Question

My day can be summerized with the following questions.

Why does anyone believe that using the Torah allow you to be insulting or give a lack of derech eretz to secular studies teachers?

How can an owner of a school willfully undermine a teacher's authority and seemingly put down what they are teaching in the classroom and permit that kind of behavior to continue?

I feel horrible for those 8th grade boys who are trying and wish to learn...detention was given today. I didn't let what they did bother me at all, they stayed late for detention because of their actions till they finally sat there, were quiet, and let me finish the lesson.

Just wondering, what can I do? I teach well, I make the lessons interesting, and I try and do one on one with my students, what else can I do?

What else could go wrong

I am starting to believe that there is no stopping idiocy sometimes.

1) The Secretary has misplaced my ELA book that I am using for practice for my students

2) The Menahel, without asking me, had told the students due to a very innocent passage that mentioned the pros and cons for a mixed gender enviroment in the teaching system (which, for those of you familiar with the ELA, there are almost always one of those every year) warrented them to throw out all their packets.

*SIGH*

I want these boys to do well on the ELA. I already have parents asking me to tutor for ELA, which I shall do, along with students who are requesting History help. It is sad that my in-class help towards these students is being threatened when my Principals both said that the page was fine and quite appropiate, especially in dealing with the ELAs.

Due to this obsenity, I had a very difficult time controlling the class. Many of them felt that they had 'won against me' of the sorts and behaved attrociously.

Makes me very sad.

7th and 6th Grades were quite normal, got the work done, everyone was happy. Moving quietly along. Just the 8th grade has me worried. Yearbook is still not going well, now the ELA, and now I wonder what next?

The week begins rather nicely

Not sure what got into the drinks or food of my 7th Grade but they were not like they were last week. Saddens me, especially in light that most of them didn't do their HW. 'Didn't have enough time' is never an excuse. More on that further down this post. Did the final review of all materials for this coming Thursday's test. Now we begin to look at what Jefferson is really doing as President.

The 6th Grade was also missing some HW but not so bad, but bad for a weekend in my opinion. The work went well, some of them had difficulty doing the work but most were able to do everything quickly and efficently.

The 8th Grade...well the day wasn't totally their fault. The secretary messed up my copying order and the ELA pages were not done properly so couldn't do that with them. Began an intro to World War I. Did some of the ELA, English Booklets, and gave out assignments to those students who couldn't behave/watch their widening maws of audible noise.

I don't understand what some parents think. Your son doesn't want to do his HW now? He doesn't want to not play games? He wants to wait till 8:00 pm or longer to do his HW at night? When did this become a civilization ran by children? How is that that a child not yet out of elementary/JR High School can get away without doing their HW, showing it proudly to their parents, and then being able to go out and play. Well this is the concept that I need to drill into parent's heads this coming week. Tons of phone calls, assignments, etc to be handed out.

On top of that I am really feeling sorry for the JR High Principal and Elementary Principal. They are both being raked over by the Menahel. It is sad, what is the point of hiring people to do jobs when you constantly nitpick them through the entire process? Now I see where a lot of this is coming from and how it is falling onto my shoulders sometimes and can't help but want to help them. So we'll see how that'll go when I go in and talk tot he Elementary Principal tomorrow about several other issues.

Found a new site for all to look at, called http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/. Awesome history site reference source.

Just a quick question to the few readers I have

Should I be disappointed/concerned/some other emotion when I student calls me up on a Sunday night, almost at 8:00 pm to ask me if there was HW that is due for tomorrow? Especially when it was meant as an entire weekends worth of work?

Yesterday was a good day for all.

The 7th Grade are just absorbing everything I am giving them in History. The questions and the thirst of wanting to know the minute details is actually a little overwhelming to myself however giving them as much information I can during class time, having to answer questions outside class or at home because some of the boys just need to know the answers.

6th Grade is shaky on their basic english skills as I look over their work. Been using a new book of mine to give them practice help so working heavily on that before I move on to more standardized writing. The Jewish History is still not being terrific for the boys or myself, need to do something new, have to talk to some people on Monday about that issue.

8th Grade accomplished their ELA and their History lessons, so was happy about that. Could be that the two biggest trouble makers were out 'helping' everyone else.

Becoming apprehensive about the ELA. I know my boys have the skills but hoping they can take the test without major problems. Next week we do lots and lots of practice testing.

Have told my Principal that I can do the yearbook, I've calmed down from being so angry with the administration, but I need respect and I need compensation for my time. Quite literally how much the yearbook from me compared to how much they paid last year is rediculous. I can give it to them for approximately 10% of what they spent last year. Let's hope for good news on that front.

Lately I haven't been helpful

I really do realize that I haven't been at my 100% lately. The stress of work and a baby that is almost here has severely decreased my ability to take the BS from anyone. So what to do about it?

Well I think that surrendering to the fact that I just need to try my hardest without having to throw myself entirely, and with that make myself dead tired, into the classwork has actually helped. Today was actually very pleasent. The 7th Grade was absolutely divine! I really mean that. We got through the lesson so easily and we did so many interesting and fun questions and discussions that it even made my head spin. The 6th Grade was better, doing ok, we got the work done. The grammar we were doing was harder than it seemed so many of them were having difficulties. The 8th Grade was its usual but we got the lesson done with History, did that only today. Going to do ELA more tomorrow. Still got some time before it happens.

I know I am not 'restarting' creative writing any time soon because that really does exhaust me...but not sure about the yearbook. I do know that I cannot volunteer my time for free when it isn't in my job description. I need to know that I am being made a valued member of the school by doing this. I am not going to do something and not feel that I am being pushed aside and not cared for...plus my time does = money. Though I really do care about the kids...I am going to have to see about it.

Will be putting up links soon, so stay tuned. Want to share all my useful sites that I have for english and history subjects.

Yesterday

Yesterday was horrendous.

Had to argue with my Principal because he is being VERY behind on ensuring that I get the photocopies I need for my lessons. I am not happy about this damnable situation.

The 7th Grade were moderately behaved, we got through the lesson without any major problems.

6th Grade were horrendous. All talking all the time. It was horrible. Had to yell at them :(. It was very sad.

The 8th Grade wasn't too bad. Started ELA review yesterday and going to continue it all week.

The Menahel seems to be wanting every bit of paperwork, hw, etc to 'cross his desk' because he really did mess up before the school year started, not everything is going smoothly, so what is he doing? He is looking for things he can blame for the problems in the classes when it comes to behavior. I have no issue with admitting when I am wrong or if I am doing something wrong in the class but I cannot stand it when someone won't admit that they could of done better as well. So right now, to make my own life easier, I'm just going back to the 'basics' in the classroom and discontinuing some of my extra work I have done to make it more fun for the kids because I cannot do all the extra work + jump through his hoops.

So no more Yearbook or Creative Writing for now. I'll still be teaching the kids in my classes well, but if I do those two things there is no way I can also try and please my boss....if that is even possible.

Sorry for the very depressing/very downtrodden post