I Swear...Some People's Kids

[Iris]

I went on my first student teaching assignment today. It was a 5th grade class so the kids were a little hyper and excited about having someone new in class. I think everything went really well but something that happened really got under my skin.

The usual teacher asked me to have them pass in their assignments from yesterday as I marked them off in the grade book. No problem right? Wrong. One young boy didn't have his done so I asked him if there was a reason. He said "Dude, I just didn't feel like it". OK. It's not the point that he didn't have the ambition to do a 2 paragraph paper. That's his perogative I guess if he wants to be lazy. It was the "Dude" thing.

First off I'm female. Secondly I outage him by about 20 years. Thirdly I was his teacher for the day. Even him addressing me by my first name instead of "Miss" would have been disrespectful but better than "Dude".

The rest of the kids were pretty good or as good as kids that age can be but this boy really got me to thinking. He's being raised by parents that apparently don't care how he does in school and have never bothered to teach him the simplest of the basics of respect. Makes me wonder what he's going to teach his kids.

That never under any circumstances would have been acceptable when I was his age. I wonder what happened. God I feel old.

 

[*bratcat*]

 

[Iris]

If he'd used "Miss" anything it would have been better.

It wasn't so bad. I was nervous but I really had fun. This is my time to find out if this is what I really want to do. I think it is actually. Better get used to "Dude" then, huh? LOL

 

[CW]

With any luck he WON"T have kids to pass the smart ass attitude along to.

I get throughly pissed at parents that condone/accept that type of behavior,,, but in our PC society, we are expected to be accepting of this,,, this,,, bullshit.

I know,,, I know,,, he may have 'issues',,, tough, get over it, learn some manners, learn that not everything wrong in your life needs to be reflected in your public attitude.




SHEESH !!

 

[RudeNastyAssBitch]

LOL

That is certainly not the way one should address one's teacher!
You Should have said,
"That's Miss Dude To You, Next Time do your assignment"
It would make him laugh and perhaps you might have gotton some respect where there is not usually.

Be Well,
RNAB

 

[Juliangel]

Some people's kids

I was just thinking that. I am waiting for my neighbor to knock on my door and complain about my son.

I have always taught my boys to be respectful and not to hit girls.

Well the girl next door is 10 and the size of a 12 year old and has decided that picking on my 8 year old, who is the size of a 6 year old, is fun.

I have had him ask her not to do it, had him ask her mom to have her not to do it and I have asked her not to do it so now I can see it is time to talk to her mom.

Well in the past week she has started to hit him, not just push him around and today he hauled off and hit her back twice.

This is a child whose parents think she can walk on water so I glad I have some of this on video, because this girl is just plain mean with no respect for anyone else and lies to keep from getting in trouble.

 

[Darowyn]

"Dude" was a challenge. You should tell the boy that it is not appropriate in school. He may be perfectly well behaved at home, but like every social mammal he is trying to find out where you and he stand in the pecking order. If you say nothing he knows you are below him. If you make an issue of it he knows you are having to defend an uncertain position. Be cool and confident and insist on at least a show of respect. That way you show that you are on top. When everybody knows that you can be more gracious.
Welcome to a wonderful profession! You are never going to be short of stories to tell.
Very best wishes
Dave

 

[Ticklish Girl]

You must have a lot of patience to keep from smacking him. I wouldn't have dared pull that with my teachers. Of course, most of my teachers were nuns who were perfectly capable of pulling off your arms and legs and rearranging them in new and interesting ways.

 

[Whispersecret]

There used to be a saying, "Don't crack a smile until Christmas."

If he'd used "Miss" anything it would have been better.

It wasn't so bad. I was nervous but I really had fun. This is my time to find out if this is what I really want to do. I think it is actually. Better get used to "Dude" then, huh? LOL

Ack. NO! I've taught elementary school for 10 years. Don't get used to it. Demand their respect by not letting him get away with that. Of course, you have to earn their respect too, as the year progresses, but there's no reason why you as the teacher should stand for that sort of lip. That kid is looking for where you're going to draw the line, and any veteran teacher will tell you to draw it that very first day. It's better to err on the stricter side, because it's easier to lighten up than it is to try to reel 'em in after they've "run wild."

Good luck!

 

[Siren]

Ah DUDE lighten up man....

 

[Iris]

Oh I did correct the [sic] dear sweet child all right. We had a nice little discussion in the hall and for some odd reason he wasn't so macho then.

 

[CRaZy]

LMAO. Don't teach 17 year olds. Dude would almost be a term of endearment. It would have been worse if he'd called you Mum. They do that sometimes by accident. You can't help but get a "Oh my God there's no way I'd wanna be your Mum" look of horror on your face when they do that.

Seriously, kids need to be reminded about appropriate language. BUT, I would rather 10 kids who called me dude than those crawler, sycophantic, butter wouldn't melt in my mouth, yes Marm, no Marm, can I wipe your backside Marm children. Secretly, every teacher hates the class "pet". Secretly, we actually like the kids with a bit of personality and get up and go. The "yes Marm" kid will work for Microsoft. The "dude" kid will develop a software company that overthrows Bill Gates. You have to find a happy medium. Life will stifle the child soon enough - teachers are there to guide - not to crush personality.

