The hope of our future
So, I'm sitting at my desk and my room is full of students. I am not teaching but my room is being used by a roaming teacher. It's the Monday after Thanksgiving break. I've decided that Thanksgiving is a tease. You get out of school and it's so wonderful...but wait you still have three weeks of school left until the REAL break. Bummer.
I am truly concerned about America and its future. Are my kids the future of this country? Boy are we in trouble. I am an easy teacher. I bend over backwards to help my students. I really do. I live at this school and a I am willing to help in any way I can. However, one class average is a 65. Ummm, thats failing by the way. Do they care? No, not at all. I gave my students a project to help their averages. They had to create an ABC booklet. The booklet needed color, creativity, and math orentation. I even gave a rubric and a glossary to help. The students had 3 45 minute class periods to do it in. What did I get when all was said and done? Crap, just crap. Now I have to subject myself to grading crap! What am I going to do???
My students have no work ethic what so ever! Granted, it is not all their fault. Where are their parents? Do they really not care about their offspring? What the crap?!
Three more weeks until Christmas break.
I know, I know, I should be thankful for having a job!
If one more person tells me that teachers have it easy and that we get off at 3:30, I will slug them!
posted by mizwez @ 6:03 AM
2 Comments:
haha- I could have written this exact post on my blog- well I'd have to replace the word "math" with "science" - but it's interesting that this phenomenon is everywhere- I just did my grade analysis in order to send out failure letters before the end of the semester and I have 48 out of 91 failing- 53%. And- like you- I spend most of my time looking at my students upside down because I am bending over backwards for them so much. It is most definatley frustrating. I feel your pain. I've been really puzzled by this, and I'm not really sure there is an answer- everybody says it gets better- I don't know if it gets better or you just get used to it. I see myself getting a little jaded by the whole thing. I'm trying to tell myself that I can't care more than they do- and in that sense, it reminds me a lot of evangelism. We are called to be faithful- we are called to be obediant and to give an account of the truth. We however, are not responsible for whether or not people have eyes to see and ears to hear- we can't give them that. We have a responsibility to lead the horse to the water- but we cannot make him drink. We can, however drink ourselves and show them that it is good.
Also, I guess I think back about school and my favorite teachers- the ones who made the biggest impact- and it wasn't necessarily the ones that I made the highest grade for- it was the realness and sincerity of their presence in my life that I remember. I've started trying to be more transparent with my kids- being real with stories from my life- telling them how I handle life situations that come up and showing them that I care about them as people more than students. Honestly, I stink at it. I have 120 of them and it's hard. Most days I am busy and distracted and there are so many other things to do- isn't that just like satan- busying our minds so that we won't have (or make) time to focus on the real things of life which is the UNseen!
Anyway- this comment has gotten a little out of hand:)- and I only was around you for a short time- but I know that you are an amazing woman and I know that you are a faithful teacher. Do not get discouraged by the results- I know its hard because you put so much into it- but just remember that you aren't even doing it for them to make great grades (that'd be nice!)- But that isn't where your JOY comes from! Your Joy comes from the fact that Jesus died the death that you deserved and credited you with HIS perfect righteousness so that you are free from WORKING to attain God's pleasure. He is satisfied with you. Period. Don't expect more from yourself than he does- He IS God- and He IS satisfied with you because of Jesus. Anything you do, you are working at it, and working at it WELL for God and not for man. Satan is a real joy-stealer. He tricks us into trying to find joy in things that are good goals and good things, but just empty because they weren't meant to fulfill. I'm reading John Piper's "when I don't desire God, How to fight for Joy" I think it should be on the required reading list of every Christian teacher!
Anyway- keep stepping- take it one day at a time and don't forget to drink from the water yourself- it's more important for them to see that the water is good than to understand any standard we are supposed to teach them. Keep it up girl- Christmas break is almost here!! :)
Thanks for posting this- I needed to tell myself everything I just told you! :)
A few thoughts... having been on both sides of the desk and completely out of the classroom, I know how you feel. It can be very frustrating. The thing I see in you though, is the love you have for your kids. You're right. Sometimes their parents just don't care. But you do. Some kids need that more than they need to know that if 5x=10, then x=2. Rach, I listen to you and know exactly what you mean. I had the same experience, but every once in a while, one of my students would say something that made it worth while. Maybe I could see the light bulb go on, or maybe they would say something that let me know they appreciated the fact that I cared about them. Those were the moments that made it worth it. When you get the most frustrated, try to remember those.
As far as teachers having it easy goes... complete and utter bull crap. I would rather work 12 hour shifts year round than teach 10 months out of the year. When I leave work, I leave work. Not like when I was teaching and my work followed me home.
Love ya
Randy
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