December. . . finally and an article

Yeah, I haven't been keeping up with this blog all that often, not due to lack of time, but more due to there hasn't been anything worth writing about. I'm dealing with the same crap that I've been dealing with for the past 2 years and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

It is finally December, which means that in 2 weeks, I've got a 2 week break. Doesn't seem like much, but there is something that needs to come of it. I need an unwind period. I'm ready to be away from these students and their complaining. I've noticed that the more they complain, the more I don't want to be here anymore.

I was sent this article recently and it hit home pretty well (to read the full article, click HERE). In it, the author talks about how he wouldn't tell young people to become teachers. And I somewhat agree with him; however I would ask the person why they feel they want to be a teacher. I was recently asked to go back to my University and talk to some incoming sophomores in the program I graduated from and talk to them. Yeah, I don't think it was the talk they were hoping for, but some of the students were thankful to me for giving them the truth (or at least the truth as I see it).

Teachers will soon have their paid tied to student performance (in some states it's already happening). What will happen? Students will figure that out and get rid of the teachers they don't like because they are "hard" by not performing well on tests. Will that reflect what is actually going on in the classroom? Not really, just that the students don't want to work and the teacher will suffer for it.

Tenure used to mean that there was some job security. Now, it just means that a teacher has taught for more than 3 years and the school hasn't let them go. Does it mean that they are good teachers? Maybe, maybe not; but it no longer means that they can't get fired. It just means that they can fight it.

Many states are moving away from teacher "contracts"; which ultimately means that we are moving towards 'at-will' employment. Double edged sword in my opinion. One side, it will be easier for schools to get rid of the teachers that--after lengthy and careful consideration--aren't working in the classroom, but on the flip side; it means that those who actually hold the students accountable for their actions and their learning are ousted because they won't bend to the will of the parents (I've seen it happen).

For most, they believe in the ideals that they will be able to help students and love "helping kids achieve their potential". Yeah, because there is NO way that you're in it for the money. The reality behind it is that while you may want to help students, they know that you really can't do anything to them (other than give them a grade); you can't discipline them. You really can't and they know it. So, like the author of the article states, why should their behavior change. I've seen this. They don't care about the grade or how they act because they know there is nothing that the Teacher can do about it.

This next generation is going to be one of the laziest that I've seen in a long time. They don't understand what it takes to actually get the job done and get it done well.

What am I getting at with this rambling post? Most new teachers leave within 5 years of starting teaching because they don't see it getting any better and many work 40+ hours and are paid pennies in comparison. There is a reason why they don't want us actually logging our hours. They would see exactly how much time teachers take to prepare lessons, grade assignments, take required classes due to changing rules, prepare tests, and use their own money to keep their classrooms with the basic needs and still get berated for not doing enough.

Yeah, I'm one of those who don't know how much longer I want to continue with all of this.

1 Week down. . . .is it break yet?

It has only been 3 days worth of actual school days and I'm ready to quit. Half the computers aren't working--at least not consistently; the kids aren't wanting to do what is necessary; I'm not happy with the numbers that I have in my classes; etc, etc, etc.

The new classes I have are kicking me. What am I supposed to do with oversized classes and not enough equipment to keep all of them on task and ready to go? I asked the counselors and the principal to downsize my classes (like we agreed to at the end of last year) and they said they could if I would get  parental permission to drop them. Umm, no? If their student gets dropped from a class, they get dropped. You don't always get the classes you want and I believe that the teacher should have some say in what is going on in their classrooms. If there is a student that is being completely disruptive, they should be taken out of the class or at least give the teacher the option of doing something about it.

The other issue is Parents. Parents are driving me nuts already. I had one drop by and tell me that her son had to be in my Broadcasting class because he was going to be the next Anderson Cooper or Brian Williams and that he needed to be in front of the camera constantly, not behind it. I just sat there and when she was done I calmly told her that everyone will have time both in front of the camera and behind it. That no one person will constantly be in front and that they will be in charge of the different departments.

There are other issues going on within the Faculty (I'm ready to strangle a couple of the teachers--not that I would, but just the feeling that they need a swift kick) and I come home more frustrated and ready to just cry and crawl into a hole.

