TEACHERS Unite!!!

[ozarkmom]

I don't teach but my husband does and the parent mad because the child threw up reminded me of the time a child's parent was called because of head lice (this had been an ongoing problem with this child). The mother called and told the principal that she could bring her daughter home if she didn't want her at school. The principal said she couldn't do that and she needed to pick up her child. The mother calls back and says she's coming up there and kicking the principal's a**! The school had a cop waiting when she showed up. That's just crazy.

 

[kimmikayb]

Don't know if this is appropriate or not but just wanted to add....I think teachers do a great job..I could not do their job. I have had mostly wonderful teachers in my kids lifes. Pre K thru 7 so far. Sure there have been a couple who I feel were burnt out but mostly great people. Good job teachers!

 

[JoyG]

this is a little off subject but our school district went on strike as of midnight last night! My son just went back to school this past Wed. and they are already off again. Not sure how long it will last. How long do strikes normally last for teachers?

That happened in our district about 6 years ago. It was the beginning of the year and we went on strike. I think it lasted 3 school days...definitely shorter than a week. Teachers lost 2 days pay for every one day we were out.

But those things are impossible to predict.

 

[floridafam]

I'm sure there are some real horror stories out there about parents.

We have been very fortunate to have excellent teachers. Both of my kids were so happy with their teachers last year that they cheered when they found out both of them were "looping" and they would have them again this year.

I see parents going into the classroom almost every morning without asking. At our school, you are supposed to schedule a meeting with the teacher because their prep time if before school.

I see some of the kids run into school and they are cussing at eachother, screaming on the second day of school (even though they've spent the last 2 days learning the rules.)

There is no way I could be a teacher. A teacher at our school broke up a fight last year between two children and accidentally scratched one of them. Well, the parents wanted to sue for assault and called the police and the teacher had to apologize to the kids and got a letter of reprimand in her file. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

 

[Blondy876]

A teacher at our school broke up a fight last year between two children and accidentally scratched one of them. Well, the parents wanted to sue for assault and called the police and the teacher had to apologize to the kids and got a letter of reprimand in her file. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Yes, I can believe it. One of my students hit me with a table and caused a miscarriage and he was left in my classroom for the entire year and never repremanded. BTW he was 4.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You know you used "there" incorrectly, don't you? Not good for someone attempting self-righteous indignation!

Why anyone has a need to bash anyone else is beyond me. Uniting doesn't have to be about putting others down.

When you have to resort to correcting someone's grammar...you fail to prove anything.


An open invitation to _________-bash...I have never seen except on threads started by upset teachers. (IN fact one of these threads exist, but with the new limited search, I will never be able to find it).

I have had some EXCELLENT teachers in my life. I have also had some real interesting teachers that may have been not cut out for the profession.

I do have fond memories of most--no matter how tough they were.

My best memory: When a teacher in 2nd grade made sure my hair was brushed for school photos (I'm a victim of stringy hair so always looked disheveled despite my efforts that morning when my hair was brushed perfectly).

My worst memory: Make up picture day and I did exactly as instructed and when I showed up late to class I was chewed out for being tardy and lying about the instructions I was given.

It happens though.

But most of the postings I have seen on either side of anything are legitimate and do not start of with an invitation to bash.

My $.02. I teach my kids and in a homeschool co-op and know that often teachers don't respect me either.

 

[noodleknitter]

Sorry, I thought it was funny! I didn't say that nuke spelled principal wrong...

I loved most of my teachers too. I know that teachers often deal with psychotic parents. I am all for a positive teacher thread, and would happily tell of so many wonderful teachers I had and that I worked with in my years of mental health work. I believe that good teachers are the foundation of much of what is good and right in this world.

To begin a thread for bashing is not cool, however much I may agree with statements by bella, daxx and others. This is, of course, like every other post on this board an opinion.

You are too funny. I'll try to remember the ettiquette next time.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not always!!! When I taught upper level, I'd be lucky if I saw parents once a year at the annual parent-teacher conference! You'd be amazed how many parents drop their kids off at the door, don't come into school and avoid having to deal w/anything school related!

My mother was guilty of this.

She was also in the military and in the precocious years where parents should be more involved in students education--she was on duty quite a bit.

It made me very said she couldn't come in to volunteer. Made me very sad she was just too tired to attend non-required events b/c of her career. But without knowing all sides of the story...I don't think it is fair to lump it all in as they are "avoiding" anything. She still came to school presentations..even surprised me when I one some type of award in 2nd or 3rd grade.