I would have addressed the kid as dude right back at him. "Well DUDE, I don't see any of your body parts severed so you have no excuse for no homework. Let's see if we can get it finished at lunchtime shall we DUDE? LOL.

 

[Earthgoddess]

Thank you to all the teachers out there who give so much time and energy. But it is kids like that that make me proud to be homeschooling. My son would never talk to an adult that way-and if he did his little butt would be in serious, till the end of time sort of time out. But then again homeschooling does have it's advantages because I can halt lesson and deal with behavior issues, and I have one child not a classroom full.

 

[brazenblaze]

I can sympathize with you. I have to deal with other people's kids every single day. I am constantly stunned and shocked at how bad their behavior is and how little concern a lot of the parents have about it.

I know they are usually sick when I see them, but Damn, how much "home training" does it require to keep your child from tearing the place apart, and answering your questions with something other than..."whatever", " what do you think?", or my personal favorite... "what's it look like, dude?" Then to top it off the mom is usually sitting there smiling, like little "Johnny" is just the sweetest little thing. Grrrrrr!!

 

[Guru]

 

[CRaZy]

I can sympathize with you. I have to deal with other people's kids every single day. I am constantly stunned and shocked at how bad their behavior is and how little concern a lot of the parents have about it.

I know they are usually sick when I see them, but Damn, how much "home training" does it require to keep your child from tearing the place apart, and answering your questions with something other than..."whatever", " what do you think?", or my personal favorite... "what's it look like, dude?" Then to top it off the mom is usually sitting there smiling, like little "Johnny" is just the sweetest little thing. Grrrrrr!!

If the parents are sitting there watching and taking no action, that is PATHETIC brazenblaze. However, I am constantly amazed when I see students who are perfect when with their parents and turn into monsters from hell when out of their sight. Often the parents are fantastic people who would be appalled. It is dangerous to boast that your child never does anything wrong when out of your sight. Inevitably they do - they are human and it is part of growing up. Think about the things you did and never told your parents - even those of you who were well brought up, good little Catholic boys and girls - LOL.


Earthgoddess - Thank you to all the teachers out there who give so much time and energy. But it is kids like that that make me proud to be homeschooling.

Earthgoddess, you have my admiration. Home schooling is a tough gig. Statistics show that home schooled children are on average two years ahead of other students academically. No doubt time wasted on discipline contributes to that. Good luck with the commitment you have made.

 

[CRaZy]

Ekkk..I am a double poster.

[Edited by CRaZy on 02-24-2001 at 03:28 AM]

 

[Laurel]

He said "Dude, I just didn't feel like it."

LMAO! What a doofus!

 

[Jake2001]

Re: LOL

That is certainly not the way one should address one's teacher!
You Should have said,
"That's Miss Dude To You, Next Time do your assignment"

I like that, "Miss Dude to you!" I think you should have, at least, told him, in no uncertain terms, that he was just plain rude and that you won't tolerate it.

Keep in mind, it is not necessarily the parents who are at fault for condoning this kind of disrespect. There is always a little renegade that is looking to gain peer favor with comments like that. Some kids are always going to test you, especially if you are a substitute.

 

[Whispersecret]

You know, it's funny, sometimes it's the other way around. The kids are well-behaved in school, but with their parents turn into whiny brats.

 

[KillerMuffin]

I pity my son's teachers. Not because he is a bad child, disrespectful, or even because his life has a soundtrack (if he isn't talking, he's singing, or humming, or roaring, or giggling, and he can't stop himself). No, it's because of his father. *shudders*

 

[CRaZy]

I had a 14 year old student once who came from a very rigid homelife. Every action was clocked to the second. To him, it seemed as though school was the ultimate freedom. He would put his ruler up girls' dresses, yell out "fuck off", climb on cupboards - you name it. His mother wouldn't believe a word of it. Told the whole town (pop 4000) how useless I was as a teacher, how other naughty students were obviously setting up her child while my back was turned etc. etc. etc. I insisted that she come sit with her child every lesson for a term so I could actually teach the class. Child was perfect in front of his mother and I had peace except for her constant bitching that I was wasting her time. Then, one day, she arrived late to see and hear her darling child in his full glory. She packed up her whole family and left town the next week. LOL. (Although I shudder to think how the kid turned out - sigh).

 

[Pyper]

Okay, I'll contribute my horror stories...

I worked at a boy scout camp for two years, teaching merit badges. Most of the time I taught archery, which was fun, but one summer I got saddled with the job of teaching the Citizenship in the World merit badge.

Imagine teaching world government to eleven year old boys for four hours a night.

I don't even want to elaborate from there. Let's just say that no matter how hard I tried, the discussion always turned to "ridiculous what-if" questions. I think you teachers know what I'm talking about.

"But what if we took a nuclear bomb and blew up Switzerland? What would they do then?"

"Nobody wants to blow up Switzerland, guys. And where would we get a nuclear bomb?"

"What if we stole it?"

"From where?"

"What if we blew up Iraq and stole their nuclear bombs?"

And so on. Lord preserve me from ever, EVER having to teach government again.

 

[Guru]

 

[Pyper]

Okay, enough with the cuteness compliments.

*shakes a stern schoolmarm finger at Guru*