Something to understand, especially this school year, is that kids are anxious and angry. They have few acceptable ways to express these emotions and are still learning how to process stuff well and care for themselves. There’s a lot of stuff that kids do (and middle schoolers are still kids) that we’d classify as mental illness if adults did the same. I’m sorry OP was bummed out. And what s/he witnessed is not a sign that all of these kids are going to have unsatisfying lives.

Thank you for subbing, OP!

I believe it. Never been to a zoo (it’s free here)z

Neglect is very real and at all ends if the income strata.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you. I test kids in elementary schools and it’s one on one mostly and kids are younger but I feel similar. Kids are mostly nice but my heart breaks for them. A 5th grader saying they have never seen a wild animal. Another 5th grader unable to retell the basic text with visual clues. It’s not a language issue. Some kids’ brains are just never engaged and trained, plus genetics sometimes too.

I believe this. There are 2 kids in my daughters Girl Scout troop ( 5th graders) who cannot ride a bike or swim. Bit both of them have their own cell phones with data plans. It’s so sad, the kids think they’re getting what they want and they’re cool…. But they’re missing out on so much.

Do you believe that? The 5th graders haven’t ever seen a squirrel or bird? Those are wild animals. Maybe they were thinking of an elephant. As for riding a bike, my kid had a cell and a data plan but had no interest in riding a bike. When she was little and learning she fell and broke her arm. She refused. She can do lots of other things and isn’t deprived in life. There could be a very good reason these kids don’t ride bikes too. You sound really judgmental.

Don’t feel sad, OP. I’m a high school teacher with a middle school kid. Middle school really is the worst. Most grow up to be decent and downright pleasant teens. My own kid can be pretty miserable right now and I keep reminding myself it’s the age. Next time, try subbing in the older high school grades. And thank you for being a substitute!

So, funny story. Today I was picking up some 7th graders. They were very happy their teacher was back after an absence (popular teacher). They said that the Monday and Tuesday they had a parent as a substitute and she was really mean. They said she yelled at some kids and told them to “Shut up” when the kids were trying to work on a group project that they are assigned for this week. Obviously, no idea if that’s accurate or if that’s OP…..but it highlights that substitute teaching is not super easy, and you can’t really just use random untrained parents to fill in. Obviously the sub was frustrated and lost her cool (assuming the story was true)—our teachers put up with it every day and manage to mostly keep their cool.
I feel bad for the sub’s kids, because I am sure other kids told them that their mom was mean to them. I guess I feel bad for the sub too!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sus that you’re blaming the kids. They’re children. It’s adults that have failed them.

I don’t see OP blaming anyone. Just stating the facts. The prognosis isn’t looking so good regardless of who’s responsible.

She places blame directly on them. “Many are extremely defiant…They don’t seem to understand that this is their chance to create a good future.” Pure disdain for these kids.

You should pick a different job OP.

Who do you blame them. Their parents? Their parents' parents? Everyone is pointing fingers at each other. Middle school kids should are not preschoolers.

Pre schoolers don’t generally stare at their phones and have unpleasant interactions with strange adults in a position of authority. For middle schoolers, that’s the norm. 9 pages later I still see nothing strange about the day the OP described

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sus that you’re blaming the kids. They’re children. It’s adults that have failed them.

I don’t see OP blaming anyone. Just stating the facts. The prognosis isn’t looking so good regardless of who’s responsible.

She places blame directly on them. “Many are extremely defiant…They don’t seem to understand that this is their chance to create a good future.” Pure disdain for these kids.

You should pick a different job OP.

Who do you blame them. Their parents? Their parents' parents? Everyone is pointing fingers at each other. Middle school kids should are not preschoolers.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for being a sub, OP! Seriously.

Plus one

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm a parent trying to help with the sub shortage. I actually have an 8th grader at the school and thought I had a general sense of what was going on there. Nope! I realize these are kids and it's not their fault. My observation is that some of these kids did were not willing to do any work or put in any effort. I'm not going to sugar coat what I observed.

Thanks op. Dcum is filled with people who’ll be contrary no matter what. Thanks for subbing and thanks for sharing your observations.

This. Gotta love DCUM. Always quick on the attack.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a parent who occasionally volunteers for lunch and in the process of applying to be a sub. I taught college students in the past but I'm a bit anxious about subbing for middle and high schoolers!

I have been subbing this year - for both middle and high school. Sometimes it is bad. But, most of the time it isn't. And can even be fun. Really. My advice - ask the front office on your first day for general guidelines with student behavior and what resources you have if things go bad. The administration/deans usually support subs for behavior issues if needed. And try to walk the tightrope of not letting them walk all over you, but not dictating too harshly.

+1, the other thing to remember is if a class is truly awful, you don’t have to sub for them again.

Anonymous wrote:I am a parent who occasionally volunteers for lunch and in the process of applying to be a sub. I taught college students in the past but I'm a bit anxious about subbing for middle and high schoolers!

I have been subbing this year - for both middle and high school. Sometimes it is bad. But, most of the time it isn't. And can even be fun. Really. My advice - ask the front office on your first day for general guidelines with student behavior and what resources you have if things go bad. The administration/deans usually support subs for behavior issues if needed. And try to walk the tightrope of not letting them walk all over you, but not dictating too harshly.

I am a parent who occasionally volunteers for lunch and in the process of applying to be a sub. I taught college students in the past but I'm a bit anxious about subbing for middle and high schoolers!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They may need someone to believe in them. Someone who will not determined after a glimpse at one day of their, that they are doomed to failure. Someone who understands life has been extra challenging the past few years. Someone to encourage and guide them to keep trying.

They need high standards, uniforms, discipline, accountability, and a sense of community.

Exactly what parochial schools and seton schools are able to do with inner city children.

I don’t think large county public school districts can get any less academic or below grade level than they are. The admin really caters to the bottom half and the bottom half keeps dragging the curriculum and teaching and classroom behavior down.

Bring back honors track in 4th grade onward.

This is so true ☹️

“honors track” ??

That equals “tracking,” and the democrats have decided tracking is racist. Now, stop suggesting it, you racists!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
1. It's 8th grade.

2. You're a sub.

3. Of course they're not going to respect you or want to do a lick of work

4. And you're so stupid and unaware of the dynamic here, you can conclude they're all doomed after one day!!! Clearly, subbing for that age group is not for you

Of course they’re not going to respect you? WTF ? So it’s normal for kids not to respect adults? Keep that bar low, PP. You are part of the problem.

I was in a private high school with corporal punishment 30 years ago and we didn't "respect the subs" and got away with what we could. It's the way of 8th graders.