I just sat here and studied my students' standardized test scores. Stuck with a host of bilingual students, lazy pupils and parents who either didn't care or chose to make excuses, the scores were horrible. Out of my 45 kids, I had about 10 that didn't come close to passing. In fact, one scored a 1. The common denominator is me. I won't make excuses, I don't have it any more. I want to quit, because there are crazy thoughts running through my head right now. I became a cop this year. I miss few days, despite being in pain with a debilitating disease. "Take Disability," everyone tells me, but as long as I can crawl I will work. I tried my best, jeez I tried my best. No birthday ignored; no achievement brushed aside; every home problem sympathized and dealt with compassionately; every hunger pang relieved out of my pocket. The kids deserve better than what I can give. Teaching shouldn't be like this. We should be respected and not have to compete with the ballyhooed misdeeds of Paris Hilton, Barry Bonds, the casts of Survivor and your typical rap star. I am not a kid. I've been in this 15 years, never giving up on my kids despite the poverty stricken locale....I don't understand.
Let me say.... You can lead a horse to water,but you can't make them drink. You are coming down too hard on yourself. If you feel that you have done all that you could do, then I would not put yourself on this guilt trip. This comes from a teacher that has 36 years of experience. You sound like you have done all that you could do and now you need to move on and think about the next class. Please take a step back and look at each child that you had. The TEST does not show everything.
Tish, you have a good point, we can only give so much. There has to be some reciprication on the part of the student. However, we as teachers are held accountable for the outcomes of these tests regardless of the extenuating circumstances. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, remember?! I truly feel that this is going to cause good teachers to leave the profession. There is too much stress over 1 stupid test. I know I feel it more and more every year.
Give up - please do not Give Up. It sounds like you put your heart into teaching children who have so many outside issues. If you have seen progress in your classroom, you know you are being effective. Unfortunately our government doesn't realize that people are all different, and thus cannot all be expected to be on the same level. Hopefully something will change soon before too many good people leave the profession.
I tried my best, jeez I tried my best. No birthday ignored; no achievement brushed aside; every home problem sympathized and dealt with compassionately; every hunger pang relieved out of my pocket.
OH MY GOSH! I could have written your exact words... and I've been teaching MUCH longer than you have!! This year has been THE MOST CHALLENGING year I can recall. I had 33 students from Spanish speaking homes. 1/3 of them were on what we call, 'watch and consult' status. I worked HARD every single day trying to balance time I spent on misbehavior and inattentiveness with time devoted to academics... or lack thereof. I had never before had so many conferences with parents of misbehaved or apathetic students. I was constantly on the search for yet another way to get through to my students. I gave those kids (and their parents) EVERYTHING I had. There were days I just wanted to walk out and leave it all behind. With that said, I have no idea what our scores will be, but I KNOW I gave it ALL... and whatever those scores say, I KNOW I did my part.
YOU DID YOUR PART, too! No need to beat yourself up over it! You are done with that group!
Once my scores come back, in a few weeks, I know I'll have to take a good look to see where they were weak, and reflect on how else I might approach it. Maybe this is your next step, too.
Go ahead and let yourself feel the disappointment, but once you've gone through that stage, dust yourself off and think about your next steps. It will be a new school year, with a new group of kids who will look to you with wide-eyed anticipation!
Here's a quote I had on a plaque that was given to me in my early years as a teacher. I've memorized from having read it to myself at the end of each school day.
"Finish each day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt, crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely."
-Ralph Waldo Emmerson-
It seems there's a bit more to it: "Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
Sending you lots of ((comforting, reassuring hugs)) because, frankly, in a few weeks, *I* may be the one who wants to give up, after seeing my students' test scores!!
You have obviously given and given of yourself, and your students have gotten more from you than can be measured by any test. I will never understand how we can do so much and be so involved with our students' lives, and yet we are judged by percentages from one test at the end of the year. When you are given students and families that have no interest in learning, or students that are unprepared, it is not reasonable to expect that they're going to meet grade level standards. You sound like you are giving all you can...I wish the kids were doing their part and you were seeing the results you'd like. Understand that you're not alone in this.
My classes this year and last year were just exactly how you described yours. I know when my test results come in that they will be low again this year. I too have worked so hard for my kids who are not motivated or who have language difficulties only to see so little improvement in their test scores. I don't know what the answer is, but remember that you have given them your all. All you can do is your best. You sound like a very dedicated teacher who worked extremely hard. Please don't let one test discourage you.
By virtue of the fact that you make the statement 'lazy pupils', says a mouthful. No such thing as a lazy child - just one who is defeated and can't see the point of it all.
You are in dire need of an attitude revamp, or leave, you are not teaching anyone ... just passing time. Watch the inspirational Marva Collins story, stop whining and making excuses ... poor results are a testimony to your effort, or rather ... lack thereof.
I am deeply mystified by True Blue, an obvious apologist for the failures of children.
No one is looking for excuses, in fact, That teacher was clearly taking too much blame and, yes, there are LAZY children, bred of lazy parents who teach their kids that shortcuts and minimal effort mean success. I know all about Marva Collins....I wrote newspaper articles about her methods. They have worked for her...Bravo...but others using her ideals have not achieved the same success rate. No method universally works. ...Lack of effort?...If she is like most of us, that writer has invested hundreds of extra hours in making her students bright. But you can sit on your moral high horse and pass judgement on the efforts of others. You probably excuse 13 year old murderers because "they're too young to understand the errors of their way." You have a lot of nerve questioning anyone's effort. If you are so damn perfect, let us share collectively in your wisdom. Let us drink from your well of greatness so we may learn how you've taken classrooms of kids each year and churned out 100 percent rates of passage on your comprehension exams. What I have loved about this site i the huge levels of non-judgemental support colleagues share. Thd whole world blames educators for everything short of 9/11, the King and Kennedy assassinations, and Christ's execution. Give Up, don't give up.
When it came to school work, I WAS a lazy child in elementary school. I didn't always complete my homework, I did projects at the last minute (and we all know what quality of work that produces), and I was more interested in the social scene of school than my classwork most days of the week. Since I believe in personal responsibility, it was not the fault of the teachers or my parents. They all set the standard; I just didn't feel like putting in the effort to succeed.
Fast forward a few years...When you look at my high school, college, and graduate school grades, you will take note that the lazy child matured and began to see the connection between hard work and grades. I can not credit a teacher for "showing me the light", rather I credit a little thing called maturity. To the original poster, if you put forth your best effort that is all that can be asked of you. Take a much deserved break this summer. I wish you the best for the next school year!
I am amazed that no one has commented on the number of students in your classroom. My first year, 24 years ago, I had 32 students in a rural background. They and their parents valued education, and I think I was able to teach reasonably well for the number of children. I now work in a Title 1, ELA magnet school so have many similar students. We are very fortunate to have small class sizes (won't even tell you how few) and that has made SOME difference in our test scores. I can't imagine working with 45 students with those challenges! Our team goal for next year is to involve the parents more and we hope that effort will transfer to supporting more at home.
My husband and I have adopted the motto from the "Life is Good" brand: Do what you like; like what you do. If, after another year of teaching, you don't love what you do, consider a change! You deserve to be happy. One suggestion is to try to get a classroom in a different socio-economic school. I've taught both sides, and sometimes a change can be quite refreshing.
07-02-2007, 05:07 PM
I truly feel that this is going to cause good teachers to leave the profession. There is too much stress over 1 stupid test. I know I feel it more and more every year. 
comforting, reassuring hugs
!!
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