respect learned at home

    This morning three boys came and reported that one of my students pointed a lazer light in their eyes. The student vehemently denied it all. I called his step dad who told me to leave his kid the Hell alone and he hung up on me. The student spent another 15 minutes denying until I brought the other students in. He then admitted that he found the pen on the ground and then shone it in their eyes. He had the audacity to say that it was the kids fault who dropped it outside because it tempted him. WOW!
    I am as disturbed by the step-dad's reaction as I am about the student's behavior. No wonder he lies.

Honest Abe

    I grew up in New England. I went to school in a 1 room school, one teacher, six grades. My parents were patriotic, we said the pledge every morning as well as a prayer. We had a two holer in the basement and a ceramic water jug in the classroom. We brought cups and hankies from home as well as sack lunches. My best friend and I often traded sandwiches. My liverwurst for her jelly. The classroom was silent-we didn't talk out, we never disrespected our teacher, ever. Had we done so, the whole community would have chastised us,not just our parents. We would not shame our folks or ourselves that way.
    Among My Heroes were Abe Lincoln and George Washington. It has remained so.
    An 8th grade girl was walking in the hall as I went to take a break during the final couple of hours of school. She wore a shirt with one of my heroes, Abe Lincoln on it-except something was very wrong. Abe Lincoln was flashing a gang sign. I was saddened. Not only by the incredible disrespect the shirt showed to a great  American president, but also on a personal level, to me. Who makes these shirts anyway-and who the heck sells them? 

uncommon values #2

I teach-children.
     After lunch there was a stampede of 9th graders with tons of noise and phones raised high to document the event, but the event wasn't there. The ruse was used to distract and pull teachers away so the fight could occur. As one girl ducked into my classroom, another chased her and beat her-at the very least, she will have 2 black eyes.
     All of this was orchestrated on Facebook and then  during lunch by the very popular and "famous on facebook" assailant. I was told that no one will tell on her because they don't want to be the next one beat up.
    Such chaos. At their age, I just wanted to go home and read my book or ride my horse-I was wierd-backward-whatever.
    This teacher is tired.

Common core/uncommon values

        I am a teacher. I have a BS in early childhood ed. an endorsement in mild/moderate disabilities and a Masters in counseling. I teach in an inner city junior high public school.
        By the 1st bell for the first period of the day I heard the "F" word over 5 times among the litany of other curses and sexual comments. I have that "talk" with one-a pretty girl with a lovely smile. She calls home, her parent is unconcerned but tells her not to say that in school.
        If you ask what I teach, I will tell you, I teach children. My schedule reads that I teach social skills and transition classes. I teach children.
        I am writing this as I want folks to have a bit more awareness of what teachers do. The reality is often far from the assumed.