If Those Who Can't Do, Teach, Then What's Left for Those Who Can't Teach?

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 29^th for his parents to sign and return to me. It never came back.

On the 6^th 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 15^th, 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 4^th I wrote him up yet again for arguing with me.

I sent a letter home on the 5^th. 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...