To teachers and parents: Have the kids gotten better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School closures were the most anti-equity thing to happen in the last 50 years at least. The rich kids were largely fine, while the poor kids were largely not. You can do equity initiatives continuously for the next 10 years and still not be able to completely reverse what happened in the last 2.

See, there’s these events called pandemics. You can’t just pretend they’re not going on.

This is totally false. I switched from a “poor” largely minority district to a “rich” homogenous white district mid year. The kids in the lower SES school were much better behaved than the kids I work with now. The attitude toward authority in my new district is really poor. Think kids who say things like, “I don’t have to listen to you, my parents pay your salary.” They are ten or eleven at most, this is elementary school. Students verbally refuse to do their work or follow directions. They mock their classmates when they’re speaking, which is disgusting and unkind. I’m considering returning to my old job. I never had this problem in the lower SES school, before, during, or “after” COVID (the pandemic hasn’t ended, we’re just ignoring it). The idea that rich kids are doing better is patently untrue. While they have more advantages, they aren’t better behaved or more academically advanced. Let’s do away with that stereotype.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are educators shocked that there was real harm done when the schools went virtual for over a year? That parents still have a chip on their shoulders towards schools because they were closed far longer than any other workplace. They were told schools aren’t daycare so you and your family are on your own figuring out how to help your child learn anything?

Of course parents are throwing their hands up and saying that catching up their kids is the school’s problem. They wanted schools open when their kids were falling behind.

Kids realized that their education mattered pretty little to the adults in their lives. They had 18 months to skate by.

This is the fall out. It will eventually level off but it’s ridiculous to think it will within six months.

Too bad. Do your jobs, Mama Bears. Take full responsibility for YOUR kids.

You do realize that not every parent is a software engineer working from home in their home office, correct?

Remember that next time you ask for the manager at the grocery store.

I think the point is that they are now YOUR responsibility as teachers during the day. Not every parent is home during school hours. Don't complain the kids are tough this year and super behind academically. Most parents did the best that they could in an impossible situation. We are all tryign to support and figure out how to help kids now that they are back in school.
It shouldn't be shocking that the kids are behind, unable to take things seriously and much more aggressive. It's not been a typical or easy few years. Parents are mentally spent after years of juggling.

You are aware that many teachers are also parents, correct? We have our own children to worry about and we are also “mentally spent.” Also, I accept that the students are my responsibility during the school day. I just hope you understand that I’m taking responsibility for over 100 students a day, many of whom are academically behind and some are aggressive. Things are going to slip. I’m not superhuman. Any help you can provide as another parent is always appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School closures were the most anti-equity thing to happen in the last 50 years at least. The rich kids were largely fine, while the poor kids were largely not. You can do equity initiatives continuously for the next 10 years and still not be able to completely reverse what happened in the last 2.

See, there’s these events called pandemics. You can’t just pretend they’re not going on.

This is totally false. I switched from a “poor” largely minority district to a “rich” homogenous white district mid year. The kids in the lower SES school were much better behaved than the kids I work with now. The attitude toward authority in my new district is really poor. Think kids who say things like, “I don’t have to listen to you, my parents pay your salary.” They are ten or eleven at most, this is elementary school. Students verbally refuse to do their work or follow directions. They mock their classmates when they’re speaking, which is disgusting and unkind. I’m considering returning to my old job. I never had this problem in the lower SES school, before, during, or “after” COVID (the pandemic hasn’t ended, we’re just ignoring it). The idea that rich kids are doing better is patently untrue. While they have more advantages, they aren’t better behaved or more academically advanced. Let’s do away with that stereotype.

??? I was talking about why schools why closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School closures were the most anti-equity thing to happen in the last 50 years at least. The rich kids were largely fine, while the poor kids were largely not. You can do equity initiatives continuously for the next 10 years and still not be able to completely reverse what happened in the last 2.

See, there’s these events called pandemics. You can’t just pretend they’re not going on.

This is totally false. I switched from a “poor” largely minority district to a “rich” homogenous white district mid year. The kids in the lower SES school were much better behaved than the kids I work with now. The attitude toward authority in my new district is really poor. Think kids who say things like, “I don’t have to listen to you, my parents pay your salary.” They are ten or eleven at most, this is elementary school. Students verbally refuse to do their work or follow directions. They mock their classmates when they’re speaking, which is disgusting and unkind. I’m considering returning to my old job. I never had this problem in the lower SES school, before, during, or “after” COVID (the pandemic hasn’t ended, we’re just ignoring it). The idea that rich kids are doing better is patently untrue. While they have more advantages, they aren’t better behaved or more academically advanced. Let’s do away with that stereotype.

