Yesterday, I had a child tell another his mama had breast cancer because she sucked dick.
Yep.
And today, in that same class but another child, told another child – you know what I think of your mama? He then hocked a lugie, spit it in the floor and stomped in it. For the record, both children are 10 years old.
And we’re less than 40 days into the school year. I didn’t go to school to get a degree to do this.
zee's muse 
What can i say? I’m a very conservative (OK, small ‘c’ lol) i do swear, sometimes only a wee sweary will do, bur I dislike rudeness, civility costs little and makes real communication possible. I find the disrespectful intent the real offense. How do you stand in talking to the parents?
There is SO much anger in these children! They come in mad and get madder and take it out on everyone. This group had me in tears yesterday. i’m job hunting. Really.
So I’m assuming the parents are even angrier? That’s so sad, the children have little chance with that at their back.
You love your work, and you know you make a difference to lives, but I know that just sounds Hallmark patronising, and not what you need. But its true.
More than a few of our parents try to justify their child’s poor behavior. They have ‘issues’ so we’re just supposed to accept it and cater to them. It’s cases of the inmates running the prison. It’s a very wide-spread problem over here. There are the parents that will cry foul when their child is put in jail or killed for whatever – but they were good people! They didn’t do anything!
I think we have a similar problem here, no one wants to accept responsibility for very much. Bringing up kids is hard, and we both know doing it alone is even harder. But now, apparently even potty training is considered bullying! It’s almost a relief to know I’ll have no grandchildren.
Can you have the principal or VP talk to the parents or get involved? I know my sister’s classroom had a disruptive student last year who had been sent from a different school to my sister’s and the VP had to get involved and move the student to a special ed (I know that is not the politically correct word these days but I can’t think of another word right now) My sis was feeling exactly how you were even thinking of quitting teaching altogether. Hang in there. I’m so sorry that this is happening to you.
My disciplinary referrals put all this in the administration’s court. Right now, I’m TIRED of having one or the other or BOTH standing in my door during class.
That’s horrible. I know that your kids have life issues to overcome, so doesn’t the school have extra counselling support and/or special group work and/or classroom support? I mean, your specialty as far as I understand is music, not behavioural issues and life trauma.
We have a counselor, but when we have chronic offenders, there are special schools for them. Sadly, if we want to keep our CRPI score UP, we are limited to how many kids we can send. We’ve sent 1 already this year. And we sent one last year as well.
Hi Zee, I’m playing hooky from work (comic order deadline tonight) and other crazy comic industry crap-sandwich stuff at the moment. I need a brain-break from it all.
Sorry to hear about those kids. They are repeating what they have heard/seen someone else say and do. Where else does a child of 10 learn that someone gets breast cancer from sucking…well it is sad and unfortunate for them all.
It has to be shocking to see them behave that way. It does make me feel sorry for them that they are getting such a poor start in life, even with the best advantage starting out, which I realize they do not have. Life isn’t going to get easier for them.
I’m so aware that their home life is far less than stellar. A lot of them hear/see/learn stuff from watching OTHER children. I had a 3rd grade yesterday openly shot double birdies at me. I DID call mom and she’s had it. I felt so bad for her. Right now, I’m glad it’s GuyDay!
It is GuyDay! I do hope it is a better day for you today 💕
Where do you think this anger comes from in these kids? Jealousy? Parents arguing at home? Child abuse? It makes me scared for my nieces who are 8 and my pups have more manners then the twin tornadoes, no thanks yous. no may I have, its all me me me..I try to call them out on it but I’m not their mom I’m their Aunt Michele. One of the twins was looking in my bag a couple of weeks ago when I came over for dinner and said what did you bring us? I said nada and I said is it your bday? Xmas? I mean I spoil them bec I love them very much but I don’t see the gratitude or the respect there. Is that the culture today? These kids growing up now have no respect for authority? I don’t have kids and my sister teaches 1st grade and she seems disillusioned by the whole school process now.
The area is economically depressed. I drove through the neighborhood in December last year, just before we moved into our new building. I cried at the way my babies live. A LOT of my kids are awesome, but these angry alternate from breaking my heart to killing me!
Well you are a terrific person and I admire you very much as well as my sister for trying to make a difference and caring so much and giving these kids some learning foundations. I would not have the stamina to do what you are doing. Just reading about what these little boogers are doing shocks me.
By the way how is your budding fashion critic little guy? He sounds pretty cool.
My ‘Fastinisadude is pretty awesome. I’m wearing animal prints today (jeans, leopard pring Georgette shirt and the Leopard print mules with the black bow and he’s like – Ms Z! Got your growl on!!! MEOWL!!!! LOL!
Gosh bless his little heart!!! He’s like a breath of fresh air… “Get your growl on” soo sweet!!!