disappointed

Paladin · 04-28-08, 11:01 PM

I teach middle school in what is considered an inner city. 44% minority. 10% speak little or no english. I must be decent, because I've had offers from the suburbs, but my response has always been "They don't need me out there."

Last week we took our 8th graders to the high school they will attend. The kids got to meet their future teachers and were introduced to some of the clubs and groups they will have the chance to participate in. Great opportunity.

At the end, just before we got back on the buses, one of my students was jumped by several kids from another school.
I corralled my kid and stayed with him.

When we went to make a statement, my kid had a knife on him. He said he took it from another student to keep her from getting in trouble. She had it for the previous two days and said she got it from another kid who had it for two days before that. So for four days, a knife was in our school.

All three kids have been suspended for 5 days, but I think the two kids who brought the knife and had it at school should be expelled. Our school administration thinks that those two should be allowed back in school sooner and want to suspend the fighter.

The fighter told me he didn't take the knife for the fight and I believe him. My wife, my teacher friends and the admin says I'm being naive and that he knew just what he was doing.

I love what I do and where I do it, but I'm really considering the offer from the suburbs.

jfuh · 04-29-08, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paladin

I teach middle school in what is considered an inner city. 44% minority. 10% speak little or no english. I must be decent, because I've had offers from the suburbs, but my response has always been "They don't need me out there."

Last week we took our 8th graders to the high school they will attend. The kids got to meet their future teachers and were introduced to some of the clubs and groups they will have the chance to participate in. Great opportunity.

At the end, just before we got back on the buses, one of my students was jumped by several kids from another school.
I corralled my kid and stayed with him.

When we went to make a statement, my kid had a knife on him. He said he took it from another student to keep her from getting in trouble. She had it for the previous two days and said she got it from another kid who had it for two days before that. So for four days, a knife was in our school.

All three kids have been suspended for 5 days, but I think the two kids who brought the knife and had it at school should be expelled. Our school administration thinks that those two should be allowed back in school sooner and want to suspend the fighter.

The fighter told me he didn't take the knife for the fight and I believe him. My wife, my teacher friends and the admin says I'm being naive and that he knew just what he was doing.

I love what I do and where I do it, but I'm really considering the offer from the suburbs.

Leaving obviously won't change things at the school you're at. However it's best to do what you feel is best - regardless of the obligations that you may feel it is your choice that you should make and the best interest to look after is still, in the end your own.
Should you feel that your interests lie with the school you're at as of now, so be it, if not so be it.
Good luck in whichever choice you make.
That all said, I think it's rather noble of what you're doing.

Lerxst · 04-29-08, 02:24 PM

This thread seems a fitting place for this mass e-mail thing I got. Normally I hate these things but it's tragically funny.

Quote:

SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2008

Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking
lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car
and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2008 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and
never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized
students and teachers..

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up
buddies.
2008 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark.
Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal.
Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2008 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for
ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives
him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college,
and becomes a successful businessman.
2008 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster
care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she
remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom
has affair with psychologist.

Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2008 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations.
Car searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2008 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear
nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation
is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and
Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core
curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a
living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts
them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2008 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic
terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers
confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed
to fly again.

Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He
is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2008 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job.
She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

bub · 04-29-08, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffMerriman

This thread seems a fitting place for this mass e-mail thing I got. Normally I hate these things but it's tragically funny.

Quote:

Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He
is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2008 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job.
She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

Quote:

Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a
living because he cannot speak English.