My teaching job is HORRIBLE right now...

Hi, all,
I hate to whine, but I am having anxiety attacks daily now with my awful students. Back to work after the death of my mother, I'm still tired...I should be stronger, but the students I have right now are so disrespectful. You would think they would look forward to coming to the Art class and having some relaxing time to be creative, but the majority of them are so disruptive, destructive and disrespectful.
I truly wish I could quit my job! but that is impossible, as I rely on my solo income. And though I'm age 57, retirement is out of the question for several more years.
I really hate expressing these feelings. Does anyone else feel this way??? I know there are much worse jobs out there, but students are out of control these days.
Patty

(((((((((((Patty)))))))))))) as a student, I know my fellow students and I can be a pain in the ***. I'm sorry you're not having a good time at the moment. I hope they smarten up soon and start treating you decently.

my thoughts are with you hon. I see bad kids all around me. it is a crying shame parents don't teach kids to respect anymore. errrrrrrr

Seeker,

I feel like my teaching job is horrible too right now.

First your situation. First of all, you are still grieving your mother. Americans do a horrible job of grieving. So many people think, all right so you had time off to take care of your mother and to bury her, and stupidly expect people to be over it. It doesn't work that way.

The last thing you need while you are trying to get back on your emotional feet, is a bunch of banchees! I'm sorry. I loved art class. I loved being able to create things.

I'm just stressing out over feeling forced to drive 1-3/4 hours one way over possibly treacherous roads. My boss wrote a scathing note to me last week when snow, sleet and freezing rain was being forecasted for my route.

Most of the time this man is very nice, but right now he is acting like Hitler.

EJ

(((seeker)))) be careful of laying those "shoulds" and "coulds" onto yourself. I hope you are able to get some good restorative rest soon.

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seeker1950 said:
...the students I have right now are so disrespectful. You would think they would look forward to coming to the Art class and having some relaxing time to be creative, but the majority of them are so disruptive, destructive and disrespectful.

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Where do you teach? What level? Are you in a system where it is not uncommon for students to be so distressed (or stressed) that you might expect this kind of behavior? Or is it in a "normal" system?

Dear Patty,

I just wanted to offer some truly solid help with an unruly classroom. I was an 8th grade teacher in the inner city of Port Arthur, Texas (where I'm from). Each class had a block schedule of 1 hour and 30 minutes with 28 to 33 students per class. The large amount of students that came from juvenile detention, were given to me because I was a male teacher. With very little help from both the administration and the school board by way of discipline, I had to think about what could I do that would show these kids that this is my classroom, and not theirs. My first week of my first year went just as you describing in your posting. Every day from that point on for the next 4 years went by so much easier by using what the kids want to your advantage. It is TIME!!! You see, after trying to get louder than they were and stressing myself, I learned that they fed off of that. My assistant principals were not doing anything to help, so the kids were not troubled by a referral. So, the following Monday, I pulled a chair in front of the classroom and sat there for 3 minutes without saying a word and just staring at them. As the minutes ticked away, they became deathly quiet. As it became quiet, I smiled at them and said, "This is how it is going to be in my classroom! And to make sure it stays my classroom, I have instituted the Minute Rule." This is the Minute Rule: Every single infraction, from talking when they were not supposed to, chewing gum, mp3's, passing notes, were marked as one minute on a special little section on my chalkboard right next to my clock. For every mark that went in that section, every single one of them had to stay in my classroom for one minute past the bell. Now, I can assure you that the marks never went past 3 because they all realized that it means that they only had 2 minutes left to visit with whomever they wanted to visit and still get to the next class on time. I also found that the more vocal students would actually take over the discipline for me by way of making sure that the others would not disrupt my teaching. It is truly amazing to this day, that something so simple work so well with such difficult students. Then as time went on, I could add reinforcements for good behavior. The result was that I could then focus on creative lessons as opposed to battling them for control of my own classroom, not to mention, doing remarkably better on their scores. I miss all the students, even my toughest ones. Unfortunately, due to the unbelievable mountain of paperwork that the administration forced upon the teachers, I felt that I didn't want to be a teacher and a secretary, so I went back to college to get a Instrumentation and Electrical degree. I live now in Louisiana, and sometimes think that I may return to the classroom. Like you, I have always struggled with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks which made it difficult sometimes. But, after taking control of "my" classroom, the rest of the time was so much better. If you love teaching, then you should not have to suffer in "your" classroom. You just take away the things that the students want and if they don't comply, then they will suffer. It is what I call "Tough Love". Well, I hope I didn't bore you to death, and also that this will help you. With the lack of support from administration and some parents, you need tactics to help you not only control the class, but to only open the way for true learning. Please take care of yourself and Merry Christmas,

David (NewDawnFades)

I also wanted to offer my condolences for your mother. Please stay strong. You owe it to yourself and others around you.

Sincerely,

David (NewDawnFades)

Here's some validation:

I did my student teaching and never set foot back in the classroom. There is no worse job than teaching ungrateful, noisy, disrespectful, spirit-killing life-sucking teenagers.

And I will be eternally grateful for anyone who can do it.

(((Patty)))

I hope it gets better and for you about your Mom...

I am in grading hell right now. And to make my day ever more complete, my boss told me that I should be more like an arrogant poseur with flimsy publishing credentials -- and like you, Patty, I am an aging female who wishes she could retire and will probably work until I drop out of the harness. . . what a life.

(((((Patty)))))

I think a lot of teachers are hating their jobs right now. I know I go home sometimes hating mine.

I am personally feeling the time crunch of getting everything in, getting it graded, extra holiday duties/activities, and the kids are crazy b/c of the holidays. Plus, it's the time of year most of us reach our breaking point.

You're in my thoughts.

Patty,

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Some good news -- my boss apologized to me yesterday two times when he saw me. He said he shouldn't have written that note to me.

(((((((Patty)))))))

I will have to say some prayers that your students quiet down. How about putting some big pieces of paper together, and letting them create a Christmas mural?

EJ

Then when it's done you could have each student do a presentation on their part, and what it means.

As a fairly recent parent
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to those soul-sucking teens, here is my response. My kids all complained of chaotic, loud, undisciplined classrooms. they felt that they never had a chance to get anything done. It sucked the life outa them. I like the silence idea. Teaching is HARD. Please get some rest and maybe communicate with some army sergeants out there so you can be a drill sergeant and a teacher. Be well.forgive the lines, long story but vthey won't go away.

Dear friends of PC!
I am so touched by the responses of support and caring, the suggestions, and the validations!
Only here on PC could one find such friends and valuable, helpful, and HEALING feedback!
David...I just want to say "hats off" to you for succeeding with the tough inner city delinquents! I could never EVER even consider such a job! You should be proud of your success, and I intend to try some of your suggestions.

Yes...it is sad when good kids are deprived of enjoying my art class because of the hooligans who disrupt and destroy. I have tried separating them into two groups....rewarding the students who really want to do art, while giving boring tedious bookwork assignments to the ones who disrupt. It has helped somewhat, but only for a day or so....

So glad the weekend is here...time to chill.
Love to all of you!
Patty

Wants2Fly,

If you're up to grading -- I'm thinking you are almost through the semester.

How did the rest of it go?

I'm working on grades now too, if it is any comfort.

EJ

Patty,

You're so welcome!!! If I can help in any way, just let me know. Now, take your shoes off and kick back because the weekend is here!!!! :-)))) You deserve it!!!! :-))))

Take care and have a great weekend!

Cordially,

David (NewDawnFades)