 

[barkley]

when i was finishing the last of my student teaching one of the parents was a holy terror. she never approved of any of the teachers her dd had ever had and was constantly complaining to the teachers, the principal, the board of education. she was convinced her dd was 'gifted' and though the kid clearly did not meet the criteria the school let her take the academic test not once but twice-both times to moderate success. she would instruct the child which assignments were/were not worth 'her time' (the kids) to do-and instruct her to not to do some. she would take assignments and 'pull out' what she thought was of value and just have the child do those portions. constantly complaining that the 'inept teaching staff' was the reason her child was not succeeding-they were 'holding her back when she should be allowed to pursue/determine her own academic destiny' (she also thought whatever classroom her dd was in should have the curriculum/pace driven by her dd's individual ability "the other kids will just have to work to keep up"

the kicker was she was enrolled in a teaching program at the time and constantly pointed it out, saying her profs. had reviewed the assignments and concurred with her postion- when she became a teacher she would never....i was never so glad for a teaching placement to end. (oh and the dd was a little primadonna p.i.t.a. too-carbon copy of the mom).


flash forward 10 or 12 years and my dd goes to preschool-GUESS WHO THE DIRECTOR WAS????? yup, 'momma'-and she was the most disorganized, inept educator i've ever encountered (no lesson plans, no goals/expectations-it was a nightmare). she did'nt remember me (i was also going by my now married last name) BUT I REMEMBERED HER-but she knew i had a teaching background and would occasionaly vent about parents who don't understand what teachers go through-don't support the teachers/undermind their good works, how everyone assumes their child is gifted even when the are obviously NOT.....i listened for a time until i finaly could'nt resist one day-after she vented i said 'yeah i feel your pain, when i student taught at x school there was a parent who...". she was so supportive, agreeing the parent was a 'nightmare', 'arrogant', 'hope she decided not to go into teaching'....then she said 'wait, my dd attended x school-what year were you there?" i told her. "hm thats the same period dd was there-what classroom were you in?"-i told her, and then said 'but back then i was 'miss x'. she looked confused for a minute, then you could see the blood drain from her face as she realized who i was, and more importantly who the 'nightmare parent' (her words in the conversation not mine) was.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sorry, I thought it was funny! I didn't say that nuke spelled principal wrong...

I loved most of my teachers too. I know that teachers often deal with psychotic parents. I am all for a positive teacher thread, and would happily tell of so many wonderful teachers I had and that I worked with in my years of mental health work. I believe that good teachers are the foundation of much of what is good and right in this world.

To begin a thread for bashing is not cool, however much I may agree with statements by bella, daxx and others. This is, of course, like every other post on this board an opinion.

You are too funny. I'll try to remember the ettiquette next time.

Sorry...I misunderstood and thought it was one of those DIS tricks..when someone tinks you off...point out the errors in their post.

 

[disney junky]

This coming from someone who has for a long time had major issues with the teaching profession ... If someone starts a thread about something wrong with teachers, you can count on who-know-who to join in! Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...

I started a similar thread a while back..I was amused by all the things we had been called..guess who decided to post. I deleted the OP because of the turn the thread took because of you-know-who.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=957582&referrerid=93883&highlight=

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

this is a little off subject but our school district went on strike as of midnight last night! My son just went back to school this past Wed. and they are already off again. Not sure how long it will last. How long do strikes normally last for teachers?

When I went to school in New Orleans, the strike lasted for 3 weeks. They did have substitutes though. It negatively impacted my French class (the striking teacher taught painfully slow--so the 3 week strike just set us even further behind)....but most of my other classes I was okay. I don't think all of them went on strike--but the ones that did, the subs did a decent job of keeping us going and when the teachers came back--the ones that were dissatisfied with our progress (lesson plan not carried out fully)--then they just did it over with us in record time and we still met all our goals for the year.

This was when I was in high school though. Never had any other strikes in the other schools I attended in various states.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I can't stand it anymore. So I'm starting a forum for teachers. I'm getting tired of the "teacher-bashing" on the DIS. Here's a forum for teachers to share there "parent-bashing" stories.
There are always TWO sides to every story!

Teachers, unite!!!!!

Oh, well isn't that lovely of you. I'm sure this thread will stay so civil and kind.....after all that is your intent. I don't think too highly of ANYONE in a profession that would come on the DIS and invite "bashing" of the very people that keep them in a JOB!

