Parents, please don’t ask me to stay after school and tutor your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You didn't do your homework before you switched careers, OP.

At my son's high school they rotate after school tutoring. Tuesdays are English, Wednesdays social studies, etc.

Is this just one student or many students? Very unusual if is more than one. Why aren't they understanding what you are teaching during class?

Lol. Always blame the teacher. People don’t realize what school is like these days. Students can basically do whatever they want short of physical violence in class. You’ve got kids on their phones even though they’ve aren’t allowed. At my school, I have to call an administrator to remove a student’s phone. I can’t do it. My administrations have much bigger fish to fry all day than removing phones. They’ve got parents screaming at them, physically disruptive students, meetings times 1000, weekly walkthroughs from the district, etc. In addition to the phones, you’ve got the garden variety behaviors not associating learning like students who won’t take notes, participate, do homework or classwork, kids sleeping, etc. Welcome to school in 2020.

This is total BS as an across-the-board statement. There has never been "violence" in any of my child's schools. Their phones are required to be put away. Parents, well, you signed up for it and for every PITA parent, there are ones like me you will never hear from. Disruptive kids have always existed.

You teach. So teach. If kids aren't learning, then yes, at least part of that falls on you. You know how I know this? There are EXCELLENT teachers who a) manage to convey the material successfully, and b) DO stay after at least once a week.

So maybe, spend less time giving excuses and more time figuring out how to better your lessons so your kids understand.

[Anonymous]

How nice for you PP. I hope you are enjoying your bubble. I teach in the inner city and a good day is one where nobody loses their mind and starts throwing desks, chairs, etc. These students live through nearly constant trauma. They overreact about nearly everything. My former coworker had her nose broken when she told a student to put his phone away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have students with ear buds in their ears during class even though it is against the rules. I can remind them this but I cannot physically touch them or touch their phone/ear buds. I text an admin every single time this happens so they can do it but 90% of the time, they don’t come. Lots of big fires to be put out. I document what happened and call/email the parent after two reminders. I rarely hear from them ever. Sometimes they say it is my problem when their kid is at school.

Some of ds's teachers have baskets or bins for phones. Phones are turned off and put in there at the start of class.

One teacher built shelves to hold the phones.

Yes but you can’t force students to do this. A lot of students simply refuse. Admin doesn’t back teachers up. Parents don’t back teachers up. What do you want the teacher to do? Wrestle the student to the ground and wrench the phone from their hands? Ha ha.

You people really don’t understand what it’s like working in a school (especially a school w a lot of disadvantaged students who have difficult home lives and behavior issues). Like another poster said: teachers have all the responsibility but none of the authority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You may have already answered this but what grade do you teach? At my kids high schools there is a one hour lunch break and that is when teachers are available for academic support. My middle schooler’s math teacher also helps during lunch even though it’s half an hour.

That’s probably by choice and not really necessary. I do think teachers should have a 30 minute break for lunch.

It’s not a “should.” It’s a legal provision. Imagine this: we are legally protected to EAT for 25 whole minutes a day. Y’all really think teachers should work through the entire day, not eat, not go to the restroom, AND stay as late as you need to tutor or babysit your kids. It’s truly wild.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How nice for you PP. I hope you are enjoying your bubble. I teach in the inner city and a good day is one where nobody loses their mind and starts throwing desks, chairs, etc. These students live through nearly constant trauma. They overreact about nearly everything. My former coworker had her nose broken when she told a student to put his phone away.

Yes, it is nice for me. But, I responding to your general characterization that all schools are like this. They are not.

If you don't like your school, go to another one. I know that you may want to make a difference. But if you're that miserable, that really is your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How nice for you PP. I hope you are enjoying your bubble. I teach in the inner city and a good day is one where nobody loses their mind and starts throwing desks, chairs, etc. These students live through nearly constant trauma. They overreact about nearly everything. My former coworker had her nose broken when she told a student to put his phone away.

Yes, it is nice for me. But, I responding to your general characterization that all schools are like this. They are not.

If you don't like your school, go to another one. I know that you may want to make a difference. But if you're that miserable, that really is your choice.

They are all like that. You live in a bubble. You may not realize it but you do. People with the money to do so pay for this bubble. They live in it and send their kids to schools where the students come to school ready to learn. They don't grow up in trauma. They don't go hungry. They have parents (or at least one parent) who takes care of them and meets their needs. Very few students at my school meet that description. Many students in my district meet it TBH. If I switch districts, I will lose out on a lot of money due to a drop in pay. I need the money. I have kids too.

[Anonymous]

Make your "help hours" clear in your syllabus/on the door of your room. I wouldn't do this either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, tell them no if that's what you want to do.

DH helps kids who actually want it. They are basically told that if they waste his time during class, he won't help after.

The kids who are trying and maybe just need extra help to nail down the concept (for example) can go see him at noon 2 days/week.

Ds's girlfriend had a math teacher who offered zero help outside of class. She went to another math teacher for help.

Two of my children have done this.