Omg...

[ladyamalthea]

I am so furious right now I could throw something. Multiple times. Its relevance to this particular board will be rather obvious by the end of the post...

This morning started out like any other. I truly love my job and each and every one of my students. But it pains me so much to see crap like this happen... I wrote a student up for not showing up for detention last Friday (today was his first day back at school). I gave him his pink slip, and he proceeds to make a big scene in front of the whole class in revenge. I responded by quietly issuing him a second write up for class disruption. When I did this, he walks out of the room, saying, "I'll take your damn pink slip, and bring you back some donuts and milk!" At this point, the whole class was roaring with laughter. I escorted him to the office and told the principal about what else had happened. I informed the student that he had harrassed me, and that I would not tolerate it.

Well, apparently the principal is doing nothing about it. The student was able to walk freely down to my room to get his progress report...

Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions; but I will have to think long and hard about coming back next year if nothing is going to be done about this. Making comments about a teacher's (or anyone else's) body, in front of the class or otherwise, is not acceptable.

[Pony]

OMG.... yes, I agree. that was completely inappropriate for that student so spout off that way and unacceptabel for the principal to do nothing....not to back you up.

I completely understand how you are feeling about this. I have encountered this very same issues with students on my school bus. but my boss backs us up. they are not allowed to disrespect the drivers or any adult like that....or anyway. That was complete disrespect to you by that student no matter how angry he was. AS far as the class goes..... I do hope that this doesn't cause further outbursts of this nature for you. If it does, just remember that they are students, kids, with no respect for most people. In the past, I have had a talk with the students on my bus about such things and that I will not tolerate that kind of disrespectful comments directed at me or anyones else no matter what they thought of me or what I look like. But I had remember not to get emotional about though....just business.

Don't let the rambings of some trouble youth get to you and bring you down. take pride in that you know you are doing the right things to change those things in your life that you are not happy with. He is just a kid striking back. You are above that!!!

Hugs {{{{{Lady}}}}}

[cali]

Lady-absolutely so sorry that you had to go through that.
I agree with a lot of what Pony said for sure. Stay focused, and remember that what others say about us doesn't define any part of us.
Hopefully you will be able to have another discussion with the principal about the *principle.
(((Lady)))

[historyteach]

(((Lady)))

My first thought here is that the principal will do nothing.
And it's absurd, but, I doubt s/he will.
Yes, it IS harrassment, and you need to document it as such.
If nothing is done, bring it to your union for grievance. Don't let it go. If so, that's an invitation for more.
But, Pony's advice is sage indeed. Keep it totally professional. No emotions.
Discussion about another's body has NO place in an educational setting.
This child needs to learn that.
I would also invite the child's parent in, and let the parent know that you are bringing this along further, past the principal, if s/he chooses to do nohting.

And DON"T give up your job for that SHMUCK! (either one of them!LOL!)
That's allowing them to win, and letting it continue for the next person to go through it again.

You know, today, I was teaching goal setting with my freshmen. I was using the SMART acronym. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound.
So, I used an example of loosing weight, cuz, we could all understand that concept.
When finished, I told the kids how I had lost 30 pounds.
ONe of them said to me, "You mean you were FATTER?"
I told her flat out, "WOW!!! That was RUDE and totally UNACCEPTABLE!"
She was tongue tied and the class which had started laughing at the comment shut right up.

So, don't let it get you down. Stand up for yourself, and let that creep know you won't tolerate that horrible behavior. It's a shame s/he didn't control himself. I'm certain the parent DID teach him better, but, kids can be the worst little creeps until you let them know you will not let them be so.

I'm sorry. It shouldn't have happened to either of us. But, it does. And we cannot let the little creeps control where we work; what we think of ourselves; or how we treat ourselves.

Speaking of which, did you exercise today? How was your eating plan?
(mine wasn't that good...sorry to say...)

Know that we are here for you....and I"m so glad you came and dropped this off. Now, you and I both can go on to better things.

Shalom!

[ladyamalthea]

My eating plan was horrible; and no, I did not exercise. I'll be completely honest; my depression seems to be kicking up full swing again, which is my fault because I've let myself slip on my meds the past few days (I had a few beers friday night and was afraid to take the Lexapro afterwards, and then forgot Saturday, and then last night I felt sick to my stomach...) so I need to get back on track before this gets any worse.