Frustration Abounds and starting a new school year

Another school year has started. Well, technically it starts tomorrow, but I'm not looking forward to it. Actually, I haven't been looking forward to this year at all. We're starting a new program at the school (which I was excited about at the end of last year) but now that we've run into so many problems, I'm having second thoughts about it.

What's happening is driving me nuts. I have a Window's lab and it is rather old. At the district we're at a 5-6 year cycle with our computers. Mine are about 7-8 years or older. We've been using XP as our OS since I took over the position and it works great with different users and programs. Well, last Friday we were back in our classrooms for the first time and a tech guy from the district came in and said that XP was no longer going to be supported so the district decided to change all XP machines. That day. Yes, 3 days before school was supposed to start. So since they didn't buy new machines for me, the ONLY upgrade (and I hesitate to call it that) was to  . . . . . . . Vista. YUCK! This isn't an upgrade at all.

So after 2 days of him working on it, half the lab still isn't finished and the half that is, doesn't work. Then they re-imaged my teacher computer and it doesn't connect to the network or the printers and half the software doesn't work.

So not happy at all. Frustrated at everything. We'll see how the first day tomorrow goes.

Teaching vs. Test Scores

Teaching is changing. Has been for a while, but it's beginning to be very noticeable; at least to me lately. Maybe I'm late on the bandwagon or it is starting to affect CTE now too, but it's changing. It reminds me of what Galadriel says at the very beginning of the movie Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings:

The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air.

The students notice it more than anything. Many students know that they don't really have to try too hard and they can move forward with the rest of their peers. They know that all they have to do to completely derail a teacher's career is to say something (whether true or not) and that teacher is automatically put under suspicion (has happened to me already). But I was sent this graphic the other day:

The resulting conversation was interesting. Apparently it got a few people to actually think, but I doubt that parents will end up believing it. Most don't want to believe that their student could do no wrong. "It's the tests fault. . .", "It's the teacher's fault. . .", "It's my neighbor's fault. . ." that they aren't passing tests.

As a teacher, I am not with students 24/7, so I can't tell them constantly to study and get ready. I have about 45 minutes a day with them (90 minutes on extended days) and then I can only remind them during that time.

Teacher's pay is beginning to be attached to those test scores. Teachers will no longer be teaching things; they'll only be teaching students how to pass a test. Nothing more. 

I was asked just a bit ago to go speak to a few 1st years in the program that I graduated from. So I went. When I was asked if I would do it again--go through with a teaching license--I said "To a point." Another student asked "What would you tell someone that was thinking about becoming a teacher?"

"First, I would ask them why they are thinking about it? It can't be for money," this got a chuckle. "I would tell them run. Run the other direction. Run away from the Education path as quickly as they could." The room was silent. "If you want to become a teacher to teach, you're not going to be able to. You won't be teaching what you want to teach; what you think the students should know. You'll be teaching them how to beat a test. You'll teach them that because your pay, your salary, will depend on how well they do."

Sad, isn't it?

Spring Break

The few days before Spring Break, my students get completely crazy. They don't want to be here. I don't want to be here, but yet we both have to be here, so I usually try to make this week easy. We had an early out day in the middle of the week, plus an activity day today, so it wasn't that bad.

However, I have so many students who aren't in class. I received an email from a parent today asking "Since it's an activity day schedule, you aren't really doing any real class work, are you?" How do you reply to that in a nice way? Took me a while, but I was able to compose a reply. Wasn't exactly what I wanted to say, but it was something that I know won't get me in trouble (which at this point I'm trying to avoid at all costs).

With Spring Break comes a time for me to figure out if this education thing is something I really want to continue or if I should figure out something else to do. I see the future of education going down the tube and I don't want to be sucked down with it. There are changes happening here in my district that I don't agree with what-so-ever. Most have to deal with how I am to be paid in the future. It's alright for those teachers who have tenure and are somewhat "secure" in their jobs. But what I don't think people understand is what happens to those teachers who are just starting off. You're going to get more and more turn over because after 1 year of this, most newbies will probably say "bag it" and move on to something else. I wish I had that option right now but I'm not sure what else I could do. I've been told by many people to just stick with it, get my masters and then apply for a University or College position teaching at that level. Sure, possible but that means more education and more not agreeing with what is happening and having no real way to stop it.

