Telling the truth isn't spreading negativity. The truth hurts. Sorry, not sorry. Please don't stop doing what you're doing! The ONLY way we can change the public ed system--from the inside out--is to first speak the truth.
In any other profession, the way teachers are treated would constitute a hostile work environment. So glad you have a voice for teachers in the trenches!
I’m a parent and I always supported the teachers I had teachers call me to inform me that my child was getting a poor grade since my child hadn’t done his work. The teachers were always surprised when I told them to give my child the grade he earned. I told my kids that actions have consequences and I believe in that. It’s not the teacher’s fault if kids won’t do what they are supposed to do. I made sure my child had consequences for poor grades, like tv or play restrictions Teachers have a hard job and they are under paid!
@psychomomtats, I’m the same with my kids and their teachers. They are always so relieved when I tell them at the first conferences be honest with me about my kids. I love them, but I know they aren’t perfect angels and if there is a problem or struggle, I want to know so we can work on improving their grade or correcting their behavior. The sigh of relief those teachers always have when they realize I want to work with them not against them. It’s takes the parents to be responsible on our end to help the teachers be successful with the kids.
This! It is the same for me. I couldn’t have more support for teachers, they are raising our youth and shaping their futures!! As a millennial whose parents thought I did no wrong, I feel like this atmosphere of not trusting teachers and mistreatment was an overcorrection by my parents generation. They told me many stories of being mistreated or treated unfairly by a teacher in their lifetime and I think my parents at least wanted to make sure I wasn’t punished for something out of context or that I maybe didn’t do because they were done that way. I am so thankful my children and especially my son who is special needs, have amazing teachers and for now in this atmosphere we have today I am not going to question their teachers and I’m gunna do what I can to make their lives easier. I can hear the absolute dread in their voices when they have to call me about an unfortunate situation, ready to be yelled at or not believed but I will hold my children accountable for their actions and the grades they earned.
@@SewFloSewing teacher here. Don't make teachers' lives "easier", work together with them to enhance your childrens' lives, to improve their future chances. That's what teachers want. But you already do it. Thank you I think you analysed the situation perfectly.
These stories are absolutely not negativity-they are TRUTH! I was a high school English teacher for 23 years, and this June I packed up my classroom for good, resigned, and took a job as a trainer at a fintech company and haven't looked back. During my tenure as a teacher, I was manipulated into changing grades, bullied by coworkers, and sexually harassed by students. Speaking up puts your job on the line, and mortgage bills are real. Folks are entitled, and consequences don't exist. Good luck with that.
The second story is mine! Thanks for reading it! In case anyone is curious, I have had my own in home daycare for 7 years now because I worked at a few more places after that and found that most places had too little staff to children ratio. I should also mention that this story that she read in the video was actually my first job out of college.
Sorry you had to go through this. Some of my family members are in education and the stories never change. I thank you and all teachers for all you do.
My friend owns a daycare in Iowa and she has to have more staff per so many students. Her ratios are way more strict and narrow than the school. How is that allowed? She doesn’t even take high risk kids. It is crazy.
The 63 year old teacher should get a lawyer. I'm not sure if schools are different, but I was always told, if a company calls asking about a former employee, as a supervisor just confirm that the person worked for you and when they worked for you. Anything more could get you sued. Lastly, I'd love to see you, along with other teachers write a book and go on a speaking tour about the problems in education. I know you have this channel.
You have to ask for a neutral recommendation, in which case they only can say that you worked at the school for so many years and earned this much. You also need to ask that the recommendation come from HR not the principal. When this happened to me, I got the union involved to help with this.
Yes! Legally give times of employment, title, and you can say whether or not they are eligible for rehire, period! I wouldn’t offer that last one either, only if the person asked outright!
When I was in school we had 30 to 32 kids for 1 teacher. Even in kindergarten, though we did have time each day that another teacher was with us for a bit.
That's a kindergarten age and the law here states that schools can have 20 in a class regardless of their behavior. They can have more if the need arises. For instance, they don't have an extra teacher .
Depends on the state. The state i live in when i taught pre-school and pre-k, it was 1 to 18 (of 4yr olds) and only slightly younger for 3yr olds (i want to say it was 1 to 15). They probably went like "it's just 2 over, soo..." which is wrong on so many levels and a DHR violation at that, but, you see how folks will get over, then blame the overworked and stressed out teacher.
My mother, died. She lived nearly one thousand miles from where I worked as an administrator. I was reminded that I would have only five days off. My reply, ‘I had only one mother’. I returned to work in ten days and nothing was said. I think they knew I would have been gone for good if anyone dared to speak.
My mother died my first year of teaching at a new district. My school did not charge me ANY sick days even though I took EVERY day I had between her illness and death. And they gave me a very generous gift and had the kids write cards.
One of my good teacher besties who left our school for a district closer to her home and had taught Language Arts for several years at her new school with no problem encountered the new principal who had it out for her from the get-go. She was a great teacher and had always gotten stellar evaluations at our school as well as at her other school. She was even Teacher of the Year one year at the other school. But when the new principal came, he was very cold to her and because it was her evaluation year, he was her evaluator. He basically decided that she was incompetent at her job and told her that she could either resign or be fired because the district would not be renewing her contract. She decided to resign and now has a job at a university teaching future teachers and supervising student teachers. Guess who has the last laugh? It’s sad that one administrator who has it out for you, no matter how exemplary your teaching record is, can make or break your job.
