UGH!! What is wrong with children today??

[Mskanga]

Exactly what do you recommend a parent do?

Although be aware, if teachers want to give parenting advice, perhaps they should be open to receiving classroom advice as well.

Teach them from the beginning right from wrong , teach that there are consequences to their actions and follow through with them. More often than not I see where discipline is something that is only received in school because parents feel they cannot control little Johnny at home or Suzi at home, why? because they were never disciplined from day one and kids manipulate their parents. I'm not saying this is everyone's case but a big majority.
The problem starts with some parents not disciplining their kids when they are young , and I do not mean beating the crap out of them , as they get older they get worse.

 

[ZuZugal]

What does a person do?

A person (5th grade teacher, right?) checks for grammatical errors in her rant BEFORE pressing the enter key.

It sounds like this is a one-room school house with 2 teachers; the OP and her mother.

I'm feeling sorry for the boy at this point.

 

[disneyjunkie]

A person (5th grade teacher, right?) checks for grammatical errors in her rant BEFORE pressing the enter key.

It sounds like this is a one-room school house with 2 teachers; the OP and her mother.

I'm feeling sorry for the boy at this point.

 

[hentob]

I think it all depends on the age group you teach. I've taught 3rd-12th grades. Right now I'm PE/Art/Music. It's harder for me with the pre-k and kindergarten kids, because I'm not used to them. A lot of times with the older ones, the more you yell or whatever, the more defiant they are. If you lose your temper with the little ones, even if you just tell them they're too loud or whatever, they boo hoo all over the place. I didn't mean for that to sound like I'm heartless or whatever. It's just the way it is.

At recess Friday we had a 5th grader almost get into a fight with a 5th grade boy, throw a girl's purse at her, hit her in the head with a large ball, grab another 5th grader and throw him down, yell at his teacher and tell her to shut up, and then proceed to run up the hillside, announcing he was "going home." If any of us on duty had yelled at him, what do you think he would have done? Probably thrown a ball at us!! We had to calm him down before we could let him come back in the building.
.

The OP posted the above on another thread. I don't know if she is a regular teacher or an aide. Not many teachers are certified to teach phys ed., art, music, pre-k, kindergarten and 3rd thru 12th grades.

Whew! If she really is a teacher in all of these subjects, that is one heck of a certification!

 

[punkin]

Kids!
I don't know what's wrong with these kids today!
Kids!
Who can understand anything they say?
Kids!
They are disobedient, disrespectful oafs!
Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers!
While we're on the subject:
Kids!
You can talk and talk till your face is blue!
Kids!
But they still just do what they want to do!
Why can't they be like we were,
Perfect in every way?
What's the matter with kids today?


Circa 1960 from Bye Bye Birdie.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

[auntpolly]

The OP posted the above on another thread. I don't know if she is a regular teacher or an aide. Not many teachers are certified to teach phys ed., art, music, pre-k, kindergarten and 3rd thru 12th grades.

Whew! If she really is a teacher in all of these subjects, that is one heck of a certification!

Teachers who are certified in early childhood are also certified in HS -- not always the other way around. She's probably taken jobs that were available. In our area, you don't always get the grade you want, you need to get a job period.

 

[hentob]

Teachers who are certified in early childhood are also certified in HS -- not always the other way around. She's probably taken jobs that were available. In our area, you don't always get the grade you want, you need to get a job period.

Hmmm...I am certified in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. I can teach up to 8th grade only if it is a middle school (meaning it can't be a junior high school). I do recall having to take elementary music, phys. ed and art classes in college. I only took one (3 credits) of each.

I think you are right to a point Aunt Polly. In a smaller elementary school that had no art, music or phys. ed. teacher, I would be able to teach those classes within my room. However, I have no business on this earth teaching an art class, and PE isn't far behind on the list of Classes Hentob Should Never Teach

I can't teach in a high school, because I am not certified as a high school teacher. I don't see how holding an early childhood certification would entitle me to teach in any high school classroom (other than being a per diem substitute).

Maybe the OP is a substitute teacher?

 

[VSL]

Kids aren't changing, they way that we treat them and raise them is what's changing.

 

[ZuZugal]

The OP posted the above on another thread. I don't know if she is a regular teacher or an aide. Not many teachers are certified to teach phys ed., art, music, pre-k, kindergarten and 3rd thru 12th grades.

Whew! If she really is a teacher in all of these subjects, that is one heck of a certification!

Back to my one-room-schoolhouse theory!

 

[Buckalew11]

Seriously, you represent the bulk of parents today -- one big loud "My kid did something wrong but it certainly isn't my fault and it isn't his fault so it must be the teachers fault. "

He's misbehaving. Period. But to you, and alot of parents, that's the least of the problem. Kids who have parents with attitudes like this only get much worse. "Ask a stupid question get a stupid answer??" When the parents are saying stuff like this, whqat hope do teachers (or any of us in society) have?

"my authority"...yes, she, as the teacher, has authority.

 

[darrose]

Thats the problem for me, I have questions about the misbehaving part. It isnt crystal clear to me that all his actions were misbehaving.
For example, the breaking of the window with the soccer ball sounds like it could have happened to any of the children who were playing ball also.
Also, as far as we know the teacher still cant get hold of the parent.
How about perhaps a letter (approved first with her principal) sent through the mail, email, note sent home with the boy with an explantion that he has to turn the note back in signed, etc. instead of the phone to inform the mom whats happening in the school).

The second offense-(Did it do damage to the car?) Did it really occur or by now is he so used to getting yelled at and accepting blame when he is tattled on in this classroom? To me this, if he did it, is the most serious offense he commited. However, due to lack of supervisoon it would be hard to know the truth. Did he kick the ball on purpose AT the moms car or did he kick the ball and just his bad luck it hit the moms car? To me the first would require more punishment than the second one because of the intent.

