Whoops...

With the craziness at the end of the year, I guess I forgot to post. Here are some tidbits.

First, student quotes/maneuvers that stay with me:
S: Ms. Brown, can you please not call my mom about my grade?
Me: Well, that's kind of my job.
S: I know, but can you give *me* the assignments I'm missing instead? She's bat-shit insane.
Me: *speechless*
S: She almost threw my computer away.
Me (regaining composure, though not entirely): I'm sorry to hear that. But I did give you the assignments. Get them in as soon as you can.

And my favorite of the year, which I will probably (hopefully) remember for years: My entire fifth period class helped one student put on a very elaborate ruse to ask me to go the prom with him. It was hilarious, however, I'm still not sure if he was joking...

As well as prom being in the air, so are standardized tests, screwing up the schedule even more so that it already is at the end of the year. I see my fifth period three more times before the final. Which basically means they will be screwed.

Speaking of standardized tests, here's awesomeness* out of Florida.

*sarcasm

Wow, I can't believe the year is almost over...

Parental Units

...can often determine the result of a child's education. It's well known that students from broken homes don't do well in school, and then their children don't, and then their children, and so on down the line through a never-ending cycle.

And on the other side, overachievers are bred by overachievers are bred by overachievers... you get the idea.

And of course, VS does it again, with this article about the same topic.

I am finished with testing nonsense, hooray! Thus I have a lot of free time again. Not so hooray...

Like Parent Like Student

The other day I was working with the remedial reading students as they did their typical program in the computer lab. The teacher's rule is that three tardies equals a detention, and she had handed a detention slip to one student who had recently received her third tardy, but had left the date of detention blank since this week was a short one and she wanted to make sure this girl's schedule could abide it (apparently, she gets detention a lot so might have already had the week booked). Therefore, the girl was allowed to call her mom on the school phone to ask what date she was able to stay after school. She has been a behavior problem from day one and has one of the worst attitudes I've ever seen; she shows no respect toward teachers or students and never does something she does not want to do. Now, when she was on the phone with her mom, it was evident why she upholds a superior attitude toward everyone around her. She talked to her mom in such a condescending and disrespectful matter that (from what I could hear from her end of the conversation) was not quelled or questioned. The lead teacher and I looked at each other like, "Damn, no wonder she doesn't respect us." Clearly, this type of behavior is condoned or at least tolerated by her mother, and therefore, this girl thinks (reasonably) it can be extended to school. It was absolutely disgusting how she talked to her mother.

On a brighter note, today was an early release and the last day before winter break. Hooray! When I go back in January, the aide I was covering for will be back and I will again be relegated to being a floater. It was really nice having a consistent schedule and being with the same kids every day. It has been quite a year. I probably won't be writing until school starts up again, so happy holidays and slainte to you all!

Helicopter Parents

Since I see the same students every day, I have gotten to know a lot of them very well. Before I became the school based sub, I was the long term sub for the drama teacher who was on maternity leave (who is now back), and so I got to know those students also.

One of these students always had behavioral/attitude problems in class. Apparently her issues were widespread. I was helping with intramurals the other day and the teacher who runs it was telling me about this girl's latest issues. She is always getting called to the office and all her teachers have had it with her. School has been going on for just over a month, and she's had something like 40 referrals. It's a little ridiculous. Evidently, though, this girl's mother thinks her daughter is an angel and can do no wrong, so she of course blames the teachers/administrators/school, and puts none of the blame on her own daughter. Really? You would think 40 referrals from 40 different teachers would give you a hint. But no. Even if some, or even all, of those teachers were incorrect in disciplining her, you should be teaching your daughter to obey her superiors. She will get no where in life if she does nothing but rebel. Great lessons there, mom. No wonder your child is such a spoiled brat.

This woman, apparently, did ridiculous things last year, when this girl was in 6th grade, like signing her out of school so she wouldn't have to go to class of a teacher she hated and then show up again with McDonald's; and transfer her to another school in the district. That school, though, said "No, we don't want your horrible daughter; send her back where she came from." So this girl ended back up at the school where I teach. Now, her mother has decided she's fed up again with the teachers/administration/school and is transferring her to yet another school. I wonder what will happen there.

I hate to say this, but at least she's not our problem anymore. It's really ridiculous how much harm one student can do. Especially when her mother is the butt of the problem. Way to make teachers' jobs even more difficult. Holy moly.