I've been teaching for 10 years now. I've taught in affluent public school, a title 1 district with a really low SES school with awful everything, and an okay farm-town type place. Medium to large schools.
Are kids and parents getting worse? I just don't remember this much strife, stress, and shenanigans when I was a kid. I remember being terrified if I got in trouble at school, because I'd get it double at home. Nowadays, I get "yeah, call my mom. She'll back me up."
Worst thing, they do. Most parents argue with me. I get irate emails about zeroes in the gradebook because Johnny didn't turn in something. Or was absent on a test day and didn't come before or after school, send it on one of our four online platforms available, or make any effort whatsoever. I am an awful human for not dishing out 100s like candy.
I am tired of the lowered expectations, from dress code at concerts to expectations for instruments to be repaired. Kids drop band because their parents say they won't pay $30 to have a cork repaired.
I don't understand the quitting mentality.
And don't get me wrong. I am a cheerleader, little Mr./Ms. Sunshine at school. I communicate. I glad-hand. I try EVERYthing to make sure my program is in the papers, cute pics of the kids doing things, etc. I really do try. I am just tired of the lack of caring on the level of students and parents. It's exhausting. I'm not asking your child to be an All-Stater. I'm asking them to practice 10 minutes a day, 2-3 times a week.
I hear all the time from 30-year veteran teachers that kids are not like they used to be. Is this true or do we all become cynics?
I guess I just need a pep talk. Thanks for letting me vent.
I understand that this platform is for information and sharing of information from our colleagues, but I must admit I am of a similar mindset. I have currently been teaching for 16 years and I can honestly say that students' work ethic and motivation whatever you term it has progressively worsened. I pray every day for the good lord to provide me an out. I realize that this last statement will incur a great deal of blowback, these are my personal feelings. I hope you find something that will allow you to persevere.
Re: Is it truly worse?
Posted by Kramer on 10/3/2019, 11:02 am, in reply to "Is it truly worse?"
I could have written this exact post. Yes. I'm exhausted. But it's been 20 years for me. I'm done. I have a part time job already and something else lined up for the future and will be stepping away after my daughter graduates in May.
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I've been teaching for 10 years now. I've taught in affluent public school, a title 1 district with a really low SES school with awful everything, and an okay farm-town type place. Medium to large schools.
Are kids and parents getting worse? I just don't remember this much strife, stress, and shenanigans when I was a kid. I remember being terrified if I got in trouble at school, because I'd get it double at home. Nowadays, I get "yeah, call my mom. She'll back me up."
Worst thing, they do. Most parents argue with me. I get irate emails about zeroes in the gradebook because Johnny didn't turn in something. Or was absent on a test day and didn't come before or after school, send it on one of our four online platforms available, or make any effort whatsoever. I am an awful human for not dishing out 100s like candy.
I am tired of the lowered expectations, from dress code at concerts to expectations for instruments to be repaired. Kids drop band because their parents say they won't pay $30 to have a cork repaired.
I don't understand the quitting mentality.
And don't get me wrong. I am a cheerleader, little Mr./Ms. Sunshine at school. I communicate. I glad-hand. I try EVERYthing to make sure my program is in the papers, cute pics of the kids doing things, etc. I really do try. I am just tired of the lack of caring on the level of students and parents. It's exhausting. I'm not asking your child to be an All-Stater. I'm asking them to practice 10 minutes a day, 2-3 times a week.
I hear all the time from 30-year veteran teachers that kids are not like they used to be. Is this true or do we all become cynics?
I guess I just need a pep talk. Thanks for letting me vent.
I started to see this my last year when I retired in 2016. From what I've heard from a few of those still in teaching, what you describe seems to have indeed gotten worse. Much of this does seem to be coming from parents. Apples normally do grow on apple trees.
Previous Message
I could have written this exact post. Yes. I'm exhausted. But it's been 20 years for me. I'm done. I have a part time job already and something else lined up for the future and will be stepping away after my daughter graduates in May.
Previous Message
I've been teaching for 10 years now. I've taught in affluent public school, a title 1 district with a really low SES school with awful everything, and an okay farm-town type place. Medium to large schools.
Are kids and parents getting worse? I just don't remember this much strife, stress, and shenanigans when I was a kid. I remember being terrified if I got in trouble at school, because I'd get it double at home. Nowadays, I get "yeah, call my mom. She'll back me up."
Worst thing, they do. Most parents argue with me. I get irate emails about zeroes in the gradebook because Johnny didn't turn in something. Or was absent on a test day and didn't come before or after school, send it on one of our four online platforms available, or make any effort whatsoever. I am an awful human for not dishing out 100s like candy.
I am tired of the lowered expectations, from dress code at concerts to expectations for instruments to be repaired. Kids drop band because their parents say they won't pay $30 to have a cork repaired.
I don't understand the quitting mentality.
And don't get me wrong. I am a cheerleader, little Mr./Ms. Sunshine at school. I communicate. I glad-hand. I try EVERYthing to make sure my program is in the papers, cute pics of the kids doing things, etc. I really do try. I am just tired of the lack of caring on the level of students and parents. It's exhausting. I'm not asking your child to be an All-Stater. I'm asking them to practice 10 minutes a day, 2-3 times a week.
I hear all the time from 30-year veteran teachers that kids are not like they used to be. Is this true or do we all become cynics?
I guess I just need a pep talk. Thanks for letting me vent.
Previous Message