Sunday, March 27, 2005

Hi, new friends

So now I know why people are here, it's the article in the newspaper.

I was a little shocked that the article led with me cursing and ranting...but I suppose that's what I get for a)not censoring my posting and b)interviewing for an article about the blog. I refuse to censor myself here, except for the fact that I don't use real names (my own, my kids, my colleagues, my school). So read at your own discretion!

I suppose it might seem like I'm a violent, hateful person if you take some of those quotes out of context, but I am fully not. I get angry and upset, just like anyone else. The scales are more tipped that way than being Susie-Sunshine, it seems. I don't have too many happy-smiley stories to share about my first year teaching, but when something good happens, I definitely write about that.

I just hope everyone out there understands that all people have good and bad days at work. Being a teacher, you can be in the best mood ever, but if your students are having a rough day, then so will you. It's not like working in an office job, where a bad day might be triggered by a lack of toner or too many voicemails or something. It's dealing with people: adults and kids. And if they get on you, or they react to you poorly, then that comes back to bite you in the ass.

Here's something from last week that I keep forgetting to write about:
When I'm talking/instructing/whatever, and there's noise, I stop. Mid-word, mid-sentence, whatever. Sometimes I'll shoot a Teacher Look of Death at the noisemaker, sometimes I'll snap, "I'll WAIT." The kids will nudge each other or look guilty for the most part, and quiet up.

So Wednesday, I'm standing in front of Class C, and I stop midword to wait for the chatter to die down (they are a very chatty bunch). And almost immediately, a girl pipes up, "I'm waiting!!"

I clapped my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud. The rest of the class laughed too. Too funny! I said, "Well, at least you guys are paying attention!"

Later, I had called on someone to speak, and there was other chatter going on. Another girl yelled out, "I should only hear one voice at a time!" Which, of course, is what I say all the time.

This cracks me up. I am thrilled that they know me well enough to imitate me to each other. I'm relieved that they're actually listening to hear me say those things. Maybe that means they hear other things I say too, like you know, lessons and stuff.

See? I'm not evil or anything. I'm human, that's all!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jules, you are a nice guy trying to do a very difficult job. I think most folks get that. I empathize with you totally. Talking and chatter almost never stops in my class. No matter how hard I try.

Anonymous said...

So sorry Jules. I' new to your site and I'm still only half awake. Your a nice GAL!

Jubileee said...

Great article Jules. I was wondering why I was also getting a few extra hits to my blog coming from yours. Just a question - you mentioned that you wanted to stay anonymous, but don't you worry that someone from your school will stumble onto your blog and recognize some of the students in your pictures? That's my dilemma. I'm paranoid some parent or fellow teacher will figure out who I am from my pictures. I'm also not allowed to post my students pictures on the web. Then again - I'm a very paranoid person.

Anonymous said...

Yes I did read the article in today's newspaper and I felt compelled to log on and post a comment.

I personally think anyone that teaches in the NYC school system must have the patience of Job.
First you don't have the support of the Bd of Ed, the parents or the community. Second the pay sucks for the miracles that they want you to perform. It seems as though it is the norm to expect the majority of your students to act up in class and not learn. If you get 3 or 4 students who actually want to learn you have to focus on them and hope that they are getting the education they deserve all the while trying to maintain some type of order in the class. When I was in school it was the opposite, you had 3 or 4 students who didn't want to learn but because the majority wanted to learn you were still able to get your education everyday. If (and thats a big If) I acted out in school the worse thing that could have happened was they told my mother. My mother didn't play any games when it came to school. I didnt have a mental impairment that prevented me from behaving correctly or learning so my mother expected only my best which she knew were A and B's. Unfortunately most of the children in the NYC school system have major personal/family problems that they are dealing with, so they really don't really have anyone telling that they can do it, but at some point they have to start being responsibile for their actions and do the right thing. The Bd of Ed wants YOU to be responsible for the childs education which is IMPOSSIBLE without those other support factors. If a child comes form a really dysfunctional home (and some of you know what I mean) they probably wont be a well-adjusted student. You have to fix the other problems first, and the education would fall right in place. NYC has a very good curriculum but students aren't learning. Why are our young adults are so angry? These kids are really hurting and taking out their frustrations on society. Which is a real dangerous situation. These kids come from broken homes and are dealing with issues that no one should have to deal with. They bring guns and other weapons to school, drugs, constant fights and arguments, sometimes there are sexual assaults or murder. That sounds like a prison not a school.
I take my hat off to the men and women who are teachers.....Some of you should get hazard pay.
Keep venting you need it.

Anonymous said...

Yes I did read the article in today's newspaper and I felt compelled to log on and post a comment.

I personally think anyone that teaches in the NYC school system must have the patience of Job.
First you don't have the support of the Bd of Ed, the parents or the community. Second the pay sucks for the miracles that they want you to perform. It seems as though it is the norm to expect the majority of your students to act up in class and not learn. If you get 3 or 4 students who actually want to learn you have to focus on them and hope that they are getting the education they deserve all the while trying to maintain some type of order in the class. When I was in school it was the opposite, you had 3 or 4 students who didn't want to learn but because the majority wanted to learn you were still able to get your education everyday. If (and thats a big If) I acted out in school the worse thing that could have happened was they told my mother. My mother didn't play any games when it came to school. I didnt have a mental impairment that prevented me from behaving correctly or learning so my mother expected only my best which she knew were A and B's. Unfortunately most of the children in the NYC school system have major personal/family problems that they are dealing with, so they really don't really have anyone telling that they can do it, but at some point they have to start being responsibile for their actions and do the right thing. The Bd of Ed wants YOU to be responsible for the childs education which is IMPOSSIBLE without those other support factors. If a child comes form a really dysfunctional home (and some of you know what I mean) they probably wont be a well-adjusted student. You have to fix the other problems first, and the education would fall right in place. NYC has a very good curriculum but students aren't learning. Why are our young adults are so angry? These kids are really hurting and taking out their frustrations on society. Which is a real dangerous situation. These kids come from broken homes and are dealing with issues that no one should have to deal with. They bring guns and other weapons to school, drugs, constant fights and arguments, sometimes there are sexual assaults or murder. That sounds like a prison not a school.
I take my hat off to the men and women who are teachers.....Some of you should get hazard pay.
Keep venting you need it.