This would be like Doctors share your "patient-bashing" stories.

UGH....my last post on this thread. You guys have fun with your "bashing".

 

[ilovepooh]

...i listened for a time until i finaly could'nt resist one day-after she vented i said 'yeah i feel your pain, when i student taught at x school there was a parent who...". she was so supportive, agreeing the parent was a 'nightmare', 'arrogant', 'hope she decided not to go into teaching'....then she said 'wait, my dd attended x school-what year were you there?" i told her. "hm thats the same period dd was there-what classroom were you in?"-i told her, and then said 'but back then i was 'miss x'. she looked confused for a minute, then you could see the blood drain from her face as she realized who i was, and more importantly who the 'nightmare parent' (her words in the conversation not mine) was.

What did she say to you? Did she apologize or just change the subject? I would've loved to see that conversation take place!

 

[Evil Queen]

I personally think teachers rock. I am not one, but was raised by parents who were teachers.

Also, my brother and sister are teachers.

Yes, my kids have had teachers I've had issues with and have told them, and posted about it, but I feel they were legit reasons.

But, I normally defend teachers 90% of the time more than I do my own kids. Why? Kids get even little bits of information wrong or can't communicate it all that well. If it's something I think is a concern, I'll go to the teacher with it, believe me I'm not shy.

I know teachers are overworked, underpaid, put in dangerous situations (not only from kids, but parents), pay for items out of their own pockets so kids DON'T miss out on learning, are counselors, Dr's/nurses, babysitters........ **this list could go on and on**

Thanks to ALL the teachers out there, even the one's some may think aren't cut out for teaching-for I believe-at least when they started-they were doing something they loved.

 

[barkley]

What did she say to you? Did she apologize or just change the subject? I would've loved to see that conversation take place!

she excused herself and went to the bathroom, i left after about 10 minutes (she still had'nt come out). she never said anything about it to me, but she got sickningly sweet with me (went out of the way to greet me, ask how i was, talk about very 'fluff' stuff-never vented to me again ).

she and her dd (who ended up being a ta at the place-because no other place would keep her on after dealing with her and 'momma' who was still intervening on her behalf despite her being a married woman with 4 kids at then age 21) ended up both being canned about 3 months later when the school finaly responded to the parent complaints (not mine) as well as the staff she supervised (her dd did'nt like to pay for childcare so she'd run and get her kids from the sitter in the afternoons, bring them in and totaly throw off the legal staff-child ratios, they were reprimanded and agreed not to do it again-but the principal decided to pop into the classrom one afternoon when she saw the state inspector drive up for an unannounced visit-they found 'momma', all 4 grandkids plus all the kids that were supposed to be there, one clearly overtaxed t.a., and the dd nowhere in sight (she was still clocked in)-she came walking in a half hour later with bags of mickey d for her kids, herself and 'momma'). can you say 'immediate termination'? they promoted up one of the head teachers and she was awsome-managed to get the whole place on track in a matter of weeks.

last i heard she and dd were operating an unlic. daycare out of her home because they did'nt want to be 'constrained by beaurocratic idiocy'.

 

[m&m's mom]

Vent away! Goodness knows teachers have a right.
I would say there were 10 bad parents for each "bad" teacher. You can get an idea of that from posts on this board.
There is always going to be people who are rude to people who just need to get a perspective. Best to ignore them.
I am sorry some people on this thread have not been supporative on the great job 95% of teachers do.
I look for ways to support and help teachers any way I can.
It is no different than nurses. They get beat up too.
BTW, I am neither a teacher or a nurse. Just a Mom to 2 girls being educated in part by great teachers.

 

[Kitty 34]

Not always!!! When I taught upper level, I'd be lucky if I saw parents once a year at the annual parent-teacher conference! You'd be amazed how many parents drop their kids off at the door, don't come into school and avoid having to deal w/anything school related!

.....but boy are they there in a heartbeat when little Johnny gets an unfair grade or something.

 

[ilovepooh]

This would be like Doctors share your "patient-bashing" stories.

A friend of mine who is also a teacher has a husband who is a doctor. He shares a lot of patient stories with her and then she tells them to us. (Of course there are no names mentioned.) You wouldn't believe some of things that people do!!!!

 

[mickeysgal]

I would say there were 10 bad parents for each "bad" teacher. You can get an idea of that from posts on this board.

Uh-oh .