Thread: Ugh. . .

oh not good hope you're feeling better.

I'm posting this here b/c ugh really says it. I vented on my blog too, but you know...only teachers can understand the real hurt and frustration.

I have resisted the urge to rant and rave but people...I have had a really bad day. Not all of it, just one little part. Have you ever had those days where one (gigantic) incident ruins your day? If you teach you might know where I'm going with this...Guys, I had to call a parent today about academic dishonesty. I will refrain from details...but I saw it! I SAW kids paper in kids line of sight. Was kid using it? I can only assume since instructions (written and verbal) included be certain all information is not visible. Since I could see it obviously kid could too. And since I saw it from kids desk when I went over and took it then kid could see it too. So I called parent...by that time parent had already been informed of what was coming, only parent had been told some elaborate story that was not even remotely true. OH how I would love to recap, but I just can't do that here and feel OK about it. But people, you know...I HAVE NO FREAKIN DESIRE FOR ANY STUDENT TO FAIL MY CLASS! I go above and beyond to be certain that students have every opportunity to pass if they will just try. I would guarantee that most ALL teachers are this way and do not want to deal with a high fail rate, nor do they want YOUR kid to fail! Did it ever occur to parent that kid might not want to get in trouble and just might...MIGHT...lie? Instead parent yells at me...ok, yells is harsh. How about, was HIGHLY aggressive to the point that I refused to continue the conversation. I was 100% professional the entire conversation. (I have witnesses that would testify to that.) I have learned one thing in dealing with difficult parents...Never...NEVER...EVER lose it. ALWAYS remain 100% professional and do not give in to the temptation to reciprocate the behavior. If you do it will come back to bite you in the butt. Anyway, my administrator stood by me through this. His wife was actually present during the phone call and was so wonderful to calm me down and put me back together after it. I have a tendency to shake when I'm stressed or nervous. I still had another meeting to attend and two classes to teach! OMG it was just not good. Not good I tell you. It will work out, I know it will. I know I did what I was supposed to do, and I know I am not lying. Better yet, my administrators knows I am not lying and knows to what lengths I go to in an effort to help my kids pass. I love my job but sometimes I do wonder why.

Lately things have been trying with several of us...the one thing we remind each other...and it is SO important to remember...so I will remind myself here:
Did you wake up this morning? YES
Does your spouse love you? YES
Do your kids love you? YES
Does your dog love you? YES
Does you cat love you? (ok, 3 out of 5 is not bad)

Point is...at the end of the day, I have to go home. Some days with work, but I try to leave work at work. Once home, the above is all that matters. I woke up this morning and did the best I could through the day. I have the love of my husband and kids...and my pets are glad to see me too.

Tomorrow is another day, make the most of it.

Kontan Jou

OH how I would love to recap, but I just can't do that here and feel OK about it.

BTDT. If I catch somebody cheating, I don't take it to the parents the first time. In fact, they usually get the paper back marked with a zero and the notation "don't copy such-and-such's paper again" ( and "such and such" usually gets a note on theirs saying "if your paper looks like X's, you'll both get a zero"). As far as parents- well, they have a nasty habit of assuming their parenting is/was infallible. You have my sympathy. "This too shall pass".

Originally Posted by JohnBoy

BTDT. If I catch somebody cheating, I don't take it to the parents the first time.

on homework that is what I do, on tests, it is policy to take it to an administrator, and parent has to be called.

My school doesn't have a schoolwide policy on cheating....which can be a good thing...or a bad thing....I'm not always certain which.