Accused of calling student(s) (or the class)'stupid'

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Accused of calling student(s) (or the class)'stupid'

by Lady Justice

Nov 6, 2011

I have taught at the college level only until the last few months I have been subsitute teaching all ages including many types of SPED classes (which I love especially). About a month ago I taught 6th grade math for a half day - Friday afternoon. The teacher pointed out 4-5 students before class to warn me of (which I wish I would have paid more attention to). Well, during one (very long) period about half of the 'problem' children were misbehaving but there were as many not on that list that were misbehaving as well. I was told to write down their names if they misbehaved and to warn them with using the list. So after repeated disruptions I decided to warn them about using the list. This did not deter them. Then I started writing names down. Some calmed down but others took it almost as some kind of challenge and began to misbehave even more. So I told them (there were ten names on the list by the end of the hour and 20 minute class) that I would start making check marks next to names...See MoreI have taught at the college level only until the last few months I have been subsitute teaching all ages including many types of SPED classes (which I love especially). About a month ago I taught 6th grade math for a half day - Friday afternoon. The teacher pointed out 4-5 students before class to warn me of (which I wish I would have paid more attention to). Well, during one (very long) period about half of the 'problem' children were misbehaving but there were as many not on that list that were misbehaving as well. I was told to write down their names if they misbehaved and to warn them with using the list. So after repeated disruptions I decided to warn them about using the list. This did not deter them. Then I started writing names down. Some calmed down but others took it almost as some kind of challenge and began to misbehave even more. So I told them (there were ten names on the list by the end of the hour and 20 minute class) that I would start making check marks next to names. Even though only four of the ten got any checkmarks (I guess in retrospect that nobody really knew if they're name was on the list or if it had any check marks) they apparently banded together to get out of the trouble they were going to be in. They decided to tell the teacher and their parents that I (there have been several versions) called the class stupid or called some of the students stupid. They also said that I asked them "what the hell they were doing". Without ever contacting me about the situation I got a letter saying I was banned from the school (this is not a good thing for your reputation of course) for calling them stupid and using foul language. It took me a week to get the principal on the phone to ask her to look into it. Then when she "looked into it", she merely said that four students who "weren't all friends" claimed similar stories. This was somehow proof to them that I had said those things. I called the administrator of the district and he offered no help whatsover. I feel like I have been violated and slandered. I don't know if there is anything we can do to prevent this kind of thing from happening except to record audio and visual for all classes. This seems like it would have broad support, including the teachers/parents/principals who side with students because if they believe these things are happening they should want to catch it on tape.

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brook styler On 11/06/11, Lady Justice wrote: > I have taught at the college level only until the last few > months I have been subsitute teaching all ages including > many types of SPED classes (which I love especially). About > a month ago I taught 6th grade math for a half day - Friday > afternoon. The teacher pointed out 4-5 students before &...See MoreOn 11/06/11, Lady Justice wrote: > I have taught at the college level only until the last few > months I have been subsitute teaching all ages including > many types of SPED classes (which I love especially). About > a month ago I taught 6th grade math for a half day - Friday > afternoon. The teacher pointed out 4-5 students before > class to warn me of (which I wish I would have paid more > attention to). Well, during one (very long) period about > half of the 'problem' children were misbehaving but there > were as many not on that list that were misbehaving as > well. I was told to write down their names if they > misbehaved and to warn them with using the list. So after > repeated disruptions I decided to warn them about using the > list. This did not deter them. Then I started writing names > down. Some calmed down but others took it almost as some > kind of challenge and began to misbehave even more. So I > told them (there were ten names on the list by the end of > the hour and 20 minute class) that I would start making > check marks next to names. Even though only four of the ten > got any checkmarks (I guess in retrospect that nobody > really knew if they're name was on the list or if it had > any check marks) they apparently banded together to get out > of the trouble they were going to be in. They decided to > tell the teacher and their parents that I (there have been > several versions) called the class stupid or called some of > the students stupid. They also said that I asked them "what > the hell they were doing". Without ever contacting me about > the situation I got a letter saying I was banned from the > school (this is not a good thing for your reputation of > course) for calling them stupid and using foul language. It > took me a week to get the principal on the phone to ask her > to look into it. Then when she "looked into it", she merely > said that four students who "weren't all friends" claimed > similar stories. This was somehow proof to them that I had > said those things. I called the administrator of the > district and he offered no help whatsover. I feel like I > have been violated and slandered. I don't know if there is > anything we can do to prevent this kind of thing from > happening except to record audio and visual for all > classes. This seems like it would have broad support, > including the teachers/parents/principals who side with > students because if they believe these things are happening > they should want to catch it on tape.

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Dec 6, 2011

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