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A relevant quote now the parent conferences are over for the term. #teacher #teachersfollowteachers #iteachtoo #teachersofinstagram #teacherproblems#quote #education #funny

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me, in staff meetings

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Ever had a really good principal?

Share, if so.  Otherwise, they’re just as real as a unicorn wearing boxer shorts.

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HIGHer Education

When I began teaching alternative education ten years ago, the biggest drug-related concern was that a kid would have a nickel bag on them or that some would come in so visibly high that you had to ��handle it” instead of letting them sit quietly to finish their work.

Now I have to worry whether the student’s odd behavior is pill or meth related.  I have to wonder if campus security is on the way to remove the kid who is seeing dancing unicorns on his desk.  As an alternative teacher in 2015 I cringe each time a kid whips art supplies across the room because he/she is fiending for a cigarette/joint/next buzz.

Before anyone gets their pantaloons in a bunch, I’m not about to blame marijuana as a gateway drug.  There’s not one single thing that has led to the drug-induced idiocracy today’s generation is comfortable with. Technology has made it okay to shorthand our language into words like ‘bae’, until it is no longer recognizable.  Even the poor farmer in 1776 could read at a higher level than today’s teens, despite their lack of technology and global information.  The depletion of funding to mental health programs has made it nearly impossible for schools to get help for their students who may be dangerous.

In some schools, they call the police on a kid for building a clock but, if you work in an under-privileged school, you call the police on a student making threats while high on meth and they say, “Well, we’ve asked him to go home.  He’s high right now so we don’t see the point in trying to talk to him further.”

I wish I was making that last quote up, but it happened.

Not all but many parents perpetuate the drug culture to their children to the point that many students have trouble believing that their teachers don’t spend their weekends throwing massive parties.  Many homes have more bongs than books and very little mutual respect.  

Sometimes we can say, “I’m going to call your mom��� and the student will beg that you don’t and will do what has been asked of them.  Other times, they will say, “Go ahead.  Call that bitch.  Tell her to bring me food.”

At this point in my career, I’m aiming to return to the South.  The pay isn’t the best but the benefits are better, there’s more job security for good teachers, and they’re a little behind Portland, Oregon when it comes to drugs.  Ten years ago I was young enough and patient enough to handle the city’s drug culture but, at this point, I want to work with students who want more for themselves and I am not afraid to admit that.

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A Letter to the Parent of a Sick Student

Dear Parent, While I sit here on my couch, coughing up a lung and wishing I felt well enough to take that weekend trip I had to cancel, you are wherever you are with your freshly done nails and hair.  You see, your son was in my school the past two weeks, coughing and running his snotty hands all over everything.  He told us you were not going to keep him home because you were too busy but I heard you telling one of the interns that you had used your days off this week to pamper yourself.

I am more than aware of how irritating your child can be but you contributed to a massive spread of a nasty virus and I’m more disgusted with you, now, than I was before and that’s saying a LOT.  Numerous staff members had to give up plans for the weekend because they were struck by the virus your son brought into this school.  Many students fell ill and missed school because of it.  However, all that matters is that you’re looking fresh.  

Furthermore, I know it was you because he notified us he caught something but you had said he couldn’t stay home.  You forced your sick child to go to school. Thank you for that.  I appreciate it as much as you’re going to appreciate the ‘parents only’ homework assignment I’ve decided to make just for you.  Enjoy that comma worksheet.

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Supporting Science Through Art

My students will be creating works of art to raise money for science camp via an art auction. Please help us raise money for their art supplies.

http://www.gofundme.com/6eg8594fk

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The classroom is ready for summer school.

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Bookworm by khaedin

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so sick of waking up and going to hell everyday

(via studentquote)

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How I’m envisioning my summer break

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Fault is a funny thing in a school. Teachers are found at fault more than anyone realizes. The news makes a huge scene of teachers who err at their jobs and the politicians are quick to blame the teachers for test score failure in which numerous people play a contributing factor.

Parents,...

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Fault, No-Fault, Your Fault

Fault is a funny thing in a school.  Teachers are found at fault more than anyone realizes.  The news makes a huge scene of teachers who err at their jobs and the politicians are quick to blame the teachers for test score failure in which numerous people play a contributing factor.

Parents, teachers, paraeducators, administrators, community officers, and politicians all contribute to the failing schools and test scores.  However, do you know who else contributes to the failure of our students?  

Our students.

Teachers are frequently told by their students that nothing is their fault.  For example, it’s not Andre’s fault he punched another student because “no one was doing anything about him, so I had to” or Shaka’s blaming her coach for her failing grades because, “practice is so time consuming.”

I currently work with a class of students that breaks the mold for inactivity.  To hear them talk, the world had destroyed them before it could be their oyster. Quite literally, nothing is their fault.  They blame their bosses for their write-ups at Burger King and their ex for that fight they started last year.  Most recently, a handful of them are blaming me for their inability to pass a writing sample. Honestly, I don’t know if they could complete a passing writing sample because none of them has moved past the first paragraph.  They talk, play on their phones, leave for bathroom breaks or to call home or just, otherwise, spend 45 minutes trying NOT to work.  When you point this out they say, “I’m alternative ed. I don’t have to do real schoolwork.”  

Meanwhile, my other classes are moving forward on their writing and asking things like, “May I put a dream within a dream in my narrative?” and “May I put more statistics in this fourth paragraph?”  

Any other time, I would stop and ask myself what I am doing wrong but, I know, this last quarter is the most solid writing unit I have ever created.  Every other class has excelled greatly and, I realize, the difference between them and this one inactive class, is the victim mentality.  All of my students come from some kind of setback or struggle but this one specific class is older and committed to playing the victim.  

Sometimes, we have to accept that something may not be the teacher’s fault.  That’s a hard pill for many parents and guardians to swallow but I recommend it.  It may be hard to believe, but your kid might just be an asshole.  It’s possible he/she learned it by watching you.

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Friday: lectured a student about the safety issues regarding sagging his pants.  He rolled his eyes.

Monday: student came in scraped up because his pants got caught up when he lost control of his bike.

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#teacherproblems

#TeachingLife @textgramofficial

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#teacherlife

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when my least favourite student graduates