I guess that is what this next week is for.

Guest Presenters

I like have guest presenters come into my classroom. It gives the kids someone else to listen to. Something of a different pace than having to listen to me all the time.

Now, usually the guest presenters that come into my classroom, I am the one that invited them; so I know what they do and how they present and I can tell them "thanks but no thanks" if I don't want them to come back and present again.

Unfortunately that isn't always the case.

My district sets up this "scholars" presentation. It comes from the United Way organization. Yes, the information is great and the kids need to hear it before they make the decision for High School, but the way that it is presented drives me nuts. We have problems with the presenters. They are almost never on time. They aren't educators (mostly), so they don't understand how to talk to the kids or engage with them so it isn't boring. As a teacher, I get bored. Yes, that is bad. If I'm getting bored, of course my students are bored.

Take today for instance. I'm sitting here listening to the presenter--who was 15 minutes late. So I had decided to start with the slide show because I didn't know if the presenter was going to show up. She showed up and STARTED OVER because she didn't know how to pick up from the slide that I was on and "didn't know if I had actually given all the information that was required". Excuse me? Really? I have to let you into my classroom because the district requires me to, but how dare you treat me like that. You're the one that wasn't on time. You're the one that is going over information that I already gave to the kids. They aren't stupid and we've gone over a lot of it already for our "Reality Town" experience.

We can't ask them to stop coming because the district wants it. We give all the feedback we can but it doesn't seem that the company listens to any of it. We keep getting the presenters back that the kids don't want to listen to (and frankly, neither do I).

It's just a frustrating situation.

PTC recap

So I am completely surprised. It wasn't as bad as it has been in the past. I had a few more students and their parents come that I actually needed to talk with. Shocker I know, but it did happen. Of course there are most of the failing or close to failing that didn't show up, but that is always the case.

But what stuck out to me this time around was the fact that there wasn't a lot of parents overall. This year, instead of being stuck down in the bottom "pit" of the lunchroom, they switched it and I was on the top level. Kind of a nice change. I got to see more. What I noticed was that there wasn't a lot of parents coming and going at any time. The telling fact is that I got bored, pulled out my headphones and started watching movies and TV shows. I was able to get through 3 half-hour episodes and 2 movies with very little interruption. Yeah, apparently I'm not on the top of the parent priority list. I did have a lot of students come by with a "do I get extra points if we stop here". When I say no, the parent just smiles and moves on. Fine by me. I'm great with just sitting there for 6 hours with nothing to do and a ton of things to do at home. I really wish that they would sign up for times. That way we could prove that the PTC thing as it stands just isn't working all that well.

Oh well. There's only 3 months of school left (yay!) and I've got a ton of things to do before May, so my life is about to get very busy.

Attack of the PTCs

Again, that time of the year, the dreaded PTC. It seems that the parents get worse and worse every time. You don't get the parents you really want to talk to, and you end up talking to those who you don't need to.

But something different has been going on for me this year. PTCs aren't until tomorrow and believe me, I'll be writing about all the "details" again (one way to stay sane). But this semester, I've had more parents coming into my room and telling me how to do my job than ever before. Their student is "failing because of you [me]" and they want it fixed. I legally can't tell them that their student is a piece of *$#* and doesn't want to work, so I have to calmly tell them that they don't turn in their work and I don't bug them about their work. They aren't in elementary anymore, they should start being responsible for their work.

For instance: I just had a large project due in one of the elective classes. The deadline has been on their grade for a week, as well as on the board and I've said it at the end of every class for that week. Day of the project turn in--I had 4 students come up and ask if they could use the phone to call their parent to bring them their project. I would tell them that they had to call during their passing time or during lunch. It wasn't their parents responsibility to remember the project. Oh, I had a parent come in after that day and proceed to chew me out because I had told her son that he couldn't turn in the project. How in the world did he get from "you need to call on your own time" to "you can't turn in the project". If the student wants to turn it in late, then that is their choice, but they certainly don't get full points for it.

