OT: Teachers of Boneyard...Back to School Time

[M.S.G.]

I agree with much of what has been said here, however, through all of that I think this is one of the best years of my career. I got out of an urban district with a myriad of problems after the year started and found my "forever home" in a small but stable district with an equal commute.

Things went further off the rails after I left my former district, making the local news after a gun incident didn't even prompt a lockdown from administration, can't even make this stuff up..

I am seeing the lack of maturity for sure, 10th graders act like 9th graders, 9th like 8th and so forth. I'm not sure where this will turn around after COVID, or if it even will. I will say that I've always been a pretty easy grader, my philosophy has been if a kid is likely not going to college and does "some" work, I'm going to bump a 47 to a 60 after making them sweat a little bit. Maybe I'm part of the problem instead of the solution because after COVID these kids just feel like they can't fail.

That being said, someone earlier mentioned students not taking agency, and I think that's the bigger issue. The academic apathy I see is startling, but where I see it is in the middle. I have a 10th grade Honors course that is potentially the strongest group I've ever had, and I have a 10th grade co-taught class that's mostly IEP students and they have flourished since I took over. The biggest concern is that middle group, they could absolutely care less about anything that takes more than a day to complete. Our largest grade in Q4 was a research paper and I had to literally beg and plead with kids to turn something in. Then, I would get absolute sludge. As if I didn't explain profusely - along with including "How to" resources how the paper needed to be formatted, how their arguments should be made and so forth. Many of these kids couldn't be bothered to attempt to do it right. Perhaps I'm old school and a stickler, but I mean, if a kid isn't going to college that's all fine and good, but turning in research papers not in Times New Roman 12" is just lazy to me.

Behavior plays along in conjunction with this as well. The problem in this case is administration. The states have made it more and more difficult to suspend kids. We don't even have an in school suspension program, perhaps that's due to lack of bodies but who knows. Many teachers either ignore behaviors, or don't bother writing kids up because nothing is going to happen or change. That leads to a kid coming back to your class 20 minutes after you threw them out with a grin on their face because they know they won. Granted, we had an absent principal who was finally fired in March and an interim leading the way since.

I still love what I do and can't imagine doing anything else, but the way teachers are treated by their own districts, parents, and the public still disgusts me. Remember that 2 month stretch when COVID started when we were hailed as heroes by everyone? That is looooooooooooooooooooooooong gone and we're back to lazy whiners who "get the whole summer off".

Keep fighting the good fight folks, our "whole summer off" is right around the corner..

 

[crazyUCfan23]

I agree with much of what has been said here, however, through all of that I think this is one of the best years of my career. I got out of an urban district with a myriad of problems after the year started and found my "forever home" in a small but stable district with an equal commute.

Things went further off the rails after I left my former district, making the local news after a gun incident didn't even prompt a lockdown from administration, can't even make this stuff up..

I am seeing the lack of maturity for sure, 10th graders act like 9th graders, 9th like 8th and so forth. I'm not sure where this will turn around after COVID, or if it even will. I will say that I've always been a pretty easy grader, my philosophy has been if a kid is likely not going to college and does "some" work, I'm going to bump a 47 to a 60 after making them sweat a little bit. Maybe I'm part of the problem instead of the solution because after COVID these kids just feel like they can't fail.

That being said, someone earlier mentioned students not taking agency, and I think that's the bigger issue. The academic apathy I see is startling, but where I see it is in the middle. I have a 10th grade Honors course that is potentially the strongest group I've ever had, and I have a 10th grade co-taught class that's mostly IEP students and they have flourished since I took over. The biggest concern is that middle group, they could absolutely care less about anything that takes more than a day to complete. Our largest grade in Q4 was a research paper and I had to literally beg and plead with kids to turn something in. Then, I would get absolute sludge. As if I didn't explain profusely - along with including "How to" resources how the paper needed to be formatted, how their arguments should be made and so forth. Many of these kids couldn't be bothered to attempt to do it right. Perhaps I'm old school and a stickler, but I mean, if a kid isn't going to college that's all fine and good, but turning in research papers not in Times New Roman 12" is just lazy to me.