??? I was talking about why schools why closed.

The internet ate the post you were responding to, which was about how rich kids are cool and school closures were anti equity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are educators shocked that there was real harm done when the schools went virtual for over a year? That parents still have a chip on their shoulders towards schools because they were closed far longer than any other workplace. They were told schools aren’t daycare so you and your family are on your own figuring out how to help your child learn anything?

Of course parents are throwing their hands up and saying that catching up their kids is the school’s problem. They wanted schools open when their kids were falling behind.

Kids realized that their education mattered pretty little to the adults in their lives. They had 18 months to skate by.

This is the fall out. It will eventually level off but it’s ridiculous to think it will within six months.

Teacher here. I am not shocked in the least, nor are my colleagues. We left children and families out in the cold. I argued loudly and often for reopening in safe, yet practical ways. About half of the kids at my school are not okay.

[Anonymous]

Did colleges really give refunds for room and board?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things have gotten worse at my school. Kids have gotten comfortable and spring is here. That means, there has been an uptick in outrageous behaviors. Today, I had to half drag a kindergarten student upstairs to the office because he started hitting/hicking us. This afternoon, the entire downstairs at my school had to listen to screaming from a pre-k kid who has been running laps around the school for the last few weeks. I also have a student who eats everything and anything under the sun. Thankfully her classmates tell me when this happens so I can fish it out of her mouth (today it was a twist tie and a cap eraser). My student with the huge behavior issues was absent today so it was a pretty calm day.

I've heard awful stories from the middle school. The admin is always busy with them so they rarely have time to help us out. We are exhausted and we still have two weeks left before spring break. Teachers call in sick so much due to the stress and exhaustion and there are no subs (who can blame them with these behavior issues?) And our school isn't even that bad compared to others I've heard about.

Parents need to be called to pick up their kids or to sit with them in class if they cannot behave.

So they should just leave work every day to come to school? How realistic is that?

Perhaps that will motivate them to actually parent their out of control kids and/or get them psychiatrist help so that they won’t have to keep missing work. Shrug.

Wow you really hit the low end of DCUM. Shrug.

Gross.

Its gross to do nothing and just send your kids to school pretending its nothing. Some kids have real mental health issues and the schools should focus on helping them. Not the made up mental health issues that parents use to handle their kids poor behavior.

No. That is not a school's job. That is a parent's job. Do your job, parent. Get help for your kids. Schools should focus on teaching and learning. Parents are supposed to focus on everything else. Stop making schools responsible for doing something for your kid because of your inability to do your job as a parent.

I am a parent writing this.

Well current federal law disagrees with you, but I guess you could take it up with your senator and rep.

You write as if it were so easy for any parent to just pick up the phone and schedule free weekly sessions with a qualified therapist within walking distance. There are MAJOR barriers for many parents in this process. None the least of which is understanding mental health, the utility of therapy in it, and trust in a largely white pool of therapists. - a white teacher

I’m sorry to hear that. Your kids’ mental health is still *your* responsibility, not the school’s. Figure it out.

So let’s say that your child comes to me as his/her/they’re teacher to confide that they’ve been sexually assaulted, are suicidal, etc. You would prefer that I shrug and tell them it’s not my responsibility? I guarantee you that many will harm themselves before confiding in a parent. Be careful- it could be YOUR child in a dangerous mental health crisis one day. And, in my experience, the “ tough luck” parents are not particularly approachable for their children.

[Anonymous]

Correction to autocorrect: their not they’re! - above teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here.

Nothing has gotten better.

Kids are still well below grade level. Kids do not know how to socialize. Kids do not know how to behave. Kids just do not care. Honestly, the families do not seem to care either.

Because you’re taught to be quiet in school from the very beginning.

Elementary teacher here who practices self-control with students each day. In an effective classroom, it is necessary for students to be quiet at times AND engage in cooperative work while verbally communicating. BOTH are important. I think the previous poster was not saying that students today don’t know how to talk to each other. Newsflash- they do! But many lost ground on pro-social skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are educators shocked that there was real harm done when the schools went virtual for over a year? That parents still have a chip on their shoulders towards schools because they were closed far longer than any other workplace. They were told schools aren’t daycare so you and your family are on your own figuring out how to help your child learn anything?

Of course parents are throwing their hands up and saying that catching up their kids is the school’s problem. They wanted schools open when their kids were falling behind.

Kids realized that their education mattered pretty little to the adults in their lives. They had 18 months to skate by.

