The Role of Teachers
Life can be very frustrating. The events of September 11, 2001, which I refer to as Dark Tuesday, show how some individuals can react to that frustration. I am not threatening to blow anything or anyone up. I am just observing that we often treat people unkindly and are surprised when they react negatively.
I have a son who is a ninth grader. A few weeks ago we got a six week progress report. He was failing (50s) two subjects and marginally passing a third. My husband and I went to meet with the teachers. They were totally uncooperative. I realize that my son is not participating positively in his own life. I am making no excuses for his behavior. What I am upset about is that not one of his teachers cares about why this child is doing this to himself.
He was making a 100 in two of his classes. Upon receiving that report at home, he immediately stopped handing in work in those classes. He is now marginally passing one of those classes just a few weeks later. He is endangering the other 100. Clearly, he has encountered something that is causing him to make a series of poor decisions.
His teachers will not let him make up the late work. They blame us for our son's failure. I am, actually, not abdicating my responsibility as a parent. What I am troubled by is the fact that his teachers do not care anything about my son. They are adamant in their refusal to cooperate in any fashion. Their reason for not accepting late make up work is that they can't be doing it for every student. It would be terrible if they had so much work to do just as report cards were due.
So, why am I writing this?
The teachers are complaining about their work load. They have too much to do. They can't allow a student to veer from the narrow path they have defined. Heaven forbid a student is not attaining the appropriate maturity level to their satisfaction. People grow up at different rates and encounter difficulties at different times in their lives. These teachers don't care about my son. They just care about their rules and their righteousness.
I suppose I would be more inclined to pay attention to their opinion except for one small fact. This is Georgia. Our educational system is at the bottom of the barrel. True, our county is above average in the state. My grandmother would say they are the cream of the crap. Forgive my language if I offend, but I find their attitudes offensive.
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