Behavior plays along in conjunction with this as well. The problem in this case is administration. The states have made it more and more difficult to suspend kids. We don't even have an in school suspension program, perhaps that's due to lack of bodies but who knows. Many teachers either ignore behaviors, or don't bother writing kids up because nothing is going to happen or change. That leads to a kid coming back to your class 20 minutes after you threw them out with a grin on their face because they know they won. Granted, we had an absent principal who was finally fired in March and an interim leading the way since.

I still love what I do and can't imagine doing anything else, but the way teachers are treated by their own districts, parents, and the public still disgusts me. Remember that 2 month stretch when COVID started when we were hailed as heroes by everyone? That is looooooooooooooooooooooooong gone and we're back to lazy whiners who "get the whole summer off".

Keep fighting the good fight folks, our "whole summer off" is right around the corner..

Well put!

 

[Kemba Time]

As a non-teacher lurking in this thread (my parents were both educators), I just want to offer all of you a huge thank you for all you do.

20+ years since I finished high school, there are two influences from my childhood that have meant the most to where I am today: My parents and my teachers.

For all the crap you all put up with, I hope you can appreciate how much what you do positively impacts the students who you get through to each year.

 

[Mr. Hand]

I still love what I do and can't imagine doing anything else, but the way teachers are treated by their own districts, parents, and the public still disgusts me.

This is it in a nutshell.

Public education is not valued, despite the foundational roll it plays in making things work. I don't know how to get through to most people, but I never, ever sit by and let anyone talk crap about public education without getting an earfull. I have no patience for idiots who practice such intelligence limiting propositions.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

We just had a meeting with the students that were going on the Acadia trip and we shared that there will be "blackout hours" with their phones.

It turned into a combination of an intervention/mutiny.

Also, I’ve heard whispers that “No fun teachers” are going aka teachers who act like middle schoolers, want to be friends with the kids and have awful classroom management.

 

[husky429]

We just had a meeting with the students that were going on the Acadia trip and we shared that there will be "blackout hours" with their phones.

It turned into a combination of an intervention/mutiny.

Phones in schools is fascinating, and honestly I think a lot of the problems are a small % of teachers' fault. My school is 100% no phones. We have almost no problems because kids know their parents have to pick it up if they use it in class. The follow through from admin on this issue--unlike most--is always there. It's a culture thing... a couple bad teachers or one admin with no spine ruins it.

My two last districts had similar policies, but there were a few (usually younger) teachers who wanted to be the kids' friend and would allow the phones... and it completely derailed any progress we made. Inconsistent follow through on discipline by which admin happened to pick up the discipline referral didn't help either.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

We just had a meeting with the students that were going on the Acadia trip and we shared that there will be "blackout hours" with their phones.

It turned into a combination of an intervention/mutiny.

The phone issue is big these days. One of the hockey coaches for a middle school team down here in PA told the kids ‘no cell phones in the locker room’ and you would have thought he told them they each have to cut off one of their body parts. Not sure who’s worse, the parents or the kids.

Last week there was an incident with some of the other 4th graders in my son’s class. Apparently there is a chat that you can sign your kids up for similar to text message or Facebook messenger. I must have missed the email about it or something bc I never signed my kid up for it and probably wouldn’t have anyway. Well last Friday night, I was sitting with the treasurer of the PTA having dinner with her family and she starts getting phone calls. Apparently a boy in one of the other 4th grade classes took a video of his ‘privates’ and sent it to 25 other students, 17 were girls (one was the treasurer’s daughter).

My wife and I agreed that in a few years when my son comes asking for a cell phone, he’s getting a flip phone or a Zach Morris/Gordon Gekko satellite phone…

 

[husky429]

Behavior plays along in conjunction with this as well. The problem in this case is administration. The states have made it more and more difficult to suspend kids. We don't even have an in school suspension program, perhaps that's due to lack of bodies but who knows. Many teachers either ignore behaviors, or don't bother writing kids up because nothing is going to happen or change. That leads to a kid coming back to your class 20 minutes after you threw them out with a grin on their face because they know they won. Granted, we had an absent principal who was finally fired in March and an interim leading the way since.

Are you in CT? If so, schools are required to have an ISS program. It doesn't need to be in the building, but it is mandated to exist. ISS should be replacing a lot of what used to be OSS.

 

[temery]

Always thought that calling parents at work when students were out of line got the best results.Parents and students hatted it.

