My Crap Day in Hell (also known as a public high school)

Once again, another CRAP day at school

I normally have fun at Howard High School. It's the newest high school here in Macon and because of that, they don't have a senior class this year. They'll have one in 2009-10. Last Friday was not one of those fun days. In fact, I would have much rather gone through childbirth sans epidural. The students I had were rude, disruptive, disrepectful and not on task and I left their regular teacher a note. I pulled no punches whatsoever and if the ACLU wants to talk, BRING IT ON! This is what happens when you take God out of the classroom and let the heathens take over. What I would give to have had one of them flogged in class to set an example. The letter reads like this... and no, at this point, I wasn't interested in protecting the innocent, so I named names.

Here's the letter unedited except for my BOE employee number.

14 November 2008

Dear Mr. Stembridge:

Despite the horrid weather, we managed to have class.  First block was really chatty and loud, so you might want to talk to them about that. I asked them on several (key word here is SEVERAL) occasions to keep the noise down.

You have a new student in first block. She listed herself as new on the roll.

There is a group of people that sit near the closet that decided that they were going to talk and chit-chat and not get any work done. They finally got to work after some prodding on my part.  Some of them actually did the worksheet, so feel free to reward them for their effort.  There was a question about number five on the worksheet and some of them left it blank.

Mr. Vickers, who sits in the first desk near the door, talked and played all block and did not do any work until I got on his case. Methinks that he and Mr. Roberts need to be separated from each other. They tend to feed off each other, as if it the relationship was symbiotic. It's sort of like living with Siamese twins.  

Second block was chatty as well and did not heed my requests to keep the noise down. Ms. Thomas and Mr. Taylor were playing around and bothering each other. I wound up moving them. At least that group was productive.

Third block was an adventure as well. I thought they had first lunch but they didn't. OOPS! I came back to the room as soon as someone let me know. They were chatty (really chatty!) and made a lot of noise. They were also disrespectful and smarting off when I asked to do or not do something. It was as if I was never in the room. One of them decided to do some art work on the roll, so I made them do it over.  I let them know that this was not going to work.  This was the worst of the worst. I wound up giving one of them detention. It was either that or let them completely take over. 

One of your angels even thought it was funny to tamper with the glass of iced tea I had on my desk, so I poured it out. You have a couple of young men that think that this is a joke. Let them fail the course and have to take it over again. Out of the 22 that were in third block, there were a total of 16. Someone took the old roll off the desk and either took with them or threw it away. I am not going to worry about that. If they want to get into trouble, that's their choice and it's a BAD choice. They will have to live with that BAD decision.

As for the ones that left and never came back, I am with a GREAT deal of certainty sure  they skipped out after lunch. I will let them get into trouble and be dealt with. They don't need to be here if they're not going to work. Sorry for my getting on my soapbox but that's how I see things from the educational point of view. If I even pulled a third of the stuff they pulled, I would more than likely wind up in a body bag. They have NO boundaries period. There is no regard for their peers or those that are in charge, they only care about themselves.

This was one of the worst (if NOT the WORST) classes I have ever had at Howard. There was no respect for those in authority. I would hate to see them get a job or try to get one. That's the bottom line. To be brutally honest, some of these kids would not survive at Mount de Sales or any other private school in Macon.

I actually feel sorry for those that actually want to get some work done. It's hurting them because they have to deal with this foolishness. I did all I could to NOT write some of them up. I think that another sub needs to come in with a hidden camera and film them, then let the parents see what really goes on. Some of them actually think that they are running the show. Some of them even went so far as to mock me when I asked them to not do something or be quiet. They don't need or deserve to be here and they are not going to take over. We won't let them, as Al Gore said. As my third grade teacher once told me, "I don't fight battles I know I'm going to win." 

Sorry that you have to read this but sometimes one has to hear the truth... regardless of who is speaking it.

Thanks for letting me take your class today.

I don't let the inmates run the prison. They don't get it. In fact, I would give anything to be a fly on the wall when they have to explain to their parents why they failed math. I want to be there when they have to take the course over in either the Spring or Summer school. That would be a conversation that I would pay big bucks to see. I applaud those that come, ready to work, ready to follow the rules to the letter. Those are the ones that I welcome with open arms. The rest of you, STAY HOME and if you even think about transfering to Mount de Sales Academy, I will personally block your transfer. I know too many people over there, too and I will use EVERY connection I have over there to make it happen.

Here's the deal... it's a one-time offer. Take it. I am not Monty Hall, this is NOT Burger King, you are not going to get it your way. I didn't when I was your age. When an adult said no, we took that to be the gospel. Your days of getting away with whatever the hell you can are OVER! It's a shame we can't send your sorry butts to a gulag somewhere in the Soviet Union. Flogging you would be too kind and the ACLU would get involved.

They don't get it and when they don't get their diplomas, they damned sure better not come running to me. They had their chance and fumbled on the goal line. Either straighten up voluntarily or be locked up at YDC. The ball is now in your court.

That's me being on the soapbox. The parents (some of them) don't believe the teachers when they say their children are being a problem. Sorry to throw water on your dinner party but there's an elephant in the room. It's your child. The one you brought into this world. It's time you took charge of them by telling them that the adults are in charge. It's a hell of a lot better than being in a prison cell or the morgue. Is it time to take back our schools? Yes. If we have to make examples out of you, then so be it. Someone's going to be in charge. That someone's NOT you.