People are always throwing off on the "kids of today", this is just one example that the parents have a big hand in that. It sounds like the daughter is alot better person than the parent.
I understand your frustration.
I had something happen at work today that is still bothering me, even after a long session at the gym and some words of wisdom from my wife. I figured I'd share it with you all and see if you all would be as upset as I was (am).
I was the acting [censored]'t principal today and took over our guidance counselor's office since she was at a conference. A 6th grade girl that I see daily came to see me with a problem. Her dad had dropped her off with a neighbor and she hadn't seen him in two days and she was worried about him. Now, the whole time I'm trying to get her to calm down and get some pertinent info (i.e. phone numbers, relatives, has he done this before, etc.) she is worried about whether her dad is ok and is he going to get into trouble. All she could say is that she didn't want to be taken away. I get her calmed down enough to go back to class and start making calls. I finally get the dad and somehow don't tell him what I really have on my mind. I think I said, "Are you going to be at this number for a few minutes? Your daughter is scared to death because she hasn't seen you since Tuesday and she wants to make sure you are ok." I go get the girl and she gets to call him. Obviously she is relieved and I make sure to pipe in that I need to know if he is going to be home TODAY. Come to find out, after some further investigation, that he gets disability and takes off to go find/do drugs when he gets his check. And all this sweet kid was worried about was whether he was ok and would he get into trouble. I told my wife that I wish I could have brought her home with me. I keep trying to convince myself that the 7 hours I spend with the kids at my school means something and that it makes a difference. Situations like this make me worry about the other 17 hours of the day.
People are always throwing off on the "kids of today", this is just one example that the parents have a big hand in that. It sounds like the daughter is alot better person than the parent.
I understand your frustration.
"There he goes, one of Gods own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die"
It does make a difference man. I commend you and those like you who do what you do. No doubt the little girl would be much better off in your home. You seem to be a person of integrity from what I have gathered on here. I would like to personally drag her dad out into the street and ring his bell a few times [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]
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Central Warriors. Respect the past,embrace the future
Thanks. It just reminded me of how the innocence of youth truly is blinding. I mean, all she was worried about was seeing her dad and making sure I didn't call the cops. I broke professional ranks (I guess that's why I never want to be in administration) and told her that parents aren't supposed to do things like this and that she is the kid and he is the adult. Adults are supposed to worry about where their kids are, not the other way around. Dad got custody because mom is supposedly worse off than dad. The "Father Jeff" in me started thinking what this little girl's future is going to be like. Needless to say, it's kind of a depressing picture.
How many times in today's society do we have to see kids raising themselves, grandparents forced to raise grandkids (makes me ill-they have already raised theirs), kids having to take care of their parents (as in the case with my nephews since my oldest brother is a stoner). Whatta world we are living in huh?
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Central Warriors. Respect the past,embrace the future
[ QUOTE ]
I keep trying to convince myself that the 7 hours I spend with the kids at my school means something and that it makes a difference. Situations like this make me worry about the other 17 hours of the day.
[/ QUOTE ]
I know exactly what you mean. I have this one kid in my class and his step-mother was the only really stable adult figure in his life. She passed away. His mother walked out a long time ago...and his dad "tries" I guess. But he is so distant and can't stay focused on his work at all. My heart breaks for him.
Then I have this one girl on my team and I wish that I could adopt her. She has a pretty tough home life and is the sweetest thing ever.
It gets to me sometimes too...
Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words, it is war minus the shooting.
George Orwell
I guess thats one thing that gets to me too. There are more kids in environments like that or nearly as bad then we care to imagine.
The sad part is a kid like her is probably going down an ugly road in her future.
We're so quick to down how horrible kids are today but while its true the system keeps a parent from being able to be a parent, or fearful to but there is a ton of kids who have no idea what a parent is supposed to act like.
What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach, so you get what we had here last week which is the way he wants it. Well, he gets it.
This is why we need people like VTGal and 82abn working with our kids. They obviously care.
But is it any wonder you also have "burn-out" in the teaching profession? I know VTGal has just started her career, so how many of these situations will she encounter over the years? At one time I thought that RC was pretty sheltered from the rest of the world and you didn't have these type situations. When my kids started their trek through there and I got involved with the sports programs I found out differently. Its amazing that our hearts are broken by something the most important person in these kids' lives shruggs off as being unimportant.
"Yes, there are two paths you can go by
But in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on."
Good Luck to you and 82nd- but I fear it is only a matter of time, how long can you stand the strain. THIS is partly why I would prefer to pay for 66 boys to be on the football field on Fridays in Wise Co, with the bands and cheerleaders. Because the rest will go on to do something else, visit Lee High if you have doubts. Teachers have the toughest job, I wouldn't want to raise kids for a living. Tom Turner was a wizard at getting the boys to work for him and keeping them involved with the program.
A teacher's role has probably changed drastically since I was in school. They are no longer just people who educate kids, but sometimes the only stable, dependable, respectable adults in that kid's life. In the eight hours or so they spend with kids each day, they not only have to act as teachers, but couselors and sometimes part time parents. It must be very hard to deal with this on a daily basis, however, try to remember that you can have an impact on a young person's life and future. Hope this didn't sound too much like a public service announcement. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
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