True, but the only message you can leave is to call (your name) at (your school's number).

 

[Chin Diesel]

We just had a meeting with the students that were going on the Acadia trip and we shared that there will be "blackout hours" with their phones.

It turned into a combination of an intervention/mutiny.

Also, I’ve heard whispers that “No fun teachers” are going aka teachers who act like middle schoolers, want to be friends with the kids and have awful classroom management.

Phones in schools is fascinating, and honestly I think a lot of the problems are a small % of teachers' fault. My school is 100% no phones. We have almost no problems because kids know their parents have to pick it up if they use it in class. The follow through from admin on this issue--unlike most--is always there. It's a culture thing... a couple bad teachers or one admin with no spine ruins it.

My two last districts had similar policies, but there were a few (usually younger) teachers who wanted to be the kids' friend and would allow the phones... and it completely derailed any progress we made. Inconsistent follow through on discipline by which admin happened to pick up the discipline referral didn't help either.

The phone issue is big these days. One of the hockey coaches for a middle school team down here in PA told the kids ‘no cell phones in the locker room’ and you would have thought he told them they each have to cut off one of their body parts. Not sure who’s worse, the parents or the kids.

Last week there was an incident with some of the other 4th graders in my son’s class. Apparently there is a chat that you can sign your kids up for similar to text message or Facebook messenger. I must have missed the email about it or something bc I never signed my kid up for it and probably wouldn’t have anyway. Well last Friday night, I was sitting with the treasurer of the PTA having dinner with her family and she starts getting phone calls. Apparently a boy in one of the other 4th grade classes took a video of his ‘privates’ and sent it to 25 other students, 17 were girls (one was the treasurer’s daughter).

My wife and I agreed that in a few years when my son comes asking for a cell phone, he’s getting a flip phone or a Zach Morris/Gordon Gekko satellite phone…

Part of me thinks the younger teachers used cell phones and mobile devices when they were in HS and college and for them it's just another tool to find information, much like going to a book shelf and grabbing an encyclopedia was for those of us who are older. They're not aghast at the thought of a student pulling out a phone to look up information. For schools that don't have universal computer access, it's a way for almost every student to have a level playing field. Problem is managing that and figuring out how to allow them to search for information and not just use the phone for chats, messages, tik tok, etc.

Regardless technology in the classroom is going one-way and that is towards more of it. Both my kids are out of HS and they had laptops that were hooked up to the school's wifi from day 1 as freshmen. They were expected to know how to use them as a tool for research, doing assignments and turning in assignments. Granted school districts across the country aren't evenly funded but expect the technology to keep moving forward.

 

[lange10]

I've been volun-told that due to shifting numbers in the district I'm moving from 5th to 6th next year. Any teachers on here make the jump from elementary to middle? How have you liked it?

My current principal is making the move, too, which eases my nerves for the transition. In seven years in the education world I've worked with as many principals and she is outstanding.

 

[husky99]

Phones in schools is fascinating, and honestly I think a lot of the problems are a small % of teachers' fault. My school is 100% no phones. We have almost no problems because kids know their parents have to pick it up if they use it in class. The follow through from admin on this issue--unlike most--is always there. It's a culture thing... a couple bad teachers or one admin with no spine ruins it.

My two last districts had similar policies, but there were a few (usually younger) teachers who wanted to be the kids' friend and would allow the phones... and it completely derailed any progress we made. Inconsistent follow through on discipline by which admin happened to pick up the discipline referral didn't help either.

Need to be a Unified front with phones and just about anything.. need all teachers and administration supporting the rule.
Takes one young teacher to crack the wall... i have been that teacher and it hurts the collective

 

[husky99]

Part of me thinks the younger teachers used cell phones and mobile devices when they were in HS and college and for them it's just another tool to find information, much like going to a book shelf and grabbing an encyclopedia was for those of us who are older. They're not aghast at the thought of a student pulling out a phone to look up information. For schools that don't have universal computer access, it's a way for almost every student to have a level playing field. Problem is managing that and figuring out how to allow them to search for information and not just use the phone for chats, messages, tik tok, etc.