As a retired educator, I can attest to the shaming a school district places on teachers if they call in sick and miss work. If you missed more than two days, you were required to have a physicians’s note although you have earned the sick time. Teachers are considered professionals but are often treated as third class citizens by students, parents and especially administrators. Oh yes, poor classroom management was the excuse admin used if a student misbehaved in my class.
I BLAME THE PARENTS. When I was in school in "the olden day" teachers had more authority over their classes and were highly respected. Other people looked out for the kids and when you did something wrong trust your parents knew about it before you got home from school. When my kids were in school and I did drop-ins if I saw another child acting up I made sure to reprimand them and then tell their parents. Parents are so afraid they will be cursed out for saying things to children that they just look the other way. We need to get back to respecting teachers and pay them for the jobs they do. And parents discipline your children.
Personally I think that’s where things went wrong. My parents for example talked about “the good old days” where they were punished for simple mistakes and misunderstandings that happened at school and their parents believed teachers word. Which that is good but I do think it lead to an overcorrection, when they became parents they didn’t just take a teachers word for fact and actually listened to my side of the story. Children are not perfect, they don’t listen all the time and make careless mistakes, maybe they are having a hard day. I like that it’s okay now to be more understanding of that while still holding them accountable for their actions. I personally tried to find a happy medium because I have so much respect for my kids teachers so if they call me about something I don’t rush to punish my child but I also don’t dismiss the teacher and I believe what they tell me.
I once had a principal tell me that they were debating how to discipline me for something that happened in my classroom. I wasn’t even in the building at the time of the incident. But they wanted to hold me accountable. I found another job.
Teachers are having to spend way too much time dealing with disrespectful and behavioral issue kids, they don’t have time to actually teach. My son in middle school even knows it, he tells me all the time how bad kids act. One of his teachers last year left the classroom crying it got so bad.
Listening to these stories are very hurtful!!! As a former teacher of 34 years( regular and special education), I can sympathize with all of these stories.😢
I had a teacher friend who got Covid and was very sick. Because of that she was out for a week. She came back to school to an email from a parent berating her for being unprofessional as to take off for an entire week. She was SICK! She was a first year teacher so of course took it more to heart. Teachers feel dehumanized which is why they leave. We are not robots that will just be there no matter what. We are humans with lives and sh$t happens, just like it does to everyone else. It is so ironic that in the midst of a teacher shortage where you can’t afford to have any teacher leave, people are going to belittle a teacher for missing a few days, thus making them leave forever. Not the best strategy. Hmmm let a teacher have a few days or have them leave forever. I think the few days is preferable.
I'm "one of those crazies" and applaud the teacher staying the heck home while sick, with anything💚 My son got a flu once that almost took him because we praise "working thru it" and not caring about spreading to all else. Anything. You've got a cold? Stay home. Tummy sick? Stay home? The next bug? Stay home. We'd never gotten here if we started praising staying tf home if ill
I’m a student and watching these videos open my eyes a lot to what teachers experience. It motivates me to be the best student I can xD Moral of the story what your doing is amazing! Thank you!
The problem is not the teachers, it’s the parents not teaching their children how to behave and holding them accountable. If I misbehaved in school, I knew it was going to be bad when I got home. My kids know, if I hear about them disrespecting a teacher or acting stupid at school they are not going to be enjoying life for a while.
Thank you for mentioning the unwritten rule about never taking days off. My school "rewards" teachers for never taking sick days by having prizes and recognition for teacher perfect attendance. It has always rubbed me the wrong way because they use it to try to convince you not to use your sick days.
1. Incentivinzing attendance is never good. We do not want sick kids or teachers in the buikding. This just makes more sick people. 2. You don't use them and you will be mentally unhealthy. 3. They want you to not use them because it is much cheaper to pay you $10 per day you have banked than to hire a sub. NONE of these are good for teachers.
at my old high school, they used to hold award ceremonies that the whole high school would have to sit through to award students for perfect attendance. this includes no tardies. this always rubbed me the wrong way too because a lot of kids don’t drive themselves to school. if something is going on at home, how does it fall onto the child for not being to school on time? children are not in charge of their parents or their time management so why should they have to miss out
this is why I can't stand perfect attendance awards. I never liked them. I've earned them before when I was younger, but I never really felt too excited about them. It's just not right to expect something like that of somebody.
I am a teacher who barely takes days off because it is harder for me to prepare to be out than if I just go to work. I also don´t like returning to school and having to deal with behaviors from the day before that never seem to happen when I am in the classroom. Unfortunately, there are teachers who purposefully use their sick days to make long weekends or to avoid certain situations like field day and parent night for example. I also understand that if a teacher has school age children (mine are grown) you can´t help being out when they are sick. Speaking from experience, children can be fine when you put them to bed and then wake up during the night throwing up and running a fever. I don´t want that teacher to feel bad that they had to take off to care for their child.
