I think I hate teaching- a longazz vent

Heather R · September 2009

The kids are fine. But the parents are just breaking my spirit. I've already been in "trouble" this year because I laid out my stern expectations on the first day to my AP classes and warned them about cheating and how little they'll get out of class if they don't participate in literary discussions, and if they're unwilling to do so, AP Lit isn't the right class. I got called disrespectful and a bunch of other horrible stuff by a parent, told I shouldn't be allowed to be around kids if I hate them so much, I need to grow up, etc.. Hmm

Then an alum I taught as a freshman 7 years ago showed up at Open House last week with her stepmom and stepsister, who is a current AP student. I was so surprised to see her and to learn she was related to my current student. I asked her what she is doing now and smiled/nodded (all this between greeting other people entering), and then a few minutes later I started my presentation.

I get an email today through my department chair that this parent called to complain that I expressed disbelief that they were related in front of everyone, that I spoke disparagingly about her job as a receptionist, and that I told the group I teach at my school for the money. wtf?

I did express my disbelief-- duh, the current student is a transfer so I had no idea she was connected to my school and I also lived across the street from the older student yet had no idea there was a sister-- and who expects to see a 21 yo at open house? The only thing I can think of that she could be complaining about is thinking because 1 is black and the other is white-- completely not why I was surprised they were related.

I didn't say jackshlt about her job, either good or bad.

The third one is too absurd to even comment on or defend against.

And are we seriously discussing my "treatment" of a 21 year old alumna?

I just want to do my job, which I do well when I'm not dealing with stupid shlt like this.

laurenFaith · September 2009

Teachers are SO under appreciated and attacked for the stupidest things. I'm sorry that you were made to feel this way. It's a horrible feeling when you work your azz off day in and day out with no thanks.

userdeleted · September 2009

That really blows. What the heck is with some people? I would be really frustrated dealing with that kind of crap too.

uhlerj · September 2009

I hear ya! I'm a teacher too, and it's absolutely appalling what parents will complain about. When I taught Social Studies, I was told that I'm pushing my liberal views on my students, even though I always presented both sides to every position. Very annoying. Also, as part of my policy, plagiarism meant a failing grade. The School Psych's son plagiarized, and she threatened to go to the school board if I failed him. Good Grief. Hang in there. Document everything.

kelbrian · September 2009

I don't know WTF is wrong with parents now a days. How is it 'disrespectful' to tell students that cheating is not acceptable and that you need to participate in class?

I won't even comment on the second issue because it's just so stupid.

Sorry that you have to deal with this crap!

KTH919 · September 2009

I'm so sorry you have to deal with awful parents. As a former high school English teacher, I know how hard you work. I hope your year gets better.

TKx2 · September 2009

I'm right there with you. I sent one of my 5th graders to the office a few years ago after she wrote a death threat (my principal asked to see her, obviously). The mom called me up and b*tched me out for "harrassing" her daughter and because I didn't call her first to ask for her permission to send her daughter to the office. She also called our superintendant to report me.

nbjenni · September 2009

Welcome to my personal hell. On a weekly basis I (as well as every other teacher) gets called out on ridiculous charges. Like that I allow my students to text in class, or cuss, or lay on the floor, or play rap music during tests.

I'm waiting for the PTA to build a heli pad for the 'copter parents to land on.

brandonsfuturewife07 · September 2009

i'm so sorry, heather. i understand completely. parents are the ruination of teachers. and they are getting worse. God forbid you try to prepare students for college by doing more than a worksheet and learning how not to plagiarize off wikipedia. Left Hug

Jen0414 · September 2009

I totally know what you mean. I love my job as a teacher, I really do... but sometimes so many other things get in the way of what is TRULY important. I think sometimes parents forget that we are there to help their child and make them successful.

Jen0414 · September 2009

TKx2:
I'm right there with you. I sent one of my 5th graders to the office a few years ago after she wrote a death threat (my principal asked to see her, obviously). The mom called me up and b*tched me out for "harrassing" her daughter and because I didn't call her first to ask for her permission to send her daughter to the office. She also called our superintendant to report me.

There was a parent that complained about this same thing in another class a year or two ago. I though...umm we don't need permission to send students to the office. The whole school works together, do they not know this? I thought this was pretty common knowledge.

harborview · September 2009

Yeah I quit after 5 years. Life is too short.

ameliasmom · September 2009

Does anyone remember when the teachers were listened to before the children.