Regardless technology in the classroom is going one-way and that is towards more of it. Both my kids are out of HS and they had laptops that were hooked up to the school's wifi from day 1 as freshmen. They were expected to know how to use them as a tool for research, doing assignments and turning in assignments. Granted school districts across the country aren't evenly funded but expect the technology to keep moving forward.

Can be great in an AP class and a struggle to monitor/ police for 90% of kids.great on paper and a struggle in reality

 

[husky429]

Part of me thinks the younger teachers used cell phones and mobile devices when they were in HS and college and for them it's just another tool to find information, much like going to a book shelf and grabbing an encyclopedia was for those of us who are older. They're not aghast at the thought of a student pulling out a phone to look up information. For schools that don't have universal computer access, it's a way for almost every student to have a level playing field. Problem is managing that and figuring out how to allow them to search for information and not just use the phone for chats, messages, tik tok, etc.

Regardless technology in the classroom is going one-way and that is towards more of it. Both my kids are out of HS and they had laptops that were hooked up to the school's wifi from day 1 as freshmen. They were expected to know how to use them as a tool for research, doing assignments and turning in assignments. Granted school districts across the country aren't evenly funded but expect the technology to keep moving forward.

Every kid in our school district has access to a chromebook every single minute of the school day if they want it. That's true in most schools post-Covid. Pretty much the only reason kids are on their phones is TikTok/SC, etc.

 

[husky429]

I've been volun-told that due to shifting numbers in the district I'm moving from 5th to 6th next year. Any teachers on here make the jump from elementary to middle? How have you liked it?

My current principal is making the move, too, which eases my nerves for the transition. In seven years in the education world I've worked with as many principals and she is outstanding.

6th-grade is still elementary for all intents and purposes, behavior-wise. The only difference (I assume) is you'll be teaching one subject instead of 4.

Tbh, 6th-grade is pretty awesome. You get to teach one subject, but it's not at the same high content level as HS where your lessons take a lot of planning. Teaching 7th-grade was the least prep I ever had to do in the classroom.

 

[lange10]

6th-grade is still elementary for all intents and purposes, behavior-wise. The only difference (I assume) is you'll be teaching one subject instead of 4.

Tbh, 6th-grade is pretty awesome. You get to teach one subject, but it's not at the same high content level as HS where your lessons take a lot of planning. Teaching 7th-grade was the least prep I ever had to do in the classroom.

We had gone departmental this year in 5th grade. I was teaching reading and writing to a morning and afternoon crew, 45 students. I've asked to teach math next year in 6th grade. It's more my cup of tea. My school is 5th grade only and about 350 students. Having come from a tiny town with a graduating class of 120 students I'm intrigued to see a middle school of 1000+ students function. The stories of the middle school are wild LOL. Hopefully the new admin can right the ship. My hours finally give me the chance to get into coaching, too, but I'm still weighing if that's for me at this time.

 

[husky429]

We had gone departmental this year in 5th grade. I was teaching reading and writing to a morning and afternoon crew, 45 students. I've asked to teach math next year in 6th grade. It's more my cup of tea. My school is 5th grade only and about 350 students. Having come from a tiny town with a graduating class of 120 students I'm intrigued to see a middle school of 1000+ students function. The stories of the middle school are wild LOL. Hopefully the new admin can right the ship. My hours finally give me the chance to get into coaching, too, but I'm still weighing if that's for me at this time.

I would highly recommend coaching at the middle level. I did it for one year for basketball and 4 for XC/track and itnwas a blast. Much less pressure than HS sports and it's fun to really have an impact on the kids' fundamentals. That doesn't really happen past freshman year in HS most of the time.

 

[crazyUCfan23]

In regards to the phone, it has been a losing battle for me. There is not a specific school or district wide phone policy; however, there is something on the discipline code about "inappropriate use of technology" I have honestly given up and am exhausted having to tell them to put their phones away and pay attention (I'm talking about 11th graders). Ive written up kids before under "the inappropriate use of technology" banner, but the consequences take too long to be administered and the kids genuinely do not care about getting a detention or ISS. IMO without a school wide cell phone policy and administrative support, cell phones are going to continue to be a losing battle in the classroom. I am youngerish teacher (29), and to an extent believe knowing when to use and not use a phone is a life skill in 2023. I've started to not repeat myself or engage with students on their phones and their grade will ultimately be their consequence

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I would highly recommend coaching at the middle level. I did it for one year for basketball and 4 for XC/track and itnwas a blast. Much less pressure than HS sports and it's fun to really have an impact on the kids' fundamentals. That doesn't really happen past freshman year in HS most of the time.

