We are on a one week break and I am heading out of dodge. This is the first year in a really long time when I just needed to be out of the building. It was unhealthy in so many ways. Headed to where the skies are blue, the ocean bluer and my mood NOT!
Woot!
I have a pile of essays to grade that my freshmen wrote about their own expectations with comparisons to the novel, Gre*t Exp*ctations. In a word…and there is just no good way to say this…they suck.
It’s been a hard year for me in that as an eighth grade English teacher, I was a writing teacher. I was told to leave that behind this year since there is an English teacher on our team and I am part of a humanities course. I am the literature teacher. Well, I am going to use that word to describe the English teacher. She sucks. I don’t throw that word around lightly. She was non renewed for next year.
So, here I am with a pile of essays that should be a cake walk to grade, but when the writing teacher barely had them write and the writing teacher who teaches literature was not allowed to focus on writing…well, it is what it is.
I am hoping for bigger and better things next year. Did I mention I will have an honors class? Woot and a half!
Just not here….
Coteacher still in denial.
Kids still lazy and not doing work even if I give an entire block to do it.
Some parents still don’t call when they see their kid is failing.
Special Ed still blows us off until the day before report cards and wants to know what the kid can make up.
Still counting the days until summer.
And finally, yes, still love what I do.
My teaching partner was told at the end of the day Friday that he would not be returning to our school next year. He emailed me today and told me he might not be in on Monday to start sending resumes and such out. He also apologized in advance for any inconveniences that lie ahead.
It’s going to be a rocky road to the middle of June.
Dear Parent,
I think it is wonderful that you finally caught up with the rest of us and got a computer, the internet and an email address. This has made our life so much easier in contacting you regarding your son’s progress or lack thereof.
I realize you were mortified when you sent me a M*ry K*y email. You apologized a million times and I told you it was no problem. Perhaps I should have clarified and told you that it was no problem and not to let it happen again. I am not really interested in passing on a chain letter of angels for good luck, I am not interested in visiting your M*ry K*y website, I am not interested in answering a meme, I am not interested in dirty jokes.
Honestly, I am your son’s teacher, I am not your friend. Much of the crap you sent was so 1992 and boring back then as well.
I know you must have other friends, with news that is better than your son is failing class. Please send that crap to them.
Thank you,
Mrs. Edjumacator
We have a student who is new this year. From day one, she has come to class without any books, writing utencils…nadda. I asked the guidance counselor to call home and schedule a meeting. I never heard from him. A month ago I emailed him and told him she was worse and the behavior was unacceptable. Had he called the parents? What does he say, “I suggest you do it.” EXCUSE me? You didn’t fucking do it when I asked? What the hell. So, I left messages with mom, and no surprise, no return calls.
Finally today I get a hold of dad and he wants a meeting. I tell him I will have guidance call to set it up. I tell the guidance counselor and he tells me there is a meeting Friday. I respond, “Place? Time?” He responds back, that it is a special ed evaluation meeting and teachers are not invited.
I saw stars.
Dear Guidance Counselor:
For one half of this year we have been trying to get dad or mom or whomever in to discuss student’s repeated truancy to school, behaviors (detentions and ISS time), and lack of academics. At the beginning of the year you said you would contact the parents and nothing happened. Then it was my turn and I finally got a hold of Dad this morning and spoke to him. He said he did want to come in and discuss the concerns I mentioned. This is the meeting we’ve been trying to get all year. I understand that there is an eval meeting, but we need to speak to Dad about the more pressing issues. Are you saying this is not going to happen and that teachers are not involved?
Signed,
Mrs. Edjumacator
I received an email that said I was now invited to that meeting. Screw that. I don’t want to go to special ed meeting, I want to talk to this parent about the behavior of his kid and ask why she has come to first period late EVERY SINGLE DAY. I saw the AP afterschool today and I got my meeting after the eval.
You have to speak loudly in order to get heard, apparently.
Jerks.
Sorry for the hiatus. A vacation tends to do that.
So, today we had a visitor from a high office in state government to talk to the ninth and tenth graders. I was so embarrassed by the behavior of the kids. It was one of those instances where I wanted to leave the auditorium and hide, but that would not have been fair to the other teachers who were trying to keep the peace too. To the teachers hanging out on the back wall watching it all go down…I don’t say this often (at least here anyway). Go fuck yourselves. Are you too good to step up? You’re the reason the behavior escalates. You’ve allowed it to happen so the kids think they can do it where ever and when ever they want. Shame on you - you’re an adult and should know better.
1. If you had to have your hands replaced with inanimate objects (in an “Edward Scissorhands” sort of way) what would you want them to be?
Probably spoons so I could still pick things up.
2. How do you deal with pain? Do you grin and bear it, or are you more of a Cry-Baby?
I am a wicked cry baby. Actually, first I am a loud swearer, then a wicked cry baby.
3. If you could have found your own personal Neverland as a child, what do you think that fantasy world would have been like?
Full of puppies!
4. What’s your favourite kind of chocolate?
Chocolate peanut butter truffles by Lindt.
5. Describe your last day from Hell.
The last day at my old school! Badumpbump!
Recent Comments