Rewarding either teachers or students for perfect attendance is wrong because you're encouraging people to go to school sick. Did we not just have a global pandemic?!? Did we learn anything from it?? Stay home if you're sick, people, and keep your kids home if they're sick! Some people can get seriously ill when they catch the contagious viruses you bring to school. A teacher shortage is NOT the teachers' problem! That is an admin problem. Don't expect teachers to solve that problem. Teachers aren't getting paid to solve admin problems. People have emergencies and have to miss work sometimes. Have a plan. Don't act surprised.
Here’s a thought, let’s treat the teachers like the amazing people they actually are and holding the children accountable for their own behaviors (good and bad)….. perhaps these teachers aren’t walking out!!!!
I think it’s more than just children. It’s important that administration at the school, district, and state level are held accountable for the decisions that they make as well.
I was teaching highschool and had classes the size of 36 up 45 students. Once of the vice Principals came in to review me. He complained that I turned my back to the students when walking the classroom. I had five rows of nine students. How was I supposed to check with all my students and NOT have my back to any of them?
In a civilized society (which the U.S. is not), a teacher would not need to worry about momentarily turning her back on young adult students. Something is seriously, seriously wrong with our society.
I would have asked him to come and demonstrate that for me since he apparently had the special knowledge and talent to face all the kids simultaneously.
How can you not have your back turned from the students? How are you supposed to write on the board during your teaching? Let them demonstrate that. And up to 45 students?! Whoa Nelly! What the heck! Thats just crazy.
In the last story, Karma needs to come for that principal. He's pure evil. The teacher needs to take legal action against him, the school, and the district. Guess who it is that cannot do the job he's given? You guessed right.
I left after 27 years in my state. After 2 months, and not being in a school this week (classes began), these stories are triggering my anxiety. One day you will get an email from me with a sampling of my episodes.
This is why I hate when some middle/high school teachers minimize the challenges of teachers of younger elementary students. Like, where do they think these misbehaviors begin? Elementary teachers have their hands tied behind their backs too.
Thank you for sharing the crazy things teachers go through on a daily basis. If these stories make you uncomfortable: good, they should. I hope those who are seeing this as “negativity” are taking steps toward improving the hell teachers have to go through, not just slinking away to hide.
During summer school last year I tore up my legs because I was the only adult willing to lift high school aged students with multiple disabilities out of their wheelchairs to change their diapers. I’m F 5’2 and 100lbs. No upper body strength. There were three adult male teachers that could have helped but refused to. I will never do summer school again after that. I also didn’t get to eat during the school day because I was the only one feeding the same students and prepping their meals. That’s 6 students with different dietary needs and some had to have their food blended. That took hours of my time with no breaks or lunches. I barely had time to use the bathroom myself. I refuse to be used like that again.
I was told once that a student would have to “maim” me in order to be removed from my class. The kid could continue to injure me and get suspended an return to my classroom. An example was stated that losing an eye might get the student removed from my class.
It is amazing to me the similarity between teaching and nursing. Seems like admin are the same. Admin in nursing will nit pick over things that pt's complain about that has nothing to do with their care, but nurse's are held accountable for them. Pt/nurse ratios that are unsafe for both nurse and pt. Huge pressures to come to work sick (which is mind blowing to tell a nurse she needs to work while sick CARING for sick people) and can be written up for calling out sick more than 3 times in a year. Violence against nurses and staff - literally every kind you can think of, but hospitals will not support nurses filing charges because 'the pt was sick'. I have been kicked, hit, spat on, slapped, groped, pinched and pushed. Yet nurses are expected to ignore this. In a 12 hour shift, nurses have to clock out to eat lunch - sometimes even when they do not get their lunch - holding to pee because there is not anyone to cover their pt's while they step off the floor to use the bathroom. I totally get what teachers are facing and it hurts my heart as much as my heart hurts for my nursing co-workers.
I've been seeing more comments lately about how nurses and teachers are mistreated similarly. I had no idea: this is disgraceful that nurses are so poorly treated along with teachers. One would think that people in the helping professions would be HELPED. 😐
I’m not a teacher but as a parent I have noticed that more and more teachers have to put up with verbal abuse from students and their parents. They have to deal with parents coming to the school and complaining that the teachers are picking on their kids and the teacher gets in trouble, even though the kid is usually the 1 that is doing wrong. Or parents having fits at teachers that their kids grades are bad even though they have more then enough time to do their schoolwork.
Show me one mother on the face of the planet that successfully parents 20+ children ALONE, with no family, no husband, and only the neighbor to swing by in emergencies.
I’ve thought of going back part-time now that Covid hysteria has died down. In the past two weeks I’ve gone to two interviews and discovered that in both situations, the schools have added two requirements. 1) Need to take and pass an active-shooter drill and self-defense course. 2) Need to pass a minimum physical fitness class involving running, power lifting, restraint holds. I’m age 63 and have RA. WTH? I suggested they look for new teacher assistants by contacting the military for the names of people soon to be discharged.
