If you got kids in school

[Hessian]

EDIT...to ease the panties that are all in a bunch over my ebonic caption:
"If your offspring are currently attending a pedalogical institute..."


This is teacher appreciation week...
Our graduating seniors make videos to thank (& spoof) some of our teachers.
I got an apple yesterday and some parents have brought in fresh cut fruit/snacks for the staff in general.
I am in a bit of a funk because I really don't think my efforts are being recognized by the 150 parents I fill in for every day. So anyway...

If you have some kids in school,...ask them who their tough/challenging teachers are (NOT the sugar sweet ones! They don't do a thing for your kids!)
And send in a note thanking them for keeping high standards,...making the kids EARN their grades, and preparing them the best for college.--Those are the teachers who feel like they are getting nowhere, (and its a LOT easier to take the easy road and pass everyone...) however, they still expect quality & make kids realize their true potential if they work hard---they get the best out of your kids--by being tough & fair.---Tell them that would you?

If you are out of school---call your old school and ask if some of the vet teachers are still "in the trenches"....and mail in a note to say "Thanks....I made it this far partly because you cared." Even an e-mail from an old student can brighten a day.

Take it from a 20 yr vet in the classroom,...one apple from one out of 90 kids doesn't really inspire me to keep doing my best.

 

[JabbaJawz]

We didn't get to choose...they sent home a list telling us what to send daily. :nocomment:

 

[Chasey_Lane]

We didn't get to choose...they sent home a list telling us what to send daily. :nocomment:

If I rec'd a list, I'd be inclined to sit back and not send anything. My daughters teacher is excellent, but I shouldn't feel pressured into giving her something. :shrug:

 

[Railroad]

I don't got any kids in school, and tried to make sure that, when my kids were in school, the teachers didn't have to fill in for me every day. My wife and I raised our kids. We educated them every night by reworking the day's lessons via their homework, sometimes from 5 to midnight. Our kids didn't have behavior problems in school and were annoyed by kids that did. Our kids were in school to learn something, for example word usage and proper grammar. They learned that it's not proper grammar to say, "If you got kids in school," instead of "If you have kids in school." Teachers are worthy of a ton of respect, Hessian, you among them. Our experiences with them have not been stellar, but that shouldn't be the case for everyone (and I'm sure it isn't).

 

[Kain99]

If I rec'd a list, I'd be inclined to sit back and not send anything. My daughters teacher is excellent, but I shouldn't feel pressured into giving her something. :shrug:

That's a strange response..... I Thank God everyday for my kids teachers. I consider it an honor to be able to say Thank's! Teachers deserve a week for appreciation. I consider it a dereliction of duty not to send in a card or an apple.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

That's a strange response..... I Thank God everyday for my kids teachers. I consider it an honor to be able to say Thank's! Teachers deserve a week for appreciation. I consider it a dereliction of duty not to send in a card or an apple.

Absolutely, but I shouldn't feel "pressured" by sending in gifts. I don't see anyone lining up at my Dad's door because he's a police officer.

 

[Kain99]

Absolutely, but I shouldn't feel "pressured" by sending in gifts. I don't see anyone lining up at my Dad's door because he's a police officer.

They ought to have Officer Appreciation Month! Wonder what would be on the list they sent out....

 

[morganj614]

I don't got any kids in school, and tried to make sure that, when my kids were in school, the teachers didn't have to fill in for me every day. My wife and I raised our kids. We educated them every night by reworking the day's lessons via their homework, sometimes from 5 to midnight. Our kids didn't have behavior problems in school and were annoyed by kids that did. Our kids were in school to learn something, for example word usage and proper grammar. They learned that it's not proper grammar to say, "If you got kids in school," instead of "If you have kids in school." Teachers are worthy of a ton of respect, Hessian, you among them. Our experiences with them have not been stellar, but that shouldn't be the case for everyone (and I'm sure it isn't).

You got green for this post. If Hessian goes to work every day with that attitude, I feel sorry for the kids.

 

[Railroad]

They ought to have Officer Appreciation Month! Wonder what would be on the list they sent out....

