Sorry in advance.

[Fishbusters]

We have only been back in school for a week and I know I have the worst group I have ever had. I have 14 total students with 9 crazies and at least two of those hear voices. I teach students that are suposed to be mentaly chalenged not hearing voices and holding conversations with pencils and tissue boxes. One is so sure everyone is out to get him he keeps looking over his shoulder at me with a scared rabbit look. I had a rough year last year but it seems that things are getting worse. I have dealt with problems before and am used to at least one that usually has mental health issues but now I have 9 all of which are documented. The more the school year goes on the more I know I will be taking ALL my sick days this year. Heck I was considering leaving early for a beer today after the "fight" in my room today. We have not been in session but 5 days and already I had 2 on the floor. One's guardian is so overprotective I know the principal will want to see me tommorow as he has already been called once and the boy was involved today. At least they said he will be out the rest of the week. I hope I can make it through this year w/o losing it myself. <br />Thanks for letting me vent a little and as I said sorry in advance. BTW if I seem a little cynical and moody ocasionally I do get that way sometimes when school is in and let loose sometimes online because I have to work hard at keeping it together during school hours.

 

[martyscher]

Re: Sorry in advance.

Teaching is one of the most difficult professions and hopefully one of the most rewarding (eventually).<br /><br />It takes special people to rise up to the challenge and you are to be commended for your effort.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[derwood]

Re: Sorry in advance.

Good luck....how many hairs do you have left to pull out after all those years of teacheing anyway.<br /><br />My mom and grandmother were both teachers....The words I heard come out of my mothers mouth some days when she got home would make a sailor blush.<br /><br />Pittywood.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Sorry in advance.

AM I one of your students....

 

[mountainboy]

Re: Sorry in advance.

Hey Peterfishbuster, I'm in my 10th year of <br />teaching emotionally disturbed mid-schoolers<br />(6,7,8th grades) and I know exactly what you<br />are talking about. School started today and I<br />just don't know what is going on with mentally<br />ill kids these days. Parents appear to have<br />it together, but the kids keep getting "crazier"<br />each year! All I could think about today was<br />getting out on my boat and fishing. Summer<br />breaks sure are well worth it though! The kids <br />don't seem to go through the "honeymoon"<br />phase anymore and just come right out with their strange, paranoid , defiant/oppositional<br />behaviors. The great part is that I have the<br />opportunity to take the "better" kids on backpacking ,rock climbing and overnight camping trips. It isn't easy at all and I come home just drained, but it's neat to introduce them to something new and the skills learned are incredible. Great to hear that you are a <br />teacher as well!!!! Hang tough and labor day weekend is just around the corner. <br /> MB

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Sorry in advance.

Everyones job usually gets more challanging every year. I feel for you. Imagine how it is for the students. Right now they are still feeling their oats and testing the waters. Be firm and be fair. Never ever let them feel or see you in a rattled state <br /><br />You indeed have a challanging job ahead and hopefully with help from the "man upstairs" they will develope into self sufficient members of society.<br /><br />Make the learning fun. All our prayers are with you. <br /><br />Heck teach them all to cut grass They can all have a career in lawn care which would equal more fishing time in your future.<br /><br />Best of luck.<br /><br />Bob

 

[mountainboy]

Re: Sorry in advance.

Heck yeah Bob!! A couple years ago the<br />school that I work at acquired funds to landscape some of the "crappy" areas. I had those kids shoveling gravel and putting down sod, etc. They really learned alot, especially seeing me busting my butt as well!! Great times were going on !! When burgers and fries were offered as thanks for their hard work, their faces shined like the sun on a nice calm morning on your favorite fishing hole. MB

 

[sloopy]

Re: Sorry in advance.

Most teachers are afraid of me!

 

[JB]

Re: Sorry in advance.

I can't imagine why, Sloopy! <br /><br />Peter, I taught only "adults", but a few times my adults were groups of the chronically unemployed or unemployable. Special challenge.<br /><br />My baby sister has been a Special Ed teacher for nearly 40 years. She can tell some stories that made MY hair fall out!<br /><br />The reason people like you and my sister have the assignment is that ordinary people can't handle it.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: Sorry in advance.