I had to leave but it's not you. I was a preschool teacher for 3 years and had a kid just like the child you described who would just walk up to me and bite me hard to the point I finally lost it when he came back to my class after hitting me with a chair. I yelled look at me to my director and showed her all the bruises and bites all over my legs and arms. Her mouth dropped open in shock despite me telling her I need help. I don't know how to get him to stop because teachers choice and bribe to make happy choices wasn't working. I told her I'm going to go ice my back and take a walk and if I come back and he isn't picked up by his parents I quit. 20 minutes later he was picked up so I stayed but he was back the next day on probation and it wasn't until he kicked me in the throat 2 months later despite my documenting of still getting bitten that they expelled him after I lost it again when my director asked me what did I do to get kicked. I yelled nothing and I don't deserve to be abused everyday. Observations of my class previously by other teachers backed up my story that I would be standing there and he would just walk up and bite me. He only got expelled because they checked the video cameras determined that I had to have done something but nope. It shouldn't take a melt down to get support and backed up by the administration, and I guess I'm still traumatized by the experience because I started feeling angry and anxious while listening to that teachers experience. I'm so sorry. I feel her pain.
Oh my gosh! You went through a total nightmare-I'm so sorry. I'm feeling anxious after being told that a very volatile student who escapes the school campus almost daily is returning (I was lied to). This kid is smart yet will curse and scream so loud that it disrupted the entire school at least a dozen times. I was looking for another job last year for various reasons. I hate being lied to by admin: this kid will be in my grade level this year 😐.
OMG! I'm so sorry you went through that abuse. Not only from the child but from your Admin as well. SHAME on your Admin for not giving you the support you needed.
Omg when I taught two year olds I had 20 of them in class and we could be alone with 8 so that happened. When I did summer camp at the same place and I was alone most of the summer when the other teacher quit. I had to do a field trip alone once and a kid had a complete fit during the field trip and kept hiding, refused to cross the street with the rest of the class in ATLANTA. We were at Braves Stadium, turner field so super sketch neighborhood and GIANT streets to cross. I was so livid and refused to ever to a field trip alone even only five kids showed up. She was not allowed to go on the next field trip but damn
Oh my! That sounds dangerous. So very unsafe for you and the children to be in that kind if situation. Field trip should have been cancelled for obvious safety reasons I wonder if Parent helpers/chaperones could have been available to assist? I think I would be livid like you were in that situation too. Also I would be a livid parent finding out my child was in this situation too. But not livid at you mind you. The AUDACITY!
As a school admin, I find what you are sharing to be honest and on point. As an educator first who has had to sub for many K-2 classes, have to say thank you for sharing. Admin SHOULD be teachers first. It is important especially during a teacher crisis. THANK YOU
I have found in the past that admin often ¨forgets¨ the reality of being in the classroom. My ¨contract hours¨ are the hours my students are on campus. I can´t do anything during those hours but teach, facilitate group work, run centers and pull my small groups. Any paper work, grading, filing, responding to emails, calling parents, parent conferences, documenting behaviors, creating behavior plans, creating IIP´s, updating data, planning lessons, gathering materials and supplies for upcoming lessons, etc. has to be done outside of contract hours. Counting all of the school work I do at home, I would have to say I work an average of 10-12 hours per day and most of my weekends are filled with getting these things done. Each school year our list seems to grow. Our job cannot be done the right way within the 8 hours a day we are required to be at school. At my school, teachers are the ones to take the students out for recess and it has to be a structured recess. We also take our students to lunch and remain at lunch with them. Most days, I don´t eat lunch because I am monitoring students and dealing with issues that arise. We even have to sweep the floor and wipe down the tables when our class has finished lunch. (students are not allowed to do this due to safety reasons.) We have no time for ourselves to just stop for a few minutes and breath. We have 45 minute resource daily, but that is filled with content planning with other teachers, grade level planning, and our PLC meetings. We do not get any kind of break. I barely can find time to use the restroom. Those of us who are also responsible for mentoring new teachers have to be creative in finding the time to help them.
I absolutely love teaching and working with students. I love helping them to grow academically and socially. These are the reasons I continue to teach. I believe that everything we are asked to do is in the best interest of our students but often it is repetitive and requires an amount of time that is unrealistic. I thought it would get better when schools added Academic Coaches and Intervention Specialists, but it hasn´t. We just have two more people to pile more work on to our plates. Someone in admin. needs to sit down and create a list of teacher duties and obligations, along with the time it requires to complete. I have a feeling it is so much more than anyone realizes. We are departmentalized in 3rd grade and we make sure we each know what is expected and when for each class so we don´t overwhelm our students with too much homework/projects. I wish someone at the top would do that for us!
@@mariemolloy2392 you have to clean the tables and floors?? Maybe I misread, but I thought you said you're a teacher, not a janitor. 🤔 Structured recess?? Not only is that an unnecessary burden on the teachers, it's not even in the students' best interest. They need unstructured time, developmentally.
Lots of youtubers say they get feedback viewers don't want to hear the negative aspects, whether it be teaching, farming, raising animals or even cooking. If I only hear about the positive things, when something goes wrong I feel like a failure. When other people share what went wrong, there is a community who can advise on how to improve or give feed back in a positive way.