1. Beer
2. Donuts
3. Coffee
4. Shoe Polish
5. Car Wax
6. Aspirin
7. Pepto Bismol
8. Mylanta
9. Orthopedic shoes
10. A box set of Dirty Harry movies
11. A box set of Godfather movies
12. Stories written by Daschiell Hammett
13. Car wash gift certificates
14. Hands-free devices for cell phones and radios
15. Kevlar vests
16. WaWa gift certificates
17. Sheetz gift certificates

 

[Railroad]

You got green for this post. If Hessian goes to work every day with that attitude, I feel sorry for the kids.

Thanks! I'm sure he doesn't. It was late, he was tired, and I'm sure after 20 years he's fed up with the job in many respects. But I'm sure he has good days and bad days, too, just like the rest of us.

 

[morganj614]

Thanks! I'm sure he doesn't. It was late, he was tired, and I'm sure after 20 years he's fed up with the job in many respects. But I'm sure he has good days and bad days, too, just like the rest of us.

I figured he was blowing off steam, but it came off as being owed something.

 

[Railroad]

I figured he was blowing off steam, but it came off as being owed something.

Yup, I understand. That's why I posted the initial response I did.

 

[cholo]

We didn't get to choose...they sent home a list telling us what to send daily. :nocomment:

Make it easy on yourself. Just send cash.

 

[Hessian]

Yeah...maybe,

it was late...maybe I was just practicing my e-bonics appreciation activity.

I AM sorry to hear that a school district puts out a "appropriate gift" list...that seems odd.

Cash? wow!

Regarding my tone....perhaps I do have that feeling of being owed. Its weird seeing Lexus' & Cadillacs & Envoys scooping up their middle school kids at the end of the day--and the kids are talking about these lengthy vacations, time-shares, spending $$$ at malls---

and they are as sharp as a box of hammers.

We try to push them, and they say "WHY?"--everything comes easy to them, why strive? work?
Huge #'s of kids can't handle sports practices, then gripe that they are not in the starting squad???Huh?? (meanwhile they write in their journals that they will be NBA stars, winning scholarships etc...oh?)
We spend hours correcting lousy writing and they look at the grade: then throw it away. We write review sheets, tutor after school, and photocopy our notes for low achieving kids---and it has no effect. They fail, and we get the long complaints in our voice mail or hour long conferences after school.

yeah...come to think of it, I'll take the cash

 

[RoseRed]

Where do you teach?

 

[Hessian]

Prince George's County: Clinton.

 

[huntr1]

Prince George's County

Enough said. I went to Douglass in the late 80's (class of '90). Went back last spring when I was in the area (turned out to be the last day of school). Talked to some of my old teachers. They all said the same thing "The parent's of these kids just don't care, and neither do the kids. That's why I'm quitting/retiring/transfering to Calvert Co."

 

[Tinkerbell]

The issue of what a teachers jopb/role is in our children's lives can be a very volatile discussion.

I feel that it is up to the parents to instill manners, morals and values in their children.
A teachers job is NOT a daycare provider. They are to educate our children. If children go into school without these basic behaviors taught by their parents, how is a teacher supposed to get through to them and teach them? A child that is busy cutting up and clowning in class is not going to retain as much as a child that respectfully listens when they are supposed to. Nevermind that the kid who IS paying attention loses out because the teacher is busy trying to get another kid to behave!

It's a TOUGH job. I think everyone deserves appreciation is whatever job they do. However, "walk a mile in another mans shoes" and remember what a teacher puts up with day after day. Sure, Hessian is feeling a little discouraged - he should! Maybe if we all let teachers know that we care and are on the same team with them, we wouldn't lose the good teachers due to their discouragment over being unappreciated. We can't afford to lose even one.

 

[terbear1225]

Where do you teach?

unforntuately, it doesn't really matter where you teach. the types of behavior being described are found, at least to some extent, in every school across the country.

 

[Railroad]

Hessian, if you're teaching in Clinton, I'm surprised you haven't committed suicide.

As for the points made about the parents (by all), I would offer a resounding "yes, yes" and "hear, hear" and standing ovation. It seems too many parents are lazy, scared of their kids, or schooled to not discipline them at all. Dr. Spock back in the '60s started this mess, and the poison remains. I was (still am) an old-fashioned parent who applies discipline and teaches a work ethic (a by now antiquated term folks have to go look up).