Thanks all I just needed to vent a little and as I said sometimes i get a little punchy after school.<br />Sloopy if you were one of my students I doubt you would be on here no rap music or gangstas. Besides most of my students have no clue as how to operate a computer and for the most part the new ones can't read let alone spell well enough to be here.<br />MB as soon as the dust settles from the construction I will have those that I can trust to behave outside working on getting some landscaping done. I talked with some county officials and they have programs where they work with Schools as well as other public places and offer landscaping materials and plants if you supply the labor. Hopefully this program will not be cut when construction is done (sometime next year or later at the rate things are going).

 

[bKelly]

Re: Sorry in advance.

Peter, you must have nerves of steel. Our socitey owes a lot to people like you. It takes a special person to be a teacher, and to help establish real life skills with mentaly chalenged children makes you a saint in my book. I understand it is hard work, (some students just dont care and some have no one to care for them) but the work you do can affect a persons life from now on. An education is a bad thing to waste. I owe a lot to my teachers.<br /><br />atta boy,<br />O-Be-OneFISHBUSTER

 

[kev_alaska]

Re: Sorry in advance.

Peter, one note from someone on the other side of what you see as most likely an adversary. This message started out as a very long description of the process in which I became the father of a disabled child. As I looked at the complete text, it became clear to me that what I was trying to say was thank you for being a solid touchpoint in a child's life. My child has several of these professional healers and teachers in hers and it makes all the difference in the world. For each of the ones trying to make your life miserable, there are some that are thankful as well. Count me as one of those, even though we will never see each other face to face. <br /><br />Kev_alask***

 

[gonfishn]

Re: Sorry in advance.

It takes a special person to do what you do. My fishing hat is off to you. No wonder your a ShoaFin. The patience and understanding you have is reccomendable. Better you than myself and I thought full moons were bad when I was a Paramedic. You deal with it all the time.......

 

[sloopy]

Re: Sorry in advance.

my teacher says she is tired of trying

 

[495v]

Re: Sorry in advance.

Sloopy, do you blame her......sorry, couldn't pass that one up....no hard feelings. Peterfishbuster, I too tip my hat to you.

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: Sorry in advance.

Sloopy I don't blame here either I have 2 with an agreement you don't cause problems and I leave you alone. Only one follows through with it the other does not know when they have it good. Both are waiting till they are 18 so they can quit. The court will not let them even though a parent can sign you out of school at 17. Personally I hate to do it but I found towards the end of the year last year when they decided to quit it caused more problems to get them to do classwork than it did to let them sleep or just sit. The rest of my class does not have this option. I do grade everyone based on work completed and have had a couple new ones that asked why the 2 did not do work and it was answered by one of the two. I know it is a bad autitude but I have decided if you don't want to learn and are forced to be in school then realy there is nothing I can do for you.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Sorry in advance.

i was being funny!!!!!! not trufull I try hard, I want to go to collage, I will go to collage, I will never be able to spell collage or trea right or lotz ah thinges but thats my weekness!!! I am not flunking out of school !!! yikes! I will be more succselful then most of you (I hope)!! yikes !!<br /><br />in 10n years look for my name under the desiners (spelling) of an americas cup yacht that will win it

 

[USS Neversail]

Re: Sorry in advance.

Peter - <br /><br />I work in mental health (licensed mental health counselor). Is the "system" doing anything for these kids that are hearing voices? Auditory hallucinations are nothing to mess with. They can have those kids doing some pretty scary things. I am sure I don't need to tell you this, but I am always concerned as these people are usually treated as second hand citizens. Not by you, but the system that is set up to help them. I have seen it MANY times. <br />Are these kids on meds? Seeing a psychiatrist? psychologist? I hope so.<br />We typically hospitalize people with hallucinations such as what you are talking about, at least until we can stop the voices. Please keep me updated, as I am curious.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Jason

 

[mountainboy]

Re: Sorry in advance.

My students (8 maximum) are all on meds. They all have been in and out of residential treatment centers which I highly support! It's wonderful how much their prescribed meds help with their mental health diagnoses. The important thing as a teacher is to keep the classroom structured and predictable. My "guys" are also very bright which gives me the opportunity to do high academics with them and great "hands-on" activities. Even though they are on meds, I still get the occasional oppositional/defiant one who tries to push limits. Physical intervention ( holding a kid who is a danger to self/others)is common often and the parents totally understand and agree to this in writing. Just a little information on a FRIDAY afternoon just before a weekend fishing trip with my little boy. Mom needs a break from both of us. MB

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: Sorry in advance.

8 max?????? Whhat state do you work in? <br />Meds are great if parents will administer them. What I love is the parents (both nurses) who play with doses and times to see if the child truly needs the meds or is everyone else lying to them.