After I typed the first post here, I was so upset that I talked to the inclusion teacher in the room about it, and found out that, supposedly, the reason nothing was done (I still call three days of detention "nothing" on something this serious) is because his IEP doesn't have a behavior plan on it... which would be fine if he was EBD. But he's NOT. So that makes no sense. So, I went and talked to the lead teacher in special ed, who opened up this kid's file and discovered he is not supposed to be in my class at all! He is supposed to be in all resource room classes! So tomorrow, he will not be in my room, not will he anymore. It's a bittersweet victory; I won't have to put up with him anymore, but he wanted out of my class, so he's getting his way too. Still no punishment involved.

One more thing... I think the biggest reason what that kid said upset me is because I've had such a hard time with my weight. If I didn't weigh 275 at 5ft2, I wouldn't care. Plus, I'm about to start my time for the month, so I'm super emotional (and super bloated) anyway.

Haha... this smiley makes me feel better though.

I love you guys. Thanks for being here for me.

[daydream]

Awww, sorry you had to go through that

[Jwife22]

I had an experience as a student in high school similar to that. A teacher of mine was a little heavy and we had some stupid kid in the class who said something about it when he was sent out of class one day as well.

She waited a day or two (I'm assuming until she could get her emotions together) and brought it up to the class and used it as a teaching tool.

She told us that yes, it hurt her feelings and upset her. She also told us that it was unacceptable to anyone. She then went on to bring up how talking about female and male bodies or making loud comments in front of others, good or bad, about certain body parts was unacceptable as well because you just don't know how that person feels about there body.

I always remembered that lesson and I think my classmates did as well. Sometimes as teens, we just didn't think about it.......

[BigSis]

Wow.


Here's a confession.... and it does not make me feel very good to share this....


I was that nasty kid in school.


I can still remember some of the comments I made to teachers. Why? Because it gave me power and hurt them and I was discovering I was good at hitting the "pain target" smack on bulls eye.

I hurt a pregnant teacher once on purpose... not physically, but emotionally and psychologically. I remember my nasty tone and her face... though I cannot remember the words, I can remember the feeling of "vindication" - that I had "got her back" for something (which I probably deserved).

In my world, teachers were not people.... they were psuedo-parents. They were authority. They were the pain makers and discipline givers. They were the ones who judged me.

My defense was to judge them first.


Today, I know it wasn't personal. Back then, I assumed they could "handle it"... because, in my eyes, the ultimate authority had to be ultimately perfect... in every way.

I wish I had not done and said many things during those 4 years. I wish I could take back some of my words.

I was able to share the incredibly positive impact 2 teachers made on me during that time with their families, in writing and in response to discovering each had passed away. A third teacher has "rediscovered" me as an adult and we have shared amends of a sort.

But the ones I really lashed out at - are no longer around.

The best I can do is live as well as I can, treat the teachers who have come into my life since with respect and to help my own children remember to do the same.

And to share like this. That some of those kids DO grow up and DO have regrets and sorrow for those actions.

((((Lady)))))

I am sorry this happened to you.

[cali]

Hi Lady-
Just thinking about you and hope you had a good day today

[ladyamalthea]

Thanks so much Cali My day was much better today, actually.

[ladyamalthea]

And thanks to BigSis too... it helps to hear from someone who has been on the other end of that situation. I hope he does feel bad about it at some point. Not because I want him to suffer, but because it would show he has a heart, which is something his own sister seems to doubt at this point (she is in my homeroom and has volunteered this info randomly before, when she found out I had her brother in my class).

[historyteach]

Today is a new day.
And I just love Big Sis's signature line...

No matter how spoiled the past may be, our future is spotless....

So, how will today be better still?

Shalom!

[Mama~D]

I understand why you would want to be furious!!! See he was embarrassed at the situation and he did what he did to bring you down with him. Don't let him have control over you by getting upset. The next time a student mouths off like that laugh at them loudly and turn it back to them where they understand what they're trying to do is not working!!! I would also have a talk with the deen or principal about nessesary actions being taken with disrespectful students. If that doesn't work than there are plenty of schools that need you. I praise you for your work because I know I couldn't do it. Hold your head high knowing you are doing the right thing by teaching young people and when they act out it's really there own insecurities showing. Again I praise you for your work.