What is so sad about missing work, even if you have sick days, you have to plan for a sub. Planning for a sub takes HOURS. I have had to miss because of some health issues. I wasn’t made to feel bad for taking off but I still had parents contacting me when I was off. I had to communicate with the sub almost daily. You are 100% correct about not being given resources to do our jobs
I felt that second one. In my state, there can only be 8 kids age 3-4 per one adult and for a gen ed class we can only have 6 kids with IEPs. I worked in a public school, in a gen ed ECE class, and had 21(3 year olds) in our class and 15 of them had severe IEPs. Well one day the lead teacher was out and the AP told me "We don't have anyone to help in your classroom. We need you to teach the class alone and not take any breaks or lunch breaks, since we have no one to cover for you." I informed him that that's illegal and if licensing were to walk in, the program would be shut down and I'd be charged with child neglect. He said "Licensing isn't going to be here today, so you're fine. And we really need you to be a team player. I'm sure your coworkers would do the same for you." I kept telling him I refuse to go against guidelines and he needs to get someone else in here. The bell rang and he just walked out leaving me with 21 kids waiting for circle time to start. So there I was...alone...with 21 kids. 6 of those kids had non-vebal autism, 4 of them had mild moderate autism, 2 of them had violent behavioral problems, and 3 of them had serious medical conditions. It was insanity. By the grace of God, I manged to get every kid working on something and it took A LOT of work, creativity and prayer. At the end of the day they said "Wow, everytime I walked by your classroom, all the kids were doing great! Good job!" I cried for an hour when I got home and I wanted to quit. And because I did so well they had me do it SIX TIMES that year they PROMISED me that it would never happen again but it happened over and over! They didn't even bother to get coverage because "Well, you do such a good job on your own and we feel like other teachers need the help more." I wanted scream "IM NOT FINE! THIS IS ILLEGAL AND I NEED SUPPORT!"
I broke my foot last December and initially missed a week of classes and later had to leave early a few times for PT. I was fully supported and never given a bit of grief over it. That’s how it’s supposed to be!
This! My admin is always understanding when things happen like this. I was hospitalized in my 4th year with them and I received offers for help but no reprimands or anything. I can’t imagine. That isn’t to say things are perfect. Far from it and we also have a bad shortage… but it could be so much worse!
Wow. These stories 😔 My son is 8. From kindergarten to 2nd grade there were always 2 teachers! The “main” teacher and the Teachers assistant. At 2 different schools too!! We moved in the middle of his 2nd grade year and even the new school he went to had 2 teachers in the classroom. I think it’s just 1 teacher next year for third grade though. Still, young kids, I feel like it should be common sense to have 2 adults in the classroom. ESPECIALLY for preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade.
Another issue with story 2 is that who was watching all the kids in the classroom while she was outside trying to get one child! They didn't see that is she needs help asap! In a school I worked at they all had walkie talkies. That's when they'll call the principal in!! That's the support that poor teachers need! It's so disgusting how our our teachers are treated so awful. It's one of the HARDEST jobs out there! Mentally, emotional AND physically dealing with kids that will attack you! Thank you for putting these stories and creating awareness. This also happens in daycare as well. There is little support and They will put too many kids with behavior issues in one class. My friend was recently assaulted but a school age kids in the after school program. She was kit, pushed, swore at, and hurt both her elbows from falling down. When she came in the school for work the next day he was still there! Not one consequence was given! She quit and they tried to bribe her wish money since they are also going through staff shortages. She said you didn't support me and never Made that kid accountable, and in my opinion suspended so that his parents could be held accountable as well! Walked right out! I was so proud of her.
I am not a teacher but I work at a school and I knew a teacher who had to take leave for her mental health. She had to figure out a way to pay out of her contact to quit so that prevented her from being able to quit. She had to find another job in the district. These stories do not surprise me our education system is broken.
You’re wonderful for sharing these stories. I’m a veteran teacher, since 1997, and have seen almost ALL of these stories over the years. Sad as it is to say, I feel a bit less lonely knowing that it’s not just my school and district, and, hopefully the more of this truth that gets out out there, the better the chance for positive change to happen. ❤️❤️❤️
My heart goes out to you all. My last time spent in the school environment was fall/winter before covid hit. Things were bad enough then and from what I'm hearing, now 100x worse. I know it's far too easy for me to say as many of you are not in a position to do so, but no job is worth your mental and physical well-being. Please be well.
When I was told my contract was not being renewed, I had the choice to resign or be terminated. I resigned so that I could honestly say I had never been terminated on future applications.
This EXACT SAME THING happened to a colleague of mine at the end of last school year...and then the admin escorted her off the campus without even letting her get her stuff 😡
My most crazy story of all time is when we had the parents of a special needs child SUE the district when the teacher died from Covid-19. The child’s IEP referenced the teacher by name. The IEP is a legally binding document. The lawyer argued that the district was in breach of contract since the teacher named in the contract was unable to provide the services. It didn’t matter that she was dead. She was supposed to be in the classroom. The case got thrown out but the lawyer collected his fees. Money the family could have spent on a tutor or private therapist for their kid. They came up with a special program of virtual classes and said that the teacher needed to look the same as the dead one so as to not confuse the boy. The teacher was a large black woman with an Afro so admin actually had to locate a person who met that description to open a zoom. The parent never showed up to the zooms so the lady basically sat and did her nails for half an hour each day.