We'll see how tomorrow goes with PTCs, I'm expecting some hard cases because the parents have already contacted me about being there (and they didn't sound too happy). Oh well.

The effect of NCLB

NCLB (No Child Left Behind) was put into play in 2002-2003 as a way to "measure" what students were really learning. In all, it actually hurt the students more than helped them. They don't know how to think anymore. They can't formulate their ideas correctly. All they really know is how to "beat the test". I've been in the past few years with my students and it is becoming more and more prevalent.

An article that ran last week in the Washington Post really caught my eye. It was written by a high school teacher who just retired and was directed towards College Professors. I would suggest going to read it. He taught AP (advanced placement) courses which are supposed to be the "top" of the game. Even he had a hard time trying to get the students engaged in what they were learning and make it stick--rather than just getting them to remember it for the test and then forgetting what they actually learned later on.

Please do not blame those of us in public schools for how unprepared for higher education the students arriving at your institutions are. We have very little say in what is happening to public education. Even the most distinguished and honored among us have trouble getting our voices heard in the discussion about educational policy. The National Teacher of the Year is supposed to be the representative of America's teachers--if he or she cannot get teachers' voices included, imagine how difficult it is for the rest of us.

I get this all the time. I am blamed for what I do from the high school teachers. "They don't type fast enough", "They don't know the keyboard", "Why can't they format a document correctly?". . . and on and on and on.

In the article he quotes the 2009 Teacher of the Year Anthony Mullin who wrote a blog post entitled "Teachers should be seen and not heard":

Where do I being? I spent the last thirty minutes listening to a group of arrogant and condescending noneducators disrespect my colleagues and profession. I listened to a group of disingenuous people whose own self-interests guide their policies rather than the interests of children. I listened to a cabal of people who sit on national education committees that will have a profound impact on classroom teaching practices. And I heard nothing of value. "I'm thinking about current health-care debate," I said. "And I'm wondering if I will be asked to sit on a national committee charged with the task of creating a core curriculum of medical procedures to be used in hospital emergency rooms."  

A strange little man cocks his head and, suddenly, the fly on the wall has everyone's attention. 

"I realize that most people would think I am unqualified to sit on such a committee because I am not a doctor, I have never worked in an emergency room, and I have never treated a single patient. So what? Today I have listened to people who are not teachers, have never worked in a classroom, and have never taught a single student tell me how to teach."

I feel like that most of the time.

He ends with a statement that I have heard a few time lately and it has also come out of my mouth recently: "that is why I'm not longer in the classroom". I add the word 'want to be' between 'longer' and 'in', but the idea is still the same. Sad to think that this is the direction we're going.

I used to love teaching. I really did. I'm only in my 3rd year, but it has driven me bonkers. No wonder teaching is climbing the ranks of jobs with highest turn over rate. There are student teachers who are coming in and asking us what we think about it and I really have to bite my tongue. I want to tell them to be prepared for a huge battle and to turn around and run the other direction as fast as they can, but I can't tell them that.

I just bite my tongue and hold on.

Rules

Are they not teaching rules anymore at the Elementary level? I have very simple rules in my classroom:

• No hall pass in first/last 10 minutes of class
• I enforce the dress code
• No email, chat, Facebook during class time
• No iPods or cell phones during school hours
• Stay on approved websites
• No food, candy, soda, or gum allowed in the classroom due to the computers

Pretty simple right? Other than that, they get a bunch of perks if they follow those. One perk is if they keep their grade at 85% or higher they get to listen to music from the internet while they're working. Unfortunately it has been causing more problems than getting kids to turn in their work. 

One issue, for instance, is this generation's feeling that they are "entitled to everything every one else gets". Meaning if you're failing you still get the same privileges that other people get. Uh, NO! Doesn't work that way in my classroom. You earn what you earn.If that means that you need to turn in more work before you get the PRIVILEGE of listening to music, then so be it. You can whine and complain all you want. All I'm going to do is shrug my shoulders, give you a little smile, and say "On your way." I actually had one student, Slim, tell me that he gets whatever every one else gets. When I told him he has to work on it in order to get it, his reply was "No. It's just like little league sports. Everyone gets it whether they're good or not." Is that really what they're teaching them now? When Slim told me that, it didn't surprise me one bit that my students are the way they are. I've known about that for a while but I've never had anyone actually tell me that to my face.

