Re: I have a really miserable first week/Teach for America?

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I guess I'm not the only one who took exception to the "advice"
given to the OP.

"Contracts are ridiculous" ? Really? We had no problem with them
when I was in High School, or college. You did the work, and were
guaranteed the grade you bargained for. Hardly an insult in my book!

On 9/02/11, to advisor poster? wrote:
> For someone to advise not writing up these students is not good
> advice in my opinion. Yes, it is ture a positive relationship
> based on respect and understanding of culture is important. I
> have been in high schools similar but not as bad as this one, and
> but I wrote them up. But I feel for the poor kid, I can
> imagine how petite she is and young and these kids are very tall
> now. I was not little by any means, but some of my students
> almost could reach the ceilings when their hands. It was also the
> girls who gave me the trouble, the supposedly gan related member
> boys and other boys did not as much. I disagree about the
> writing up, if you don't write them up, they will literally walk
> over you and even walk around the room having little
> conversations if you let them. I think it is possible for some
> people to be the "cool teachers" and never write them up, but I
> usually picture that is the coach they know from their
> neighborhood whom they imply respect up front. I did alright
> with a similar but more moderate group myself even though I
> didn't do it full time, but I did write them up. I would give a
> warning or look at first, but her group is tough, even for the
> oldees this would not be easy. I imagine this school has a lot of
> turn over, sounds like poster said, inner city school and
> possibly a TFA person. I wish her the best, regarding the write
> ups, she could be advised by co teachers or her mentor on which
> things to write up. Some things can be overlooked, but some can
> not.
>
>
>
>
> On 8/30/11, much good luck wrote:
>> On 8/27/11, New teacher feeling burned!! wrote:
>>
>> Wow. Why are you at this school? That asked, you need to
>> seriously change your expectations.
>> First off, there is tremendous anti-Asian feeling- great
>> prejudice against Asians - in the African-American community.
>> Were you not aware of that when you took this job???
>>
>> It doesn't matter who said 'gook' because it could have been
>> anybody, literally anybody because many inner-city
>> African-Americans kids harbor very racist feelings about
>> Asians. We could decry that but doing so won't change it. You
>> are seriously up against a wall of prejudice - did you actually
>> not know that??
>>
>> Because if you didn't, punch South Philadelphia High School
>> racial issues into google and read about what's been happening
>> there. And I'd honestly say if you possibly can, leave the
>> school you're at. Some problems can't be solved quickly enough
>> for the solution to be helpful and there will be no solution to
>> the prejudice you're facing in this school year.
>>
>> That said, contracts are ridiculous in any school. They're
>> demeaning to students. Did you give them a choice about whether
>> they could sign them or not? Because that's how a contract
>> works - we have a choice to sign or not sign. So don't go
>> calling it a contract when it's not a contract.
>>
>> Rules and procedures - who told you these things worked in
>> inner city schools??? Are you in Teach for America by any
>> chance because it sounds like you had no idea of what you were
>> in for.
>>
>> If you're going to stay, let them call you Ms. Lee. They are
>> saying "Ms." which is a respectful term in the African-American
>> community and let's understand that they've been called their
>> share of names over many years. And that can spread good will
>> as they say to others, "Don't be talking against Ms. Lee. She's
>> ok."
>>
>> And let's be honest - these kids have experienced racial
>> prejudice directed at them by Asians. And if you keep writing
>> them up, you are being a weak teacher and you will only anger
>> the students ever more.
>>
>> Feet on chairs are a luxury issue - are they holding knives?
>> You're beginning to figure it out when you say some of these
>> kids are bad - indeed, some have police records. The thing is -
>> you're not a prison guard because prison guards have clubs and
>> isolation cells. You don't so don't ever think you're a prison
>> guard. They have authority and you don't.
>>
>> So don't go making battles with these kids. "Shut up" is
>> nothing in comparison to what they could say or do. Stop
>> writing them up and eat lunch instead. If you're going to try
>> to stick it out, find a mentor teacher in the building - even
>> the guy who lets them say 'shut up'. This board is fine for
>> venting but you're being very naive again if you think that
>> your best advice is going to come from outside your building.
>> You need to connect with your building teachers as well as wise
>> up, dear girl. Good luck.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> What am I gonna do? Also the first week, I had a cold and a
>>> fever and to top it all off, I got a speeding ticket today
>>> on my day off from the police. Will this ever get better??
>>> I feel so angry inside and physically sick. Students here
>>> are in gangs and I honestly feel that I am a prison guard
>>> instead of a teacher. Some of these kids are seriously BAD.
>>> I have tried to tell them to stay after class to talk to
>>> them and they put their hand in my face and say "NO". I
>>> have not had a lunch break for 5 days because I spent my
>>> lunch break writing infractions on their behaviors.

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