I was with you until the end. Who is the say the lady just 'did her nails'. If she was hired it means she had professional qualifications. Whether or not her outward appearance aligned with the whims of the parent is something completely different. This seems to presume the educator wasn't qualified or acted professionally.
@@stepahead5944 uh, yeah. thats exactly what they were saying that she was unprofessional about it. doesnt matter if she was qualified, doesnt mean she actually DID anything during the zoom classes. THAT is documentable. she was there just bc she looked like the parents wanted, not bc she was qualified anyway. the ppl to say she "just did her nails" were probably the ones watching the recordings.
I appreciate your new platform with creating awareness of these situations. I am a lunch/recess supervisor. I am fortunate to have a wonderful principal and student services admin. But I see the exhaustion on their faces. And I equate my job as being a lifeguard on the ground. Keeping kids safe for a 35 minute break the teachers so very need. And my job gives me just a peek into the window of their classrooms! Angels these teachers are! Keep speaking the truth here. Our heads can’t swivel enough.
I was a teacher of littles for 30 years. When a student/students have such extreme outbursts and or behaviors, I always worry about what negative behaviors some other students are learning that they can get away with while watching the chaos.
Meeting you was the highlight of my summer. Every word that comes out of your mouth is so true!!! You help bring awareness to why there is a teacher shortage. I so appreciate your videos and support! This country has a crisis and people just don't get it. Thank you!! If only they would put you in charge of education!! 🥰🥰🥰
Bri, just as in the case of the clown that made the video about you justifiably pointing out the absurdity of a student having the latest tech device when they’re failing in school, you have nothing to qualify, justify or explain. Thank you so much for sharing these stories. Yourself, Rebecca and Lauren in the three weeks since I started watching your various channels have completely changed my perspective on teachers and made me realize how ignorant I was to insane challenges educators are dealing with from students, parents, administrators and now, STATE POLITICIANS, that feel it’s politically advantageous to make teachers the enemy. Please keep sharing the stories unfiltered, yours and others. It’s not just important. It’s necessary.
Teachers are worth their weight in gold! I'm a nurse for 44 years and its amazing how people are. Truth hurts! Just came across your channel and am subscribing.
Thank you for speaking up for teachers. Negative truths are still truths. This needs to be done! Change has to happen or there will be NO teachers in the next 20 years.
The state, the admin, the parents and the students all need to be held accountable. Teachers need these things to be able to make the next generation better. Stop treating these teacher's like they are robots and treat them like the humans they are.
I think it should be mandatory for all parents to volunteer 1 day during the school year (yes I am a working parent and understand how challenging this can be) but you cannot spend a day in the classroom and not see teachers as the superheroes they are.
I give anyone who is a teacher the most respect. Between, admin, parents and kids I am amazed anyone stays in education. I have teachers in my family. Much respect for all of you.
I am thankful that you give teachers a platform to talk about the things that they can't say on the job site for reasons that you have stated. Teachers would not have as many problems in school if they had back up from parents. I have taught my children and grandchildren that I will always have their back, but they need to be in the right when they come to me wanting that backup. I have backed my children up at school, I have homeschooled my children, and I have dealt with these children as a school bus driver. My biggest problem as a bus driver was not getting back up when the students violated the rules and I followed the rules and wrote them up.
This is all so sad. Thank you for sharing. Teachers are not appreciated enough. These stories remind me that we made the choice to homeschool our daughter.
Also hats off and applause to the teacher in story number 2 cuz I can relate a tiny bit. The most I've had to deal with is maybe 10 so I can't imagine that many.
I love you Bree and I love your channel and so glad you moved to TH-cam. I’m glad you were able to make this work for you and I wish you all the luck in the world. Stay strong for those of us that need you to give us a bit of a laugh and also a bit of compassion for everyone including the students.
I want to know how a teacher who didn't specialize in Special Education got a class of 20 3-5 year old. The ratio of for a Special Ed. teacher to behavioral students is 5:1. As for the 63 year old teacher, she can sub in another district with no problems and she can most likely get picked up. She doesn't have to say she was terminated.
I love how you are taking up for these teachers. When I was in school we respected out teachers. I can’t imagine what these teachers go through. God bless you all.
This is sad bc in daycare they have strict teacher - student ratio, espically for younger kids. They know that it's impossible this is just abuse at the highest level
My story is similar to several you have shared. It was so traumatic I have to deliberately try to push the memory back to keep from crying over and over. I was suspended for something I didn't do. My principal, who I admired and loved, threw me under the bus. I had to hire a lawyer. It didn't do any good. I chose to resign and get away from the toxic situation. It took me several years to get over the trauma. It happened in 2014 and thinking about it is still very upsetting. I still take anxiety meds.