No wonder people are the way they are now. Young life and School has failed to provide these people with what they actually need to succeed. As a teacher, my hands are tied on so many levels. I can't "discipline" a child (verbally or otherwise). If they turn in their work, whether it's done correctly or not, they expect to get full points on it.

What ever happened to following rules and strict guidelines? Have they really gone out the window like that?

Dealing with students

I don't know what is happening but dealing with students is beginning to be harder and harder. Dealing with their parents is no picnic either (in most cases) but since I see the students more, that is what I experience.

This female student, well call her Kitty, was having some issues. Another teacher (a male) noticed it and asked if she was alright. She said that she wasn't and wanted to talk to someone but not a counselor or the administration. "They'll tell my mom and then I'll be in big trouble," she said to this male teacher. So the male teacher kept his mouth shut for a while but kept an eye on her. Kitty started having more and more problems so he asked me if I would be willing to at least listen to her; I said sure. (In hind sight I should have said no and backed away as quickly as I could). She came to me a few days later and sat down. I asked her if there was anything that she wanted to talk about and it took her a moment or two but then it all came pouring out. Yes, she was having troubles. Yes, some of it stemmed from home and her mother. I just tried to listen and when she asked what she should do, I gave her a couple of "strategies" that have helped me when I'm feeling the way she did. Then we talked about cats, and fruit, and school, and a number of things. It kept swinging away from what she wanted to talk about but I think that was because she wanted to get comfortable before saying anything. She came in frowning and not happy, and left really happy and smiling.

A week or so later, she came back into my room, said "Thank you for listening. I really needed an adult to understand," and went on her way. I didn't think anything of it. I gave her a "high five", she was smiling, and whenever I saw her in the halls after that she would say hi and would put up her hand for a high five.

Again, I didn't think anything of it.

Then last Friday happened.

I received a call from this male teacher saying that there was a problem. I could possibly be in HUGE trouble for chatting with the student and not reporting the issues to the administration and the counseling office. Because, apparently, anything along those lines we need to report. Which I can understand, but this student was afraid to go to the administration or the counseling office. I had just been through a training at the district level that said we needed to listen to the students and keep an eye out for problems and get them the help they needed. Well, this student just wanted an adult to listen and not judge her for it. I didn't think that would be that big of an issue.Apparently it is.

I'm not going to go into all the details here because I'm still a bit shaken after all the stuff that happened that weekend, but I'm still teaching, I haven't been brought up on anything. I still have my teaching license. And now I know that I am not going to listen to any student anymore. I'm not going to keep an eye out for anything anymore. I'm just going to go to work, teach, stay for as long as I need to, lock my door at lunch, then leave when I am allowed to.

I guess no good deed goes unpunished. Words to live by now.

New Semester soon starts

As we come back from the break and a new semester soon starts, it makes me think about how students are feeling at this time. Some are so set in their ways that no matter what you try to get them to do, they won't budge. These are the students that I regrettable say "I give up. Fine. Fail." I can't legally say that to their face, but I really stop caring. I know that is bad to think about as a teacher, but you can't save all the students from themselves, as much as you want to.

This group of students haven't been that bad, but looking into next semester, I've got some PAINS coming. I've worked with the students before, so unless they have changed drastically, this could get interesting.

I haven't had to attend any IEP meetings this year so far and I'm enjoying that fact. I don't have to deal with the Special Ed teachers. I don't have to deal with the parents saying that their kid "needs ________" or "you aren't giving them enough attention and that is the reason they are failing" or blah blah blah. Yes, I'm getting cynical but I need to start doing that otherwise things get crazy around here.

Grading hasn't been that much of a challenge for me lately. I grade as the students turn it in. At this point in the semester (the end) I don't give them that much help on assignments. They should be able to think and figure things out for themselves. Only when they get really stuck do I give them any direction, and even then it is just a quick little hint. I think too many teachers/parents/whoever are giving the students the answer instead of letting their minds develop and figure it out for themselves. It is hurting them in the long run if they can't figure things out and always have to rely on someone else to come up with the answer or how to get something else done.