This is the fall out. It will eventually level off but it’s ridiculous to think it will within six months.

Too bad. Do your jobs, Mama Bears. Take full responsibility for YOUR kids.

You do realize that not every parent is a software engineer working from home in their home office, correct?

Remember that next time you ask for the manager at the grocery store.

We weren't "software engineers working from home" either. The DL time was really hard. Guess what? We didn't check out, shine and scream and demand to make our kids someone else's problem during a pandemic.

Now some lazy, angry person will say "HURR DURR UR SUCH AMAZING PARENTS HERE'S YOUR MEDAL." Nope. We don't deserve a medal, nor do we want one. We did our jobs as parents even when it was hard during a worldwide health crisis. That's the bare minimum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things have gotten worse at my school. Kids have gotten comfortable and spring is here. That means, there has been an uptick in outrageous behaviors. Today, I had to half drag a kindergarten student upstairs to the office because he started hitting/hicking us. This afternoon, the entire downstairs at my school had to listen to screaming from a pre-k kid who has been running laps around the school for the last few weeks. I also have a student who eats everything and anything under the sun. Thankfully her classmates tell me when this happens so I can fish it out of her mouth (today it was a twist tie and a cap eraser). My student with the huge behavior issues was absent today so it was a pretty calm day.

I've heard awful stories from the middle school. The admin is always busy with them so they rarely have time to help us out. We are exhausted and we still have two weeks left before spring break. Teachers call in sick so much due to the stress and exhaustion and there are no subs (who can blame them with these behavior issues?) And our school isn't even that bad compared to others I've heard about.

Parents need to be called to pick up their kids or to sit with them in class if they cannot behave.

So they should just leave work every day to come to school? How realistic is that?

Perhaps that will motivate them to actually parent their out of control kids and/or get them psychiatrist help so that they won’t have to keep missing work. Shrug.

Wow you really hit the low end of DCUM. Shrug.

Gross.

Its gross to do nothing and just send your kids to school pretending its nothing. Some kids have real mental health issues and the schools should focus on helping them. Not the made up mental health issues that parents use to handle their kids poor behavior.

No. That is not a school's job. That is a parent's job. Do your job, parent. Get help for your kids. Schools should focus on teaching and learning. Parents are supposed to focus on everything else. Stop making schools responsible for doing something for your kid because of your inability to do your job as a parent.

I am a parent writing this.

Well current federal law disagrees with you, but I guess you could take it up with your senator and rep.

You write as if it were so easy for any parent to just pick up the phone and schedule free weekly sessions with a qualified therapist within walking distance. There are MAJOR barriers for many parents in this process. None the least of which is understanding mental health, the utility of therapy in it, and trust in a largely white pool of therapists. - a white teacher

I’m sorry to hear that. Your kids’ mental health is still *your* responsibility, not the school’s. Figure it out.

So let’s say that your child comes to me as his/her/they’re teacher to confide that they’ve been sexually assaulted, are suicidal, etc. You would prefer that I shrug and tell them it’s not my responsibility? I guarantee you that many will harm themselves before confiding in a parent. Be careful- it could be YOUR child in a dangerous mental health crisis one day. And, in my experience, the “ tough luck” parents are not particularly approachable for their children.

I would expect you to call and inform the parent of the minor child so they can handle it. If the parent is the abuser, I would expect you to fulfill your duties as a mandated reporter to CPS.

Next question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are educators shocked that there was real harm done when the schools went virtual for over a year? That parents still have a chip on their shoulders towards schools because they were closed far longer than any other workplace. They were told schools aren’t daycare so you and your family are on your own figuring out how to help your child learn anything?

Of course parents are throwing their hands up and saying that catching up their kids is the school’s problem. They wanted schools open when their kids were falling behind.

Kids realized that their education mattered pretty little to the adults in their lives. They had 18 months to skate by.

This is the fall out. It will eventually level off but it’s ridiculous to think it will within six months.

Too bad. Do your jobs, Mama Bears. Take full responsibility for YOUR kids.

You do realize that not every parent is a software engineer working from home in their home office, correct?

Remember that next time you ask for the manager at the grocery store.

I think the point is that they are now YOUR responsibility as teachers during the day. Not every parent is home during school hours. Don't complain the kids are tough this year and super behind academically. Most parents did the best that they could in an impossible situation. We are all tryign to support and figure out how to help kids now that they are back in school.
It shouldn't be shocking that the kids are behind, unable to take things seriously and much more aggressive. It's not been a typical or easy few years. Parents are mentally spent after years of juggling.

