Teachers how about a PARENT Rant

[C.Ann]

Because I teach kindergarteners, I keep spare clean clothes for "accidents". I have yet to get back the clothes I sent home on 4 kids this year. A couple of weeks ago, one of the girls was wearing the sweat pants I sent her home in. Mom drives a Hummer.

pinnie

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At DGD's school they use a permanent marker and write the name of the school right down the pant leg..

 

[Pin Wizard]

When DS has a teacher who is wonderful and does their job as it should be done, I praise them a zillion percent and don't hesitate menitoning it to others. When he gets a teacher like he has this year, I'll complain away since it's deserved.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Because I teach kindergarteners, I keep spare clean clothes for "accidents". I have yet to get back the clothes I sent home on 4 kids this year. A couple of weeks ago, one of the girls was wearing the sweat pants I sent her home in. Mom drives a Hummer.

pinnie

That's just pathetic.

 

[Cindy B]

I was working with special education 7th graders a few years ago. One kid actually got angry with me when I was encouraging him to work.

He said to me "Hey, you know I have ADD. " I then replied that others manage well, and cope and do outstanding things. His reply "Well, I'll just get on disability and stay home all day so why should I go to school.. I'm quitting at 16 and get SSI and watch TV"

I have a few students in high school that are 21. Yes, 21. Some parents don't want them in the "real world" so they keep them back one-two years while in high school. I'm still new to this situation so I really don't understand why these adults are still in high school at 21. You know what happens when you have a 21 year old high school student, don't you?


Granted I'm new to high school so I don't know the exact circumstances. But guess how many kids are hitting up these now 21 year old students to "hook them up" at the liquor store? I still can't imagine being 21 and still in high school. At 21, I was married and owned a house!

 

[challada]

My big rant...parents who are too doped up to care about their kid. In middle school, I see parents that spend their entire day HIGH and expect us at school to parent their child. I have one student that has openly discussed the meth lab at home, the drug force has contacted me about the meth lab at home, etc....but the authorities (police and social workers) tell me that since those parents aren't SELLING, there is nothing they can do! So as long as you consume everything you make, it's A-OKAY around here!

This is pretty typical for our area, once students are of middle school age, unless they are DEAD, they won't be removed from the home for ANYTHING.

I've also done preschool and seen the same thing...parents who come in for IEPs doped up, cursing into their cell phones (in front of 3 year old Johnny), driving expensive sports cars and telling me how they are too poor to buy a backpack to send to preschool w/little Johnny!

 

[Disney_1derland]

People do this??

I can vouch for that.

We were at a store last week and the cashier (mother) was standing there having a screaming argument with 15 or so year old son about staying home to babysit tomorrow so she could get to work. Son yells back that he is in danger of failing because he has too many absences to take care of her kids. He's screaming, I didn't get you knocked up so why the heck should I have to take care of your screaming brats??? I'm not doing it. I'll never go to college if I fail 10th grade and one more absence and I'm done.

It was awful. Poor kid.

 

[mom2boys]

I am such a bad parent.....once my daughter just REFUSED to do her homework after I asked her to do it 5 times, I gave up and the next morning she wanted to rush and I would not let her do her homework , I took her to school that day and told the teacher what happened and to give her recess detention so she could do her homework. Never again she has refused to do it.

That's called natural consequences. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Mskanga]

In our schools parents are supposed to bring an extra set of clothes for each student in kindergarten and first grade in the event of an accident that could be either pee or falling in the mud when they play outside, those clothes stay in a ziploc bag with the child's name on it for the entire year. I always gave them something that dd did not wear at home or didn't like because it was just for an emergency.
I personally saw one parent ( that I also know outside of school ) scream to the top of her lungs at the teacher because little Johnny said that the teacher told him if he didn't read books , he would not pass second grade. This woman was FLIPPIN because how dare you say that to my baby? You are just saying that because he's XXXXX ( insert ethnicity here ) and you want to steriotype him, you do that and I am going to beat the **** out of you *****, ALL INFRONT OF THE KIDS , right before they went into class!!!!!! I flew to get the principal who luckily was close by , I honestly thought this woman was going to hurt the teacher.
This woman got a warning , another event like this happens and she will get banned from the school , which means little Johnny will have to go to another school.
If my child comes home and tells me the same thing this kid said to the mother , I will stand by the teacher , even if I know she can read like a genius I will never blame a teacher for encouraging kids to read or do something that is beneficial for them.

 

[Stacerita]

As unbelievable as some of these stories are, can't say they dont surprise me. I see it everytime I go to the sweetpea's school. What really bothers me is how inappropraite some kids are dressed for school. And there is a dress code. Mini skirts, tube tops and hooker boots are not cute on anyone let alone a 10 year old. Thats what one girl wore to a field trip I went on with the sweetpea's class. She also had acrylic nails and more makeup than I did that day. I just couldn't believe it. What parent thinks that is alright?