@lange10 I concur w/ @husky429

Coaching MS is a really nice balance. It's about building skills and an appreciation of the sport and less about wins/losses, even though some schools don't think so. For example, all of the coaches in most of the schools in my conference are super cool and the refs are awesome also. Once you've been in a conference for a while, developing that community is fun.

Of course, there are a few schools in our conference that don't jive that way...wins are paramount. In our twelve school league, I can think of three that have that rep.

Just finished up a season of 7/8 softball and 5-8 XC. Honestly, aside from my AD, I am the longest tenured coach at our school and I want to drop down to 5/6 levels for basketball and softball...I like that level better than 7/8.

 

[HooperScooper]

The phone issue is big these days. One of the hockey coaches for a middle school team down here in PA told the kids ‘no cell phones in the locker room’ and you would have thought he told them they each have to cut off one of their body parts. Not sure who’s worse, the parents or the kids.

Last week there was an incident with some of the other 4th graders in my son’s class. Apparently there is a chat that you can sign your kids up for similar to text message or Facebook messenger. I must have missed the email about it or something bc I never signed my kid up for it and probably wouldn’t have anyway. Well last Friday night, I was sitting with the treasurer of the PTA having dinner with her family and she starts getting phone calls. Apparently a boy in one of the other 4th grade classes took a video of his ‘privates’ and sent it to 25 other students, 17 were girls (one was the treasurer’s daughter).

My wife and I agreed that in a few years when my son comes asking for a cell phone, he’s getting a flip phone or a Zach Morris/Gordon Gekko satellite phone…

Mass. education department 'likely' to encourage schools to restrict phones

During a Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting Tuesday, students and teachers discussed policies to restrict cellphone use.

www.boston.com

 

[M.S.G.]

I teach in Massachusetts, but as for my time in CT I don't see much of a difference, phones are an absolute epidemic.

I know it takes 10-15 years to classify something as an "addiction" but for this generation of upper middle school and high school students it is ridiculous.

Outside of my Honors kids, they are basically incapable of putting the phone down for 5-10 minutes.

I wish my school would grow a pair and make an actual policy, and I pray that DESE truly takes this seriously.

I love the fact that they have access to Chromebooks every class all day, but they spend most of their time watching YouTube or playing games. I just don't know what the answer is, I truly don't.

I love the advent of Google Classroom and Google Drive, it has taken my instruction and ease of access for kids and material to another level. I couldn't imagine teaching without it, so this is truly a gift and a curse.

 

[HooperScooper]

Article that will be in Sunday's Boston Globe.

There are easier ways to earn a living.

Talk to any teacher in any district in the country right now, and they will tell you that an already-difficult job has gotten exponentially harder in the last few years.

Teaching is increasingly difficult. So why stay in that job?​

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Happy Friday everyone!

Day 4 up here in Acadia and we hit the road in a few hours. Wednesday was lovely (morning on a lobster boat, then helping clean the carriage trails followed by an amazing lobster bake (major shoutout to Bar Harbor Lobster Bakes!).

Thursday was...interesting. We biked the carriage trails and two kids fell off their bikes, one mostly due to exhaustion, which was pretty scary, but she ended up OK. Unfortunately, it's common for 8th grade girls to be not the best eaters, so one of the teachers had to share the importance of filling up, eating protein, etc. After that we had a whale watch which our guide expected to last three hours, but it ended up being six (ended up in Canadian waters!). That would have been fine, but a few of our boys made some bad choices on that boat ride...

Let's just say it's been a trying trip. It's been a tough 8th grade this year, arguably a top-2 worst 8th grade in my 13 year career...anyone else notice this year's 8th grade has been especially rough? Mostly followers, not a lot of depth of emotions...

I'm pretty hopeful next year's 8th grade will be more "normal".

 

[husky429]

Happy Friday everyone!

Day 4 up here in Acadia and we hit the road in a few hours. Wednesday was lovely (morning on a lobster boat, then helping clean the carriage trails followed by an amazing lobster bake (major shoutout to Bar Harbor Lobster Bakes!).

