUSE of the school system.

Good point. Not only did we choose a different town, we chose an entirely different STATE.

No system is oging to be perfect and I have had my share of difficulties with the District level staff - but am very happy with the school level staff.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

LOL,,,I was being sarcastic. Nothing in the world will convince me that there are any good public schools anywhere. Sorry:)

Becky

[Neoliberalnot]

"Sounds like we're raising a whole generation of celebrities." --- which is exactly where these kids get most of their guidance in life.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

On that we can agree:) I've never blamed anyone but the parents for the shape the schools are in.

Becky

[AD from SpringBay]

I have a friend teaching at college level...The young students she is seeing are "dumb as rocks", complaining, and confrontational. They refuse suggestions to bring up their grades and then whine to the administrators when they do poorly.

I concur with these observations. 'Remedial' or 'developmental' enrollment in colleges grows exponentially by the year. This is why community colleges are becoming lucrative - because of the mission to get the kids ready for real life, after public school (what do those property taxes go for again??).

There are plenty of Goth-hicks, Spoiled Jennies, Hoods, and [please don't lose all hope] good kids in 'regular' classes. College instructors have also begun noticing more behavioral problems than in the past. Strong teachers have them removed by security. Yes, it happens in college. Thank goodness, college still allows students to fail (despite every excuse and threat in the book). On the first day of classes I always reiterate that, "You're not in high school any more," and when I sense an idiot that is going to disrupt the class I also mention that, "A wonderful thing happens on the first day of summer vacation for a graduating senior - the bully becomes a criminal." It depends on where a person teaches, but drop rates are between 30 - 50% for most classes. I don't know the real numbers on the percentage of students that actually graduate. Just a little perspective to brighten all our days. :)

[moog]

I DON"T blame parents for everything as a teacher. We sometimes forget about things like personal responsibility and individual effort, the media, priorities, the climate of disrespect, emhasis on the negative, the absence of strong fathers, and yes BOTH teachers and parents. What teachers DO need to do is communicate with parents and vice versa and NOT just about negative things. I am also lucky too that the parents realize that I am not perfect (far from it) as a teacher and give me a little slack. I, in turn, can give a little too. It doesn't have to be a free-for-all.

My parents expected us to get our butt in class, learn something, behave, and show respect, no matter what, otherwise we got our butts kicked (including the present). We were expected to do our homework BEFORE TV and couldnt't have friends over during weekdays. We were all widely involved in things, but just behind family and Church things, education was seen as next in importance. And we children are all the more better because of that.