 

[lilostitch]

I also appreciate parents who come to me with a problem, instead of running to the principal first.

I am an elementary counselor and have worked in both inner city and surburban schools. I can't tell you how many parental complaints I get about teachers, but the parent hasn't bothered to contact the teacher to discuss the situation first.

In these situations, I usually listen to the parent's issues then set up a conference with teacher, myself, and parent. I'd say 95% of the time, the problem is a break-down in communication- a misunderstanding of what was said or events that did/didn't happen. Many times children report what they think happened or what they think was said, but it isn't the whole story or it is taken out of context.

My #1 priority is what is in the student's best interest. I think in the 4 schools I've worked in, I've seen only a handful of teachers I wished would retire or get out of the profession. The majority of teachers are fantastic and teach because they love the children and enjoy teaching. It's probably sheer numbers, but I've seen more than a truckload of parents doing a bad job that I look at and wish they had never procreated.

 

[Mskanga]

I am an elementary counselor and have worked in both inner city and surburban schools. I can't tell you how many parental complaints I get about teachers, but the parent hasn't bothered to contact the teacher to discuss the situation first.
.

This reminds me in September when my dd broke her collarbone , I called the school and asked the teacher if it would be ok to bring dd to school as the second period starts ( first period was TASC and she didn't miss much from that because she was in band at that time ) , and I was only asking that for 2-3 days and because she was having a very hard time sleeping in the recliner because she couldn't sleep in bed , so I wanted to let her sleep just a bit longer in the morning. They made me make an appointment with the counselor to see if they could give me permission!!!!!
I told them that I was trying to miss as less as possible school days and if they didn't allow me to do this , I would have my doctor take her out of school for a week , without having to meet with the counselor they agreed that what I was trying to do was better and they allowed dd to start her school day at second period time ( 8:50 am ) until she felt better , I did it for a week and after that she was fine. They knew that she was barely passing classes but after she started feeling better she picked up and still made the honor roll for the first marking period , she blew all the teachers away!

 

[lilostitch]

This reminds me in September when my dd broke her collarbone , I called the school and asked the teacher if it would be ok to bring dd to school as the second period starts ( first period was TASC and she didn't miss much from that because she was in band at that time ) , and I was only asking that for 2-3 days and because she was having a very hard time sleeping in the recliner because she couldn't sleep in bed , so I wanted to let her sleep just a bit longer in the morning. They made me make an appointment with the counselor to see if they could give me permission!!!!!
I told them that I was trying to miss as less as possible school days and if they didn't allow me to do this , I would have my doctor take her out of school for a week , without having to meet with the counselor they agreed that what I was trying to do was better and they allowed dd to start her school day at second period time ( 8:50 am ) until she felt better , I did it for a week and after that she was fine. They knew that she was barely passing classes but after she started feeling better she picked up and still made the honor roll for the first marking period , she blew all the teachers away!

That is weird. Is this middle school? Well, anyway, yea for your DD and the honor roll

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Wow I posted this last night and expected maybe 20 replies! I am sick of hearing all the teacher bashing. YES some are deserving of it but do you ever see a ...Let's all praise our favorite teacher thread?? I never have. I guess I feel sometime like I am a slave. There are so many good points brought out on here and most of which I would have written myself but it is good to know that we are all in the same boat. As I said in my original post if all you parents out there think it is soooooooo easy to teach then do it!! After all, we only have what is it...oh yes a masters and tons of additional professional development.

Complaining parents...STEP UP TO THE Plate...the time is coming when YOU might be getting a report card and I do not think you want all F's.

 

[Nancy]

Wow I posted this last night and expected maybe 20 replies! I am sick of hearing all the teacher bashing. YES some are deserving of it but do you ever see a ...Let's all praise our favorite teacher thread?? I never have. I guess I feel sometime like I am a slave. There are so many good points brought out on here and most of which I would have written myself but it is good to know that we are all in the same boat. As I said in my original post if all you parents out there think it is soooooooo easy to teach then do it!! After all, we only have what is it...oh yes a masters and tons of additional professional development.

Complaining parents...STEP UP TO THE Plate...the time is coming when YOU might be getting a report card and I do not think you want all F's.

No thanks...I don't want to be a teacher! You guys have it rough some times. I think some of us older parents remember what it was like back in the old days. We forget all the issues and baggage that comes into school with the kids now. When I was in school only one of my friends had parents who were divorced. All the Mom's pretty much stayed home or only worked part time. We didn't have room parents, we for some strange reason just did what we were told, when we were told to do it...and we never would have dreamed to disobey a teacher...that was worse than disobeying your parent, because you would get sent to the prinicpals office. Going to the principals office was like a death sentance. By the time I got into jr and sr highschool things had started to change.

