Classroom Chronicles

Never a Dull Moment

The one thing that I can say about being a teacher is that every day there’s something new. That’s what keeps things interesting. Between asinine administrators, half-crazed coworkers, and cell phone-addicted students, every day is a docu-drama on urban education.

In my experience, administrators have never been supportive of teachers. Although many of them are former teachers, they’d rather give up a limb than return to the classroom. Admins know what teachers go through — disrespectful students, students with attendance issues, and students who won’t (or can’t) do their assignments. Add on the pandemic and it’s a volatile mix.

Sure, there are days when teaching is enjoyable and even fun — but those days are few and far between. Often, teachers are exhausted by the end of the week. Between teaching, advising, and managing students, our mental and physical well-being is put to the test — and we’re failing.

This week alone we’ve had at least 15 staff members absent due to COVID or other reasons. We had to shut down our special needs program because the students and staff were exposed to COVID. Some students were absent due to fights in and outside of school. Police had to come to deal with a parent. And I learned that some of my students are engaging in sexual activity in the most unusual of places.

I’m both disappointed and shocked by some of the behavior my students have exhibited in and outside of school. Between constantly talking during class, being on their cell phones, and swearing every other word, I feel like I need a shower every time I come home. When I call them on their behavior, they always want to argue about their immature actions.

I’m not here to argue with children. They think they’re grown, but they’re not. If you’re under 18 years old, you are considered a minor, a teen, a child — period. Some of my students may bully their parents at home, but I am not going to be bullied by them. We live in a country where Black lives are constantly in danger. Some of my students need to realize that their futures depend on what they do today.

Of course, some students don’t care. They’re going to do what they want to do. They’re young. Time has no meaning to them. They feel that they have plenty of time to straighten out their lives. Funny thing, time doesn’t wait for us to get it together. Every day we wake up is another day closer to our expiration date. What are you doing now to leave your mark on the world?

But when students do the wrong thing, they get mad when there’s a consequence. They don’t understand that when you’re in school, there are rules. Students need to conduct themselves in a way that will earn them accolades and respect (i.e. recommendations for college and jobs). No admin or teacher is going to help a student who has been running amok in school and making everyone miserable.

Teachers want to teach and it’s getting harder and harder every day. One colleague of mine told me of a teacher who just up and quit. Some teachers take early retirement. Others go on maternity leave and don’t return. We are in the time of the “Great Resignation.” Opportunity abounds and teachers want to take advantage of them.

So, as the pandemic continues to disrupt our daily lives, exhaustion and stress are causing teachers to rethink their careers and students to act on their emotions. Everyone is feeling the pressure. Schools are in disarray. Order and structure must return. We need more personnel to support the schools. The district needs to do something to alleviate the strain or the system will implode.