"Your child did -fill in the blank- and is causing a disruption in the class. For this reason I have -removal of a perk-."

1980s response.....I apologize for my child's behavior. We will be dealing with this at home.

2009 response.....Not my child....how dare you deny my child this. I will be going to your principal....yadda, yadda, yadda.

I hope we move back towards the old ways.

mrsmatto · September 2009

I feel your pain. I knew parents were insane when a student threatened to kill me (while I was pg!) and after being arrested (for making terroristic threats) his mother told the cop, "well we've had a lot of trouble with that teacher this year." WTF?!?!?!

Huh?

*Bre* · September 2009

I guess this isn't really supportive of your current situation, but have you considered a PhD? You aren't allowed to discuss anything with parents at the collegiate level. You can't even confirm that their child is in your class....methinks I love teaching because of this alone.

MooByrd · September 2009

I'm so sorry! I'm a first year K teacher and I feel your pain. I had a parent complain to the office about me because "something happens to her son every day and whenever she asks me about it I just say "I don't know". This is after her son had a tiny white scratch on his nose and she asked me about it. I said that I didn't know, he didn't tell me anything had happened, and I had been out of the room testing all day (which I was). Parents are crazy.

Mustang Sally · September 2009

What the hell is wrong with people these days, huh? I was once physically threatened by a mom (some other teachers called security, that's how bad it was) who was so upset by the fact that I had reprimanded her son for using his umbrella to whack a girl over the head. Then surprise surprise, later in the year she was arrested for abusing her older son (different father, ex husband, she never beat my student because she was still with his father). Gee, I wonder where this kid learned to beat people up???

Teaching in the city broke my spirit. I love teaching, but when I go back I'm going to need to do something related but not actually in the classroom.

Heather R · September 2009

*Bre*:
I guess this isn't really supportive of your current situation, but have you considered a PhD? You aren't allowed to discuss anything with parents at the collegiate level. You can't even confirm that their child is in your class....methinks I love teaching because of this alone.

lol, I have a PhD in Comparative Literature.

ms_mellor · September 2009

What was with today...I had a heck of a day too!!

I really do hope that parents wake up and stop babying their kids like they do...the next generation coming up scares me!!

jenny&ben112506 · September 2009

I love working with my students. The parents drive me up a wall.

Last summer a parent e-mailed the superintendent to complain that I was wearing flip flops at 6th grade orientation. I was 37 weeks pregnant at the time. It was summer (not a school day and not required for teachers to be at, only if we wanted to be) and they were actually sandals that matched the dress I was wearing. She said I was setting a bad example, even though there is no rule that says children cannot wear flip flops (they are discouraged however). She e-mailed the superintendent 3 times and never got a response. She then e-mailed my principal because she never got a response from the superintendent. At this point, it was November and I had just returned from maternity leave. This woman had nothing better to do than to repeatedly complain about my flip flops for months and months.

As far as I know, no one ever responded to her and she eventually stopped e-mailing (the last one came in March). There were no other complaints in the e-mail and I never had her child in my classes.

*Bre* · September 2009

Heather R:
*Bre*:
I guess this isn't really supportive of your current situation, but have you considered a PhD? You aren't allowed to discuss anything with parents at the collegiate level. You can't even confirm that their child is in your class....methinks I love teaching because of this alone.

lol, I have a PhD in Comparative Literature.

How did I not know that? I thought you had a couple of master's degrees, but I didn't know about the PhD! Go teach college. Is there one nearby?

WYEngTeacher · September 2009

Didn't read the other replies, but I can soooo sympathize. I am a former English teacher and dealt with all the same BS you're describing. Pain in the ass parents were probably the #1 thing I hated about the job. It's so sad what education has become... it's like you spend more time defending yourself than teaching. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

RoRed5 · September 2009

My mother keeps trying to get me to get my certification.

Thank you for solidifying why I don't want to. Honestly, I just couldn't take these parents.

thereds · September 2009

It is amazing how one or 2 ridiculous complaints from parents can totally ruin your day/week/feeling about your job and performance.

I'm a middle school teacher and I try to tell myself that parents won't ever tell you that you're doing a good job, so no news is good news. That means that for every nasty email or call I get, i have over a hundred that think I'm doing a-okay.

Hang in there and remember that you're there for the kids, not the parents.

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