Yes, you and I are dinosaurs.  Our expectations are unreasonable (why ever SHOULD darling Bayleigh stop screaming, throwing things, and, generally acting like a fool - too bad she is 14, pregnant, and already with an ankle bracelet - it's totally the teacher's fault!), our academic requirements need to be "modified" for Precious, and, if (strike that) WHEN said Precious fails, well, you'll just have to spend extra time coming up with an extra credit that Mom - I mean Precious - can dash off in a single day.

After all, Precious just can't attend summer school.  YOU'LL have to make the adjustment, therefore.

My first time blogging, so here goes ... When having representatives from the San Rafael's School for "Dogs for the Blind," I was struck with the training and expectations for both the dog and the recipient.  One of my 4th grade students asked the blind gentleman, "How does the original 'Dogs for the Blind School' know if and when you don't take proper care for the dog?"  The very kind gentleman responded, "They do spot checks all the time. If my dog doesn't look well kept and happy, my dog goes to another home.  They check that I love the dog, keep the dog clean, have play time for the dog and homework that checks his skills and keeps up his training.  If I don't do my job and continue with my followup classes myself, I lose my dog."  Finally another student asked, "Do parents with kids go through the same training?"  All the adults looked at one another and said, "We wish."

This is my first time blogging as well. I love teaching, and have been disheartened by my school's ability to do so much for parents, and not always support the teachers. For example, we are highly qualified to teach, follow a professional code of conduct, and do our best job each day. When a child gets into trouble, the administration mainly supports the parents almost to avoid conflict. I have felt punished for my decisions as a teacher, when I know I am correct. Most of my parents are seen only to pick up their children after school, and do not come at all for events we offer. I have had children who swear, steal, and come to school dirty; the parents know this and are not horrified when I speak to them. I do not want to complain, but I would like to see the parents be more accountable, and check that the kids are cared for and do their homework.

I have seen in my own experiences as well as hearing from my mom who is a teacher about how things have changed with students behavior.  There are some things that I see students doing in school that I would have never ever thought of doing when I was in school.  But it's not only in school where parents are letting the slack fall.  There the children who run around in restaurants and that are just plain disrespectful to any authority figure.  Parents should definately be attending the inservices to show them what they should be doing.  Not all parents are slacking off in the areas covered by the inservices but it's those few that don't that make things harder in the classroom.  I don't think that parents really understand how things like behavior can be disruptive in the classroom but if children don't have to respect their parents or siblings then why would they respect anyone else?

OMG!  I have to say that it's especially bad when you talk to a parent and they say it's up to us to "watch" the children.  They basically wipe their hands clean of their own children's irresponsibity and disrespectful nature in class.  Then, when it's time to pick up their kids report cards they wonder why their kids are not doing well!!!