When I tell people that I teach, they tell me how great it
must be to have all that vacation time. Trust me, if it weren’t for the days
off, many of us would be in the nuthouse by now. But nobody believes us when we
say that. They shrug it off and say, “It’s not that bad.”
Listen up, because this is very important:
Unless you’re in it, you can’t possibly imagine it…
Allow me to introduce you to one of my students. Let’s call
him Jose—that’s not really his name, but it’s appropriate.
On September 21, 2011, I asked him to stay after class
because I wanted to talk to him about his disruptive behavior: interrupting and
talking over other students and myself, not staying on task, the usual.
He walked out.
The next day I called home. The number was out of service,
so I sent a letter home on the 29th for his parents to sign and
return to me. It never came back.
On the 6th of October, I called home again and a
small child who didn’t speak English answered the phone. When I couldn’t get
him (her?) to understand that I wanted to talk to a parent, the child hung up
on me.
I sent Jose to the Dean’s Office on November 1 for
insubordination, adamant refusal to work, and argumentativeness when I
redirected him. The day before, he had been removed from my room by an administrator
because his childish behavior was severely disrupting the class.
On the 15th, I wrote him up again. When I asked
him to throw his food in the garbage can because food isn’t allowed outside the
cafeteria, he replied, “I wasn’t even EATING IT!” Again, I directed him to
throw out the food. He yelled back at me, “But it’s MINE!!” Eventually he did
throw it away, after meandering around the room for ten minutes and smirking at
me.
January 4th I wrote him up yet again for arguing with
me.
I sent a letter home on the 5th. I still have not
received it back.
He’s seen the counselor at least three times. He’s ditched
my class, cursed at me, threatened me, insulted me, walked out on me, and
laughed at me.
Sounds like a nice kid, doesn’t he? Now add eight more like
him. In EVERY class. ALL. DAY.
Parents are unresponsive, administrators are unconcerned,
and students are uncooperative.
I’m sure the people at my church wonder why I’m not often
there anymore. Honestly? Come Sabbath morning, I’m so thankful to have a safe place
to breathe and the ability to go to the bathroom whenever I want, I really
don’t feel like leaving home...
