[Dick Vomer]

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.

maybe your children are beasts, rude, disrespectful and sex obsessed... I've got 4 children in in the public schools here in Texas, including High school, middle school, intermediate school and elementary school.

They recite the Pledge of Allegiance, Pledge of Allegiance to Texas Flag, had Christmas decorations allowed and have been visited by members of the Armed Forces whose kids are in the schools. Discipline is tight and there are officers in the high school, intermediate and middle school.

The high school is a 5-A school and most of the college profs send their kids here. Unfortunately getting in the top 10% of the senior class in grades and SAT's is harder than heck because of the "non-black, non-Hispanic" minorities that dominate the Math, Science, Robotic clubs... there are numerous AP and Honors courses with pretty hard emphasis on performance.

There are "fights" and "drugs" like all large schools but I know where my kids are and who there friends are. I don't tolerate any "crap" from high school "friends" and my kids and their friends know that I'm very predictable... they don't get away with anything and if they're caught they'll never see my house or kids again....until they're 18 and in college.

I don't expect the schools to raise my kids and I chose this area of the country to live specifically because of the level of education and conservative population in general. I'd rather work as a landscaper in Texas than a CEO of a Fortune 500 company in San Francisco. Why would I put precious gems in pig sh#t? My kids and family are the most important things in my life and I'm lucky enough to be able to live almost anywhere and work.

I chose Texas. 'nuff said.

[neutrino]

Simply put, matters aren't going to change. The public schools are holding pens, and higher education little more. You have urged a visit to the public schools; I suggest you take a look at the composition of graduate-level science classes at major universities.

What will you see? Classes with few - or even no - Americans, and the balance foreign students. In this case, by foreign I specifically mean citizens of a nation other than the U.S. The next generation will be notably less educated.

Despite declining standards, Texas has a substantial and growing dropout rate. Some contend that the functional illiteracy rate approaches 40%; the implications for the future are not favorable.

You're probably wise to extract yourself from a problematic situation. Life is far too short to put up with the nonsense you mention.

Finally, the symbol to use for paragraphs is:

<p>

Just type it in your post, and the preview - and subsequent post - will show a blank line. Of course, if you get HTML editing software such as Frontpage or Dreamweaver, you can create posts that will forever silence the paragraph crowd.

[brownsfan]

I remember when teachers used paragraphs.

[Aznar5]

My children can not go to the local public schools here. They would be harrassed and assaulted because they the wrong color.

So, I must pay for the thugs education and then pay more for private schooling for my children. I feel sorry for those other children in public schools who are the wrong color.

[Texas Jack]

I agree with you. The government school system does not produce an acceptable result and it is an extraordinary drain on our economy. It is nothing more than a works project for demoRat voters.
<p>
By the way, if you will use the HTML formating code shown immediately above, your future posts will place a blank line between paragraphs.

[Amelia]

Check this out.

[SMARTY]

Time to turn off the TV. That is not a joke. Dig a hole in the back yard and bury it. No more of the filth and stupefyingly mindless sameness, no more crap programming... If that means no football for dad or cooking shows and sit coms for mom... so be it. That's all the more time to interact like a human being with your child...worth a try

[lucky american]

I had temporary custody of my sister's two teenagers. I had to meet with the principle to talk about legalities, change of address etc. While waiting in the office there was a constant stream of disruptive students being "towed" into the waiting area to meet with counselors, assistants, and office personal. These children were rude and some very disruptive and combative. I remember thinking to myself if this is the next generation, we are in trouble.
Even though my Charges have returned to their family, I still involve myself with their education and moral upbringing. Believe it or not, these two teenagers respect me because I have set limits and rules along with love and respect and I am convinced this is what makes us so close.
There is no shame in our society anymore. If a child misbehaves in school or in public the parents are right there claiming some sort of disability.Schools are just a place to send their unruly brats. No one is held responsible.

[Amelia]

I spend most of my days in public schools, and there's a lot of truth to what you've said, but your picture seems colored with fatigue and frustration.

