Monday, September 27, 2010

Miserable "Human" Being


The register of my ninth period class gets smaller and smaller every day.  I wondered if the class was going to be disbanded and went to ask.  Here is the answer I got:

"No, we have several classes with low registers.  When the kids come to complain, I try to move them and make them happy."

I couldn't believe what I heard.  First, kids are being moved from my 9th to my 7th period so they aren't exactly getting a teacher change. And second, you can say a lot of things about me but that are probably true but kids complaining is not one of them.  Kids beg to get into my class if they are taking what I am teaching and get upset when they find I can't be their teacher.  I was told a parent was in tears at a PTA meeting last year because her child could not be in my class.

My question, asked innocently, and with the intent of being able to plan better was met with a blow so hard that if I did not have a cement foundation, I would have crumbled.

I am angry at the comment but I am not hurt by it.  I know whence it came and take it as such.  However, I won't forget it and there will be a penalty charged for it in the future.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

that is the story of my life, last year my class roster got smaller and smaller for thew first few weeks of school. I found out the reason why: my co-teacher on grade level was the one pulling the students out of my class by going straight to the pre-k coordinator. My principal came to the conclusion that it was my personality and started bitching.

Contrary to this belief, the parents of my prior class were begging me to be their child's kindergarten or first grade teacher.

ChiTown Girl said...

Calling this person 'human' is very generous of you. I prefer the term 'douche bag' myself. ;-)

Anonymous said...

R u sure he meant you and not the schedule?

Personally, I would never question a small-class register. To me that's a gift because I can work individually and address their questions and concerns.

Anonymous said...

get over yourself.

Pissedoffteacher said...

There is nothing to get over. There is plenty of things wrong with me. I did not deserve to be insulted like that, especially in a room with students. If a teacher did that to a student, he/she would be in the rubber room.

As for questioning the smaller register, I am afraid for what will happen to that class. I'm afraid it will become a dumping ground.

Anonymous said...

I didn't understand he said that in front of the students. Very unprofessional.

Either way it will become a dumping ground, but I hate to call attention to it first. Let them figure it out.
I had a dumping ground my last year for extended day. The class size went above the legal limit, so she would assign another teacher to the room. Same thing with my AIS group.

Pissedoffteacher said...

Computers make the register evident to everyone--no secrets.

Anonymous said...

I'm also wondering if you took the explanation the wrong way. Is it possible that the students were complaining about having a 9th period class and not necessarily complaining about the teacher?

Anonymous said...

Well then, brace yourself.

Pissedoffteacher said...

I don't think so since most have a 10 period day and will be in school just as late anyway.

And, the person that made the comment better brace him/herself!

Anonymous said...

"No, we have several classes with low registers. When the kids come to complain, I try to move them and make them happy."

Agreed....this comment was completely unprofessional and and inappropriate to say. I wonder if administrators get chastised, written up and removed from buildings do to their inappropriate behavior and comments.

Anonymous said...

I meant brace yourself because you can expect a higher register very soon. Sorry if it was misinterpreted. :(

Elaine C. said...

Did they say the students were complaining about you, or another teacher? I know I've had several students switch periods because of issues with other teachers... which has left some of my classes unbalanced. With the quarter over next week, they're working on rebalancing things for next quarter. (Admin is also trying to resolve class size issues before the union grievences up and bite them in the butt!)