The problem with Dr. Phil's comment today with "let the schools handle it" is that school districts will generally do whatever it takes to pacify parents and avoid law suits. It takes a long time to finally get any real action with students who disrupt the classroom or do something that is damaging to a teacher. One needs documentation, documentation, documentation and then MAYBE action can be taken. I am, quite frankly, and for the first time, disappointed in Dr. Phil's naivity with what really goes on. There are, indeed, some schools and some brave principals, who will stand up for their teachers , as long as the teachers don't give them any reason to do otherwise. However, all too often, principals or upper adminstrators will crumble under the pressure of an unsatisfied parent.
And not only that, I have experienced that if some students detect a way out of self- responsibilty, via lying or stretching the truth to a parent in order to pass the blame on the teacher and take away from them, that student will milk it for all it's worth- if it gets the focus off of him/her. That has happened to me, as a teacher of 33 years, and is one of the reasons I'm retiring early (at the end of this school year). The rumor mill sometimes runs amuck and gets bigger as it passes on. I have had parents accuse me of being mean-spirited, of saying things I have never said, I have been accused of saying things that other teachers have said, and I recently have been accused of spreading ridiculous stories about nutrition (from the Dr. Lawlis book- our team is trying to try out his techniques). I was told today that I am a language arts teacher- not a nutritionist- and that it didn't seem like I was practicing what I have been preaching (I'm a bit overweight, but not obese). I was also told that I was teaching ridiculous things (we're getting it from Dr. Lawlis's book). I suppose it's ridiculous when it comes from a teacher.
I feel like I am one of the lucky teachers. My principal and vice principals absolutely support us. And yet, we still have to defend ourselves at times and try to convince parents that what their child said is so, really isn't so. Why should we even have to do that?
I have had students in the past (when we had weak administration), actually set me up, and "win." This period of my careet (3 years), inspired me to move on with a new career plan ASAP.
I love the actual job of teaching. I love working with the students. However, all the extra things we continually are forced to take on gets overwhelming, thankless, and usually leads to parent complaints. Then, of course, it is "bad" teachers who are responsible. Teaching used to be an honorable career. Now it seems to be a point of distrust and scrutiny. We MUST be accountable as teachers because we have a powerful influence on the students we work with from year to year. However, what has happened is that we are always under suspicion of what the media has been reporting- education is failing. Ergo- the teachers must be the problem. We are accused of wrongdoing before there is any evidence of wrongdoing. It gets extremely draining and ruins any credibility that we have.
Thank God I'm getting out when I am. I'm sad to do so on many levels, but I know my stress level will go down significantly once I'm out of the profession. Oh, I still have to work. Fifty-five is way too early to sit on my behind and not do anything else. Besides that, I have moved to two different school districts once I moved from Nebraska, and I only have twenty years in Colorado. Another - ERGO- I have to work. However, at least I won't have to deal with parents, administration, and negatively moxy students anymore. This is a sad commentary on our society, as far as I'm concerned. It is also rather frightening. Think about it.
Kids across the country are playing pranks and harassing teachers. Tericka, a high school science teacher who loved her job, lived in fear of her scandalous past catching up with her and getting her fired. Students eventually found out about her shocking past and the news spread throughout town like wildfire. Are other teachers taking her side, or do they feel her punishment was justified? How can she move forward? Then, Anna, an assistant principal, was harassed on the Internet when two students created a fake MySpace page alleging to be her. She says they completely attacked her character and need to be held accountable for their actions. Was this just a practical joke gone bad, or were these students out for revenge? Find out what Anna did to show these kids that some jokes just aren't funny. Could the mischief your kids get into end up costing you thousands of dollars? Talk about the show here.