I'll guess that you've had a really bad first year with a not-so-supportive administration. My suggestion, if you really want to teach, is to try again somewhere else - maybe a private school or a more conservative, less urban location.

And you're correct - the degree and type of parental involvement can make or break a school.

[E Rocc]

I WISH everyone could see an example of their reading, comprehension and writing "skills". I can promise you, you would be outraged.

We see it when we try to hire people. It's rare to find a public high school graduate without college or military experience with anything resembling acceptable job skills. This wasn't at all true ten to fifteen years ago.

-Eric

[stentorian conservative]

Ma'am, I understand your situation.

I am the Mother of five (5) wonderful children--all but the oldest are Home Educated. The oldest id in High School. I know that may seem contradictory, but she is militantly conservative, and isn't easily swayed beyond her beliefs.

Our Education system has been on a downward spiral for decades now. I feel it will continue down this path until PARENTS take control of their Children and realize that our Children are not a mere possession (as in cars, lawn mowers and electronics) but are and should be OUR LIFE!

From 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.

[moog]

I t makes me wonder if this person is even a teacher.

[geezerwheezer]

Your article really puts fear in my mind. I'm afraid we have allowed too many "educators" to ruin our school systems, and we have run off our real teachers. When the teacher cannot control the classroom, we like to blame that teacher, and not the system that allows it.

My wife teaches here in Savannah, and just getting the parent(s) in for a conference about THEIR CHILD, is damn near impossible. Notes are sent home, calls to disconnected phones, letters returned by the post office, on and on and on....yet these same "parent(s) are the first ones to bitc* when their child fails the state-mandated tests required by the "No child left behind" laws.

You tell me why this is allowed by our school systems? I think the child should be taken away from the parent(s) and placed in a home where they are taught social manners, homework is expected to be done, and proper rest is allowed.
When my wife has had three "missed parental conferences", she can then fill out the paperwork required by the state without the parents' signature. That is three separate days she has to be ready, three days she is wasting for one child/parent, when she has to take time from her class and all the other children, to wait for someone who doesn't show up. Multiply this by the other 12 kids' parents who don't even bother to show up, OR EVEN CALL THE SCHOOL, and you have the modern teachers' day at work. This is a waste of our monies as taxpayers, and is typical of most school systems. Thanks for your article, I hope it helps folks understand what is really going on.

[Aquinasfan]

The schools do what they were created to do. Read it and weep.

Then get your kids the hell out. They'll get my kids over my dead body.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Our "children" are beasts. They are rude, disrespectful, full of themselves, pretentious, out of control, sex obsessed and stupid.

Another excuse about why teachers can't seem to do their jobs.

First it was not enough money and then it was that parents weren't involved enough and then it was that parents were too involved and now it is all the children's fault.

[Buffettfan]

The inmates are running the asylum.

[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.

[AppyPappy]

I know a bunch of teachers and they would disagree with your assessment. It all depends on where you live.

[freemama]

I'm sorry that your teacing experience this year was so terrible. I completely understand. I taught public school for seven years before we started our family. My first school was in a small town in a northern state away from any large metro area. The children were great because, for the most part, the parents were backing up the teachers.

Then I moved to a suburban school in a metro area where city kids are still bused out to. It was terrible! Teachers quickly identified the students who had parents who would work with us and those families were our joy. We did what we could with the other students, but if they didn't want to learn, there was precious little we could do for them.

Look at your students. Who are the ones that want to learn from you? There has to be at least one! To get yourself through the next month and a half, those students are the ones who you try to teach. The rest is just crowd control. If they pick up anything along the way, great.

You probably shouldn't teach next year. It takes time to get past the situation you found yourself in. Please don't give up teaching if you love it, though. Shop carefully for your next teaching job. Public, private or parochial doesn't matter as much as attitude of the students and staff. Get a job at WalMart if you have to until you can ferret the right school for you.

Look for the small schools. They may not have all the things a large public school has and they may not be able to pay you as well, but they may be a much better fit for you.