You are aware that many teachers are also parents, correct? We have our own children to worry about and we are also “mentally spent.” Also, I accept that the students are my responsibility during the school day. I just hope you understand that I’m taking responsibility for over 100 students a day, many of whom are academically behind and some are aggressive. Things are going to slip. I’m not superhuman. Any help you can provide as another parent is always appreciated.

Teachers are responsible for basic caretaking and education during the school day. They are not responsible for all your kids needs because you refuse to parent them. They are not doctors, they are not nurses, they are not social workers, they are not nannies to get your kids fed and dressed (especially if its not a money issue in terms of food), etc.

If you cannot handle being a parent, stop having so many kids and put them in foster care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things have gotten worse at my school. Kids have gotten comfortable and spring is here. That means, there has been an uptick in outrageous behaviors. Today, I had to half drag a kindergarten student upstairs to the office because he started hitting/hicking us. This afternoon, the entire downstairs at my school had to listen to screaming from a pre-k kid who has been running laps around the school for the last few weeks. I also have a student who eats everything and anything under the sun. Thankfully her classmates tell me when this happens so I can fish it out of her mouth (today it was a twist tie and a cap eraser). My student with the huge behavior issues was absent today so it was a pretty calm day.

I've heard awful stories from the middle school. The admin is always busy with them so they rarely have time to help us out. We are exhausted and we still have two weeks left before spring break. Teachers call in sick so much due to the stress and exhaustion and there are no subs (who can blame them with these behavior issues?) And our school isn't even that bad compared to others I've heard about.

Parents need to be called to pick up their kids or to sit with them in class if they cannot behave.

So they should just leave work every day to come to school? How realistic is that?

Perhaps that will motivate them to actually parent their out of control kids and/or get them psychiatrist help so that they won’t have to keep missing work. Shrug.

Wow you really hit the low end of DCUM. Shrug.

Gross.

Its gross to do nothing and just send your kids to school pretending its nothing. Some kids have real mental health issues and the schools should focus on helping them. Not the made up mental health issues that parents use to handle their kids poor behavior.

No. That is not a school's job. That is a parent's job. Do your job, parent. Get help for your kids. Schools should focus on teaching and learning. Parents are supposed to focus on everything else. Stop making schools responsible for doing something for your kid because of your inability to do your job as a parent.

I am a parent writing this.

Well current federal law disagrees with you, but I guess you could take it up with your senator and rep.

You write as if it were so easy for any parent to just pick up the phone and schedule free weekly sessions with a qualified therapist within walking distance. There are MAJOR barriers for many parents in this process. None the least of which is understanding mental health, the utility of therapy in it, and trust in a largely white pool of therapists. - a white teacher

I’m sorry to hear that. Your kids’ mental health is still *your* responsibility, not the school’s. Figure it out.

So let’s say that your child comes to me as his/her/they’re teacher to confide that they’ve been sexually assaulted, are suicidal, etc. You would prefer that I shrug and tell them it’s not my responsibility? I guarantee you that many will harm themselves before confiding in a parent. Be careful- it could be YOUR child in a dangerous mental health crisis one day. And, in my experience, the “ tough luck” parents are not particularly approachable for their children.

I would expect you to call and inform the parent of the minor child so they can handle it. If the parent is the abuser, I would expect you to fulfill your duties as a mandated reporter to CPS.

Next question?

You don't handle it alone as a teacher. You either go through the appropriate school channels to notify the police/cps and parents. Teachers cannot handle dangerous mental health crisis and they would be negligent if they tried to on their own as they are not trained to do it. If a child is suicidal, the school councilors and administrators handle it along with a crisis team and parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here.

Nothing has gotten better.

Kids are still well below grade level. Kids do not know how to socialize. Kids do not know how to behave. Kids just do not care. Honestly, the families do not seem to care either.

Because you’re taught to be quiet in school from the very beginning.

Elementary teacher here who practices self-control with students each day. In an effective classroom, it is necessary for students to be quiet at times AND engage in cooperative work while verbally communicating. BOTH are important. I think the previous poster was not saying that students today don’t know how to talk to each other. Newsflash- they do! But many lost ground on pro-social skills.

Many of those kids are allowed to behave that way at home and know there are no real consequences for poor behavior at school. Parents think it is the schools problem vs. telling the kids if they get in trouble at school, they get in trouble at home. Parents also are not modeling the behavior. If you name call and belittle your kids, they will do the same to others. If you tease and bully, they will do the same. Social skills start at home.

[Anonymous]

Raising the legal drop out age to 17 was a mistake.

For 9th grade and up I say expel them if they can’t behave.