quote:

Originally posted by *~*M*J*~*:
One of the things that has me rattled is how children are treated in the Public School system.

I have seen some ill-tempered employees. Ones who have no business working with children.

That is true.. there are ill tempered folks in education (as there are in most occupations). I suspect there are a number of factors. None of which are excusable, but possibly the reason behind some of the ill temper.
Teachers are very underpaid when you consider the responsibility we have placed on their shoulders. Couple that with an unsupportive administration and in some cases, fear for your safety and you just could end up with a bad attitude. I left teaching before I got to that point, but I could see it coming and I saw it in my peers.
Let me tell you a little story about the "last straw". I was filling in for a Spanish teacher who was out on extended illness. I know ZERO Spanish... okay, I know muy poco... anyway. After about the 2nd week, I had run out of tricks (I kept a stock pile of crossword puzzles, seek n finds, etc) and the troops were getting restless. Not to mention that they weren't getting any Spanish during this time. A fight errupted between 2 of the boys (one insulted the others's mother...). They were middle school boys but both bigger than me. I successfully split them up and got them to the principal's office. The next day I was chastised because I had not reported breaking my finger while breaking up the fight... okay, fine. Then I was asked if I carried teaching liability insurance as I could be sued for breaking up a fight if one of the boys had fallen and hurt hisself. I said "no, but next time I will just let them fight, as I enjoy watching a good fight every now and then.". The principal had no sense of humor and advised me that I could be sued for not breaking up the fight.
That was enough for me... Pay me little more than minimum wage for a job that requires a 4 year degree and I have to get extra insurance to keep from getting sued???
All that said, there are some outstanding teachers who make the sacrifices for their students and are a credit to their profession. They get up every day and are either very happpy to be there, or at least pretend to be and the students who want to learn are the beneficiaries.

WOW! That just doesn't make any sense. You could get sued for helping AND not helping?
Oh brother! No wonder you got the heck outta dodge!

I realize teachers do not get the respect they should and they have to deal with misbehaving students AND parents,but when there's a parent like myself who does all they can and is very involved in the school and I get attitude or my child does because someone made that person mad does not fly with me.
My children know their place. They are not in charge,they will not pretend to be in charge. They are not perfect,but they KNOW get out of line at school then get handled at home.
My teen smart mouthed one of his teachers. The teacher didn't tell,however my son did. He was complaining about the teacher being nasty and rude so he has enough and was giving it right back. WRONG! I said the teacher was being a jerk ok,but that does NOT give you the right to be like that back. I called the teacher and told him I knew of the incident. I told him I wanted my son to read his written apology in front of the class,because he felt the need to argue back,embarrass the teacher,stop class so he was going to get a little embarrassment himself. I thought it was fair and would teach my oldest to learn to just not say anything regardless of the teacher being a jerk. Well he tells me that I am out of line even asking him to have my son read his apology out loud in class. Out of line??? Ummm I am trying to CORRECT his error concerning you and your class but I am out of line??? Ok. So like 3 weeks later the same teacher calls me and tells me my son has mouthed him again. What the heck was I to say???? I tried to correct it 3 weeks earlier but he didn't approve. So I told him there was nothing I could do,that I tried to handle it weeks ago and he didn't want me to so do not call me now wanting something done.
Well it didn't stop there when my son got home he got scolded and it hasn't happened since. My thing is I was willing to address it and have my son make it right,but the teacher had the nerve to inform me it was out of line.

MJ, based on my 6 year teaching experience, you are not the normal parent.... If you were, we would not have the problems that we do.
I was with a teacher one day who was calling a parent to report that she suspected the student (who was 13 yrs old) was smoking pot.
The parent responded , "Yes, I believe he is experimenting with drugs." Can you imagine!

quote:

Originally posted by ZOO:
MJ, based on my 6 year teaching experience, you are not the normal parent.... If you were, we would not have the problems that we do.
I was with a teacher one day who was calling a parent to report that she suspected the student (who was 13 yrs old) was smoking pot.
The parent responded , "Yes, I believe he is experimenting with drugs." Can you imagine!

I would have had to hang the phone up and go to the school right then! He/she would be peeing in a cup right there.

"Yes, I believe he is experimenting with drugs."
Good Lordy! That must mean so is the parent to be that cool about it. I would be calm until the fact came out. If it was true I'd be screaming. Dragging him/her off to rehab and he/she would be on strict lockdown. To school and that's it.

I told mine want to be treated like a child then be a child. Behave,make good grades,care about people,get to go on trips,...
Want to be treated like a criminal then do stupid stuff. You will be pretty much on lockdown. No this and No that. It will be school and home period.

Mine are 14 yr.old boy,9 yr.old boy and 6 yr.
old girl.
Like I said they aren't perfect,but I do get alot of compliments on how well mannered they are. I try my best to make them understand how important their actions and reactions are. I express along with my husband how bad choices will follow them around. I have even tried to scare it into them by having them watch police shows,where they can see the only thing stupid gets them is alot of jail time.

Me and my husband was at school yesterday for a class trip. We were leaving and this woman was walking towards the door. I told him to close it and make her have to buzz herself in. Alot of parents just allow the person in and walk on. He tried to shut it,but she stuck her purse in there and got in. We stood there and watched to see if she was going to stop by the office which is mandatory and she didn't,nor did any of the office staff stop her. I'm just ranting to my husband about it. Our 2 children are in there!!! She could be a murderer or childnapper! I started to go back in there and question WHY nobody stopped her,but my husband didn't want there to be an issue between them and myself,because I was pretty mad about it.