 

[Marseeya]

Wow I posted this last night and expected maybe 20 replies! I am sick of hearing all the teacher bashing. YES some are deserving of it but do you ever see a ...Let's all praise our favorite teacher thread?? I never have. I guess I feel sometime like I am a slave. There are so many good points brought out on here and most of which I would have written myself but it is good to know that we are all in the same boat. As I said in my original post if all you parents out there think it is soooooooo easy to teach then do it!! After all, we only have what is it...oh yes a masters and tons of additional professional development.

Complaining parents...STEP UP TO THE Plate...the time is coming when YOU might be getting a report card and I do not think you want all F's.

There was a praise teacher thread, but sadly it only got 5-6 posts.

I have stepped up to the plate. I got so sick of my son's burnt out, sub-par teachers that I decided to do something about it and get my own teaching degree.

 

[dkrause716]

I once had a little boy in 1st grade who had major problems at home. Mom was either a drug addict or an alcoholic and would keep him home to take care of her! Of course the counselor was involved. This little guy was such a sweetie pie, I wanted to take hime home. He was low academically but when he was in school, he worked so hard! He would come without lunch,not dressed for the weather (no coat, socks) or he'd be dressed in clothes that were way to big for him or dirty. (As in caked with mud!)
His sneakers stank to high heaven because he never wore socks! I finally went out and bought him clothes, sneakers and socks. The nurse gave him the things anonymously. He was very protective of his mother so we had to be careful how we handled things. I left that school a couple of years ago but have since heard that the kids were taken and put in foster care. So sad!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I once had a little boy in 1st grade who had major problems at home. Mom was either a drug addict or an alcoholic and would keep him home to take care of her! Of course the counselor was involved. This little guy was such a sweetie pie, I wanted to take hime home. He was low academically but when he was in school, he worked so hard! He would come without lunch,not dressed for the weather (no coat, socks) or he'd be dressed in clothes that were way to big for him or dirty. (As in caked with mud!)
His sneakers stank to high heaven because he never wore socks! I finally went out and bought him clothes, sneakers and socks. The nurse gave him the things anonymously. He was very protective of his mother so we had to be careful how we handled things. I left that school a couple of years ago but have since heard that the kids were taken and put in foster care. So sad!

Sadly that is getting to be par for the course. I had a boy who came from another city. A friend of mine had him in her classroom and told us he was a behavior problem AND that he wore the same clothes every day until she brought in some of her son's cast offs (which really amounted to things worn once or twice). When he came to our school after he had been removed from the drunken, drug addict, mother he began to misbehave. I took him aside and told him he was smart and he had two choices 1)he could be a trouble maker and get a bad rep or 2) he could be known as the smart kid! He chose the smart kid and boy was he ever. I would love to tell you that there was a happy ending but sadly the child was put back with his mother.

 

[MrsPete]

Since I teach high school, I'll throw out a few more that have not been discussed . . . most of my kids arrive with lunch money, clean clothes, etc. . . . but they have their own unique set of problems -- mainly that MANY parents assume that once their kids hit high school (and especially once they're old enough to drive) that the kids no longer need parenting . . .

I can't believe that three parents (I teach 95 students) attend Back-to-School night, but on the day after report cards come out, loads of them call and complain that their child's grade couldn't possibly be right.

I can't believe parents who don't realize their student missed 19 days of school during the first 9-weeks. (We have an automated system that calls and leaves a message every time the student's absent.)

I can't believe parents allow their teens to work past 10:00 at night because they "need" to pay for a car. I can't believe parents allow their teens to work TWO part-time jobs (to get around laws which prevent teens from working too many hours at one part-time job).

I can't believe all the kids who "don't have time" to do their homework, yet they work 3-5 days per week.

I can't believe kids who "can't afford" to pay the school fees, yet they come into class carrying a Bojangles or Chic-fillet breakfast bag every single morning.

I can't believe parents "can't make" their kids come to school every day. (Despite the fact that these kids are living in their parents' houses, driving cars owned by their parents, etc., etc., etc.)

I can't believe parents ask me about admission to very competative colleges for their students who've barely scraped by with Cs and Ds. And the same parents say that community college is "beneath" their child's abilities.

I can't believe the kids and parents who say/do nothing when they see an F on the first grading period report card . . . who say/do nothing when they see an F on the second grading period report card . . . who say/do nothing when they see an F on the third grading period report card . . . then literally the week before graduation want to know, "What does Johnny have to do to pass your class?"

I can't believe kids and parents who say, "But I have to pass your class -- I've already mailed out my graduation invitations!"

 

[Sonya]

Since I teach high school, I'll throw out a few more that have not been discussed . . . most of my kids arrive with lunch money, clean clothes, etc. . . . but they have their own unique set of problems -- mainly that MANY parents assume that once their kids hit high school (and especially once they're old enough to drive) that the kids no longer need parenting . . .

What she said! Esp. about the job and no homework. I'm so sick of it!

 

[dkrause716]

I feel your pain. Many parents just don't take the time to notice what is going on with their kids. And why does everyone have to get a car as soon as they turn 16? I didn't have a car until my senior year in college!