Thursday was...interesting. We biked the carriage trails and two kids fell off their bikes, one mostly due to exhaustion, which was pretty scary, but she ended up OK. Unfortunately, it's common for 8th grade girls to be not the best eaters, so one of the teachers had to share the importance of filling up, eating protein, etc. After that we had a whale watch which our guide expected to last three hours, but it ended up being six (ended up in Canadian waters!). That would have been fine, but a few of our boys made some bad choices on that boat ride...

Let's just say it's been a trying trip. It's been a tough 8th grade this year, arguably a top-2 worst 8th grade in my 13 year career...anyone else notice this year's 8th grade has been especially rough? Mostly followers, not a lot of depth of emotions...

I'm pretty hopeful next year's 8th grade will be more "normal".

You couldn't pay me enough to do overnight field trips with kids again. Schools ALWAYS want me because I'm a dude and there's so few around to chaperone the boys rooms. I must have done the DC trip 6 or 7 times before I tapped out.

Between the vapes, weed, kids getting ubers home, vomit, social drama that is somehow my problen, a kid getting "robbed" by a homeless person, I'm done.

Bless your heart for doing this, my man. You're a saint.

 

[August_West]

Article that will be in Sunday's Boston Globe.

There are easier ways to earn a living.

Talk to any teacher in any district in the country right now, and they will tell you that an already-difficult job has gotten exponentially harder in the last few years.

Teaching is increasingly difficult. So why stay in that job?​

Yeah so my wife took a full year off from her tenured teaching job after having our newborn. She was only allowed 3 months plus accrued PTO, but we made it work. Now she must be back in September (to keep her tenure) and she is adamant about doing it, she loves her job. But it seems that childcare for what will by then be my 10 month old when she returns is more than her weekly salary. Im begging her to let it go.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

You couldn't pay me enough to do overnight field trips with kids again. Schools ALWAYS want me because I'm a dude and there's so few around to chaperone the boys rooms. I must have done the DC trip 6 or 7 times before I tapped out.

Between the vapes, weed, kids getting ubers home, vomit, social drama that is somehow my problen, a kid getting "robbed" by a homeless person, I'm done.

Bless your heart for doing this, my man. You're a saint.

Thanks. Forgot to add: I’m the only adult male on the trip with 11 boys and just 6 girls.

 

[husky429]

Yeah so my wife took a full year off from her tenured teaching job after having our newborn. She was only allowed 3 months plus accrued PTO, but we made it work. Now she must be back in September (to keep her tenure) and she is adamant about doing it, she loves her job. But it seems that childcare for what will by then be my 10 month old when she returns is more than her weekly salary. Im begging her to let it go.

Tenure protections for teachers are not really a big deal at the end of the day. If they want to get rid of someone, it happens. Plus it'll only be 2 years to tenure in a new district. I wouldn't stick around for just that. I'd consider applying to other districts that pay more. Even moving districts with a similar payscale will usually result in making more because you won't have to deal with all the step freezes.

I got a 14k pay raise to leave my first district for another teaching position because of step freezes and another 30k pay raise to go work in the hood this year (as a quasi admin on the teacher contract).

 

[husky429]

Thanks. Forgot to add: I’m the only adult male on the trip with 11 boys and just 6 girls.

You deserve at least 3x what they're paying you. Good heavens. What a nightmare! Lol.

 

[M.S.G.]

Just got home from graduation, so weird and early, the seniors have been done classes for 3 weeks!

Ceremony ended at 7:25, I immediately bounced to the foyer, shook some hands, some fist bumps and I was in the car at 7:30.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Yeah so my wife took a full year off from her tenured teaching job after having our newborn. She was only allowed 3 months plus accrued PTO, but we made it work. Now she must be back in September (to keep her tenure) and she is adamant about doing it, she loves her job. But it seems that childcare for what will by then be my 10 month old when she returns is more than her weekly salary. Im begging her to let it go.

So let me get this straight. You want the new Mrs A-Dub to sacrifice her career because you're too cheap to pay for professional supervision of your newborn.

Let her work, the deficit you believe is will arise from paying for childcare, offset by her income isn't real, it's merely the manner of how you are accounting for the income and expenditures.