 

[rie'smom]

Thats the problem for me, I have questions about the misbehaving part. It isnt crystal clear to me that all his actions were misbehaving.
For example, the breaking of the window with the soccer ball sounds like it could have happened to any of the children who were playing ball also.
Also, as far as we know the teacher still cant get hold of the parent.
How about perhaps a letter (approved first with her principal) sent through the mail, email, note sent home with the boy with an explantion that he has to turn the note back in signed, etc. instead of the phone to inform the mom whats happening in the school).

The second offense-(Did it do damage to the car?) Did it really occur or by now is he so used to getting yelled at and accepting blame when he is tattled on in this classroom? To me this, if he did it, is the most serious offense he commited. However, due to lack of supervisoon it would be hard to know the truth. Did he kick the ball on purpose AT the moms car or did he kick the ball and just his bad luck it hit the moms car? To me the first would require more punishment than the second one because of the intent.

I agree with the first part. As for the 2nd,did he purposely hit the car? If so,then he did wrong. Also,call the soccer coach because if this kid is that good at directing his kicks,he has found a niche. This might help with his self esteem.
It sounds to me like this woman has a bad case of burnout. It's time for summer.
In our area, a teacher is certified for K-8 or 9-12 unless they get dual certificates.

 

[auntpolly]

Hmmm...I am certified in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. I can teach up to 8th grade only if it is a middle school (meaning it can't be a junior high school).

This may be because you are in PA and it is known as the most strict states -- with laws and with your union.

In alot of states, a teacher's certificate will let you teach HS, and early ed is a specialty -- most of those teachers are certified to teach both.

 

[teacherforhi]

This may be because you are in PA and it is known as the most strict states -- with laws and with your union.

In alot of states, a teacher's certificate will let you teach HS, and early ed is a specialty -- most of those teachers are certified to teach both.

I can't think of any states near me that let anyone with a teacher's certificate teach high school. As a matter of fact, in NC, you have to be specifically certified for the particular subject area of high school...for example, I'm certified for English, grades 9-12. Early childhood is a completely different certification.

 

[Bojo]

Although I don't see what certification has to do with this thread, I will add that many special area teachers (art, music, PE) are certified to teach K - 12 in their area of expertise.

 

[auntpolly]

I can't think of any states near me that let anyone with a teacher's certificate teach high school. As a matter of fact, in NC, you have to be specifically certified for the particular subject area of high school...for example, I'm certified for English, grades 9-12. Early childhood is a completely different certification.

You know, I'm just going on the way things used to be when I was in school -- so much has changed, I guess. Alot of people I knew ended up teaching HS anything until they could find that perfect 2nd grade job they always wanted. I know in DD's HS there were teachers that taught things completely different than their area of study, but it was a private school -- maybe that's the difference.

 

[Cool-Beans]

This may be because you are in PA and it is known as the most strict states -- with laws and with your union.

In alot of states, a teacher's certificate will let you teach HS, and early ed is a specialty -- most of those teachers are certified to teach both.

In Ohio, unless it has changed recently, you have to major in whatever you want to teach in High School, and minor in Education.

IMHO, teachers who have good discipline have it and those that don't, don't. Some classrooms are out of control, some have a bunch of well-behaved kids.

 

[auntpolly]

In Ohio, unless it has changed recently, you have to major in whatever you want to teach in High School, and minor in Education.

IMHO, teachers who have good discipline have it and those that don't, don't. Some classrooms are out of control, some have a bunch of well-behaved kids.

Yes, you are probably right, as I said, things have probably changed, but as I also said, this wasn't the case in DD's private HS, so maybe the OP taught at a private school.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I think it is sad to hear a teacher talk about a child who may have no home support in such a negative way, without any compassion. At least that is how it is coming off to me. I mean, if I were his teacher and knew his home life may be lacking, I think I would try to reach out or at least cut him a little bit of slack.

(btw, there is no evidence that he has a poor home life, I am going with the fact that the teacher thinks so...so why her attitude?)

This is exactly what I wanted to say. Fine, I realize kids will be frustrating and that a teacher is only human and will need to vent, but why not do it in the teachers lounge or with a fellow teacher in the school. Or how about your friend, spouse, mother, father, sister....whomever, but come on....I have a problem with a teacher who feels the need or the right to vent about a student on a PUBLIC FORUM!!! I would have an absoulte fit if I found out my childs' teacher was badmouthing my child and me and my DH as parents on a discussion board, totally unprofessional in my book. Plus I just feel that if they if a teacher is so frustrated with a "minor" situation such as this, then how will they handle all of the situations that we know are bound to occur in the future as their career as a teacher? I guess what really kills me is that my kids have a wonderful home life, but guess what? They aren't perfect kids. Kids will be kids! Knock on wood because dangit I don't want to jinx it, I don't have problems with my DD in school. However, my DS-9 is somewhat of the class clown, likes to laugh, likes to make people laugh, is impulsive. Everytime he has a bad day in school, he had a BAD day at home. He knows about consequeces. But does he always learn his lesson? Nope!!! And I am certain part of the reason is because he is a child. He is 9 years old. Just because a child may get in trouble at school does NOT mean that there is not parental support at home. In fact, my friends are always coming down on me that I'm too hard on Matt about his punishments when he gets a note home from school. So please...do not assume that we choose not to parent. Okay....I feel better. I've been following this thread for awhild and decided I just had to get this off of my chest.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I hope we see this much anger the next time a parent comes here to VENT about a teacher.