PS Teachers Complain About the Way the Children Do the The Teachers' Jobs

Kids aren't stupid. Whether they grade papers or not, they "know" who does and does not do well. I really see this as a non-issue.

I actually found the blog funny. Have you ever heard Tammy Dubin from Tobin's Lab speak? She does the same thing. I attended a workshop on lapbooking. She's a former Kindergarten teacher, and she plays it up. "Now everyone take the glue in your LEFT hand.... Hold it up high so I can see it.... No, that's your RIGHT hand! Now, stop socializing with your neighbor and pay attention!" If you've ever worked with kids that age, you know what I mean.

 

No kids aren't stupid but you tell other kids that when they grade papers. They do get picked on.

 

And maybe that's the issue: I have no way of knowing the spirit behind her post except by her words and by the comments below.

She doesn't sound like she's trying to be funny to me, just mean. I don't hear any love behind the words in the blog.

Then again, it's really hard to get tone of voice from words on screen so I may be completely in error, and judging what she seems to be saying by the teachers here. Even the ones who loved the kids often treated them like they were a bit slow. Our school district honestly thinks kids can't do ANYTHING remotely responsible. That's what I projected onto her words.

 

True. But the blog is written BY a teacher FOR teachers. We as non-teachers look at things differently. I mean, how many homeschool blogs have you read that talk about days where you sleep in, and decide to let the kitchen go, structured learning go, the house go and spend the day playing in the snow with the kids? Or about how everything fell apart...kids running around yelling at each other, the toddler eating the dog's food, the dog doing his thing in the middle of the kitchen. Again, we know that it's a bit of an exageration, but we still find it amusing. Non-hs'ers might think we're serious, and we are REALLY lazy about teaching, or can't stand to be around our kids. I think she's exaggerating, the other teachers know it and find it amusing.

 

Very good point, Jackie! I was thinking along the same lines but couldn't put it into words.

 

yes, I was agreeing with you .

I certainly have been know to exaggerate for a sympathetic audience

 

The problem I have with kids grading other kids papers is...(this is going to sound really bad!) I remember rampant cheating in my classes where we did this! We would all either change grades on others papers, or only pretend we traded papers, and change our own answers. NO bueno! Also, I, like several others remember feeling embarrassed by certain people seeing some of my horrible answers. I understand that it is a definite time saver, especially for teachers who are already overwhelmed by the number of students they see every day, and the fact that kids don't ever really look at what they did wrong if a teacher just hands it back....I guess this is just yet another area where homeschool RULES!!! It has been invaluable for my son for me to be able to correct him on something immediately, because I am sitting right next to him. It has made such a difference. The speed with which he is picking things up, versus what he was able to do in PS (granted, it was just K) is nothing short of amazing. He surprises me every day.

I agree with those saying that this lady was just venting, but as a parent, you never want to hear that your kids teacher thinks in any way that your kid is a "moron," or that the teacher wanted to flip the 4th graders off. Even in a funny sarcastic way, it would make me want to pull my kid out so fast their heads would be spinning.

 

The issue I take with the blog is it is completely condescending in tone. Not all kids are 'morons' what about the bright little kid who is sitting patiently waiting for their teacher to tell them what to do next. And the teacher whose attitude is clearly not one of a respectful person is telling them how to hold to do mundane things. I realize teachers work hard, I realize their are kids who are silly, etc....but if you are posting something on the big wide web to be read and especially as a teacher I think more care should be taken in how things are worded. For example the last comment on the page written by another teacher who implied the lone voice in the comment section who disagreed with what was written wasn't intelligent enough to understand what was written and had they passed fourth grade they would have? Clearly is being rude and out of line. And in this day in age when school boards are checking in on the teachers personal lives through blogs and social networking etc perhaps sharp tongues should be silent? Just saying.
Also very glad to have pulled my kids to homeschool when my son comes home and tells me his grade one teacher is chastising another boy older then he for not having the right answer when Ds son did. He knew it was mean spirited even at the tender age of six. And it isn't ok behaviour from a teacher. Kids are smart little people who need respect just as much as the rest of the population. You reap what you sow. And if we are treating the next generation like a bunch of malcontents then what is that going to say about them as adults????

 

Good points. Another thing to consider- she's venting on an acceptable place. At some point even teachers need a place to let off steam. If she were showing this attitude to the kids, it would be another story altogether.

 

I actually agree with the idea that the teacher is venting to the choir.
Yet, I do not believe that students should be grading papers. YES, it frees up more time for the teacher. HOWEVER, the teacher CHOSE this job; the students did not. Becoming a teacher is a choice. This teacher chose the long hours, chose the paperwork, and chose everything that comes with the job. So go ahead and vent that the job is time consuming. Go ahead and vent that it can be frustrating. But in the end, this teacher IS receiving a paycheck for the long hours that she/he chose. The students ARE NOT getting paid to do the teachers job. With that said, I do not believe it is wrong for the teacher to have ONE special student help out. Some of our classes has student aids, in high school. The student received credit as an elective. The student was trusted and had already completed all required credits for the year. This reduced the cheating that went on when a whole class had to correct the papers and believe me, it happened all the time in the classes that did not have student aids.

 

That's the thing that gets me, I guess. There is appropriate venting, then there is just being a plain arsewipe! There is always a decent way to explain your frustrations without sounding like a cold hearted witch (which I felt the blogger did). It's called being a grown up. Don't we teach children to use appropriate 'nice' words to vent their feelings? Adults and teachers are no exception to the rule. Saying you wished you could have flipped off your students??? UNacceptable, IMO. I don't care if you're thinking it...you don't say (type) it.

 

I think valid points were made, abt venting appropriately to an agreeing audience, exaggerating, and humorous frustration. I could probably write a blog entry about my day with my kids that sounded very similar.

"Put peanut butter on the left piece of bread. Do NOT put it on the counter. Do NOT lick the knife, as I've told you for the last two years. Do NOT throw jelly at your sister."

Or about those days when I sleep late. Public school teachers and nonhomeschooling parents probably think the fact that one of my fav part of homeschooling is the fact that we get to sleep til 8 o'clock...crazy. Or that my 6 year old keeps waking up before me. >.<

Honestly, haven't there been days when you just wanted to stand in the kitchen with your hands over your ears and scream out lalalalala? And we *love* our kids!

Now, on the subject of grading - I mean, in this case it sounds like it isn't working, but that depends on how much is exaggeration. But I agree with privacy. Teachers pet that I was, I used to go in during lunch >.< and grade my math teacher's papers - but she never let me grade my own class. And it was voluntary. If this is a true rendition of every day, this doesn't seem like it's helping much - but I have a feeling it's exaggerated. Most, probably 75% of the students, are actually paying some attention (even if they are changing the answers), and learning a little. Those that aren't, well, probably aren't paying attention in class.

I'm not thrilled by it - but I think everyone here has given some great points.