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There needs to be a national walkout over these issues not being addressed
Telling the truth isn't spreading negativity. The truth hurts. Sorry, not sorry. Please don't stop doing what you're doing! The ONLY way we can change the public ed system--from the inside out--is to first speak the truth.
1000000000%. Teachers have covered/fixed for all the bad stuff happening in the education system for far too long.
Normalize truth probably will sting at first, it's like building muscle.... It'll be worth the uncomfortable
A lot of people don't like the truth.
💯💯💯💯💯👍
You are amazing. Keep speaking the truth. It appears to systemic across the United States.
Teachers who've had cancer, chemo, and radiation are also made to feel bad for being out. Ask me how I know.
@@rosierose2717 I'm well. Thank you so much for your support!
In any other profession, the way teachers are treated would constitute a hostile work environment. So glad you have a voice for teachers in the trenches!
Unless it's retail or kitchen staffing but
you know
Those don't require bachelor's and masters degrees haha
"Why are teachers leaving?? >:( "
right!
Truth!
Yes... teachers in the trenches. Amen.
Class action lawsuit
I’m a parent and I always supported the teachers
I had teachers call me to inform me that my child was getting a poor grade since my child hadn’t done his work. The teachers were always surprised when I told them to give my child the grade he earned. I told my kids that actions have consequences and I believe in that. It’s not the teacher’s fault if kids won’t do what they are supposed to do. I made sure my child had consequences for poor grades, like tv or play restrictions
Teachers have a hard job and they are under paid!
Thank you! Your child will thrive! Because of your parenting!
@psychomomtats, I’m the same with my kids and their teachers. They are always so relieved when I tell them at the first conferences be honest with me about my kids. I love them, but I know they aren’t perfect angels and if there is a problem or struggle, I want to know so we can work on improving their grade or correcting their behavior. The sigh of relief those teachers always have when they realize I want to work with them not against them. It’s takes the parents to be responsible on our end to help the teachers be successful with the kids.
This! It is the same for me. I couldn’t have more support for teachers, they are raising our youth and shaping their futures!! As a millennial whose parents thought I did no wrong, I feel like this atmosphere of not trusting teachers and mistreatment was an overcorrection by my parents generation. They told me many stories of being mistreated or treated unfairly by a teacher in their lifetime and I think my parents at least wanted to make sure I wasn’t punished for something out of context or that I maybe didn’t do because they were done that way. I am so thankful my children and especially my son who is special needs, have amazing teachers and for now in this atmosphere we have today I am not going to question their teachers and I’m gunna do what I can to make their lives easier. I can hear the absolute dread in their voices when they have to call me about an unfortunate situation, ready to be yelled at or not believed but I will hold my children accountable for their actions and the grades they earned.
@@SewFloSewing teacher here. Don't make teachers' lives "easier", work together with them to enhance your childrens' lives, to improve their future chances. That's what teachers want. But you already do it. Thank you
I think you analysed the situation perfectly.
I'm on the same boat. My kids know that any bad actions have bad consequences. I won't tolerate that disrespect
These stories are absolutely not negativity-they are TRUTH! I was a high school English teacher for 23 years, and this June I packed up my classroom for good, resigned, and took a job as a trainer at a fintech company and haven't looked back. During my tenure as a teacher, I was manipulated into changing grades, bullied by coworkers, and sexually harassed by students. Speaking up puts your job on the line, and mortgage bills are real. Folks are entitled, and consequences don't exist. Good luck with that.
The second story is mine! Thanks for reading it! In case anyone is curious, I have had my own in home daycare for 7 years now because I worked at a few more places after that and found that most places had too little staff to children ratio. I should also mention that this story that she read in the video was actually my first job out of college.
wow! God bless you🙏🙏 and a daycare of your own is a great place! keep moving forward and helping our children learn
Sorry you had to go through this. Some of my family members are in education and the stories never change. I thank you and all teachers for all you do.
My friend owns a daycare in Iowa and she has to have more staff per so many students. Her ratios are way more strict and narrow than the school. How is that allowed? She doesn’t even take high risk kids. It is crazy.
I’m so proud of you @jcfreak2007!
Bless you
If I was the 63 year old woman who was "terminated" I would definitely go and get a consult from a labor attorney or 2.
I'll bet that this has a lot to do with the teacher's age and very little to do do with her practice.
The 63 year old teacher should get a lawyer. I'm not sure if schools are different, but I was always told, if a company calls asking about a former employee, as a supervisor just confirm that the person worked for you and when they worked for you. Anything more could get you sued. Lastly, I'd love to see you, along with other teachers write a book and go on a speaking tour about the problems in education. I know you have this channel.
The podcast is really good too.
You have to ask for a neutral recommendation, in which case they only can say that you worked at the school for so many years and earned this much. You also need to ask that the recommendation come from HR not the principal. When this happened to me, I got the union involved to help with this.
Yes! Legally give times of employment, title, and you can say whether or not they are eligible for rehire, period! I wouldn’t offer that last one either, only if the person asked outright!
Yes I live in California and have been told the same thing as a supervisor.
I would definitely get the teacher’s union involved. That is why we pay our dues.
How is that even legal to have 20 3-5 year olds with only one adult? I’ve done day care, and I think the max we could have on our own was 10.
When I was in school we had 30 to 32 kids for 1 teacher. Even in kindergarten, though we did have time each day that another teacher was with us for a bit.
This was actually my story and I wasn't left with 20, just 10 but they were all behavior kids.
That's a kindergarten age and the law here states that schools can have 20 in a class regardless of their behavior. They can have more if the need arises. For instance, they don't have an extra teacher .
@@K.McClintock yikes
Depends on the state. The state i live in when i taught pre-school and pre-k, it was 1 to 18 (of 4yr olds) and only slightly younger for 3yr olds (i want to say it was 1 to 15). They probably went like "it's just 2 over, soo..." which is wrong on so many levels and a DHR violation at that, but, you see how folks will get over, then blame the overworked and stressed out teacher.
My mother, died. She lived nearly one thousand miles from where I worked as an administrator. I was reminded that I would have only five days off. My reply, ‘I had only one mother’. I returned to work in ten days and nothing was said. I think they knew I would have been gone for good if anyone dared to speak.
Yes, admin gets some pretty harsh treatment was well. It is surprising districts can find admin at all.
My mother died my first year of teaching at a new district. My school did not charge me ANY sick days even though I took EVERY day I had between her illness and death. And they gave me a very generous gift and had the kids write cards.
@@tish5437 Which is how it should have been. I’m sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss. Wow, it is amazing people's lack of compassion.
FAMILY COMES FIRST. PERIOD. NEVER FEEL GUILTY FOR PUTTING YOUR FAMILY BEFORE YOUR STUDENTS. YOUR FAMILY IS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY!!!!!
100%. My district understands that and I appreciate it.
Interesting you say that when America is once of the very few countries that do not offer pair parental leave… Your entire system is broken!
One of my good teacher besties who left our school for a district closer to her home and had taught Language Arts for several years at her new school with no problem encountered the new principal who had it out for her from the get-go. She was a great teacher and had always gotten stellar evaluations at our school as well as at her other school. She was even Teacher of the Year one year at the other school. But when the new principal came, he was very cold to her and because it was her evaluation year, he was her evaluator. He basically decided that she was incompetent at her job and told her that she could either resign or be fired because the district would not be renewing her contract. She decided to resign and now has a job at a university teaching future teachers and supervising student teachers. Guess who has the last laugh? It’s sad that one administrator who has it out for you, no matter how exemplary your teaching record is, can make or break your job.
Happens in every job. Boss picks out someone that does job well and suddenly reviews suck, and everything is their fault.
A person should be safe, supported, and respected in their place of work. That's it.
As a retired educator, I can attest to the shaming a school district places on teachers if they call in sick and miss work. If you missed more than two days, you were required to have a physicians’s note although you have earned the sick time. Teachers are considered professionals but are often treated as third class citizens by students, parents and especially administrators. Oh yes, poor classroom management was the excuse admin used if a student misbehaved in my class.
I BLAME THE PARENTS. When I was in school in "the olden day" teachers had more authority over their classes and were highly respected. Other people looked out for the kids and when you did something wrong trust your parents knew about it before you got home from school. When my kids were in school and I did drop-ins if I saw another child acting up I made sure to reprimand them and then tell their parents. Parents are so afraid they will be cursed out for saying things to children that they just look the other way. We need to get back to respecting teachers and pay them for the jobs they do. And parents discipline your children.
Personally I think that’s where things went wrong. My parents for example talked about “the good old days” where they were punished for simple mistakes and misunderstandings that happened at school and their parents believed teachers word. Which that is good but I do think it lead to an overcorrection, when they became parents they didn’t just take a teachers word for fact and actually listened to my side of the story. Children are not perfect, they don’t listen all the time and make careless mistakes, maybe they are having a hard day. I like that it’s okay now to be more understanding of that while still holding them accountable for their actions. I personally tried to find a happy medium because I have so much respect for my kids teachers so if they call me about something I don’t rush to punish my child but I also don’t dismiss the teacher and I believe what they tell me.
I once had a principal tell me that they were debating how to discipline me for something that happened in my classroom. I wasn’t even in the building at the time of the incident. But they wanted to hold me accountable. I found another job.
Hope you candidly let he or she know about themselves as well.
oh man that lady who is 63, if i were her i'd go to a lawyer and file an age discrimination suit against that school corp. that's ridiculous
Teachers are having to spend way too much time dealing with disrespectful and behavioral issue kids, they don’t have time to actually teach. My son in middle school even knows it, he tells me all the time how bad kids act. One of his teachers last year left the classroom crying it got so bad.
Listening to these stories are very hurtful!!! As a former teacher of 34 years( regular and special education), I can sympathize with all of these stories.😢
I had a teacher friend who got Covid and was very sick. Because of that she was out for a week. She came back to school to an email from a parent berating her for being unprofessional as to take off for an entire week. She was SICK! She was a first year teacher so of course took it more to heart. Teachers feel dehumanized which is why they leave. We are not robots that will just be there no matter what. We are humans with lives and sh$t happens, just like it does to everyone else. It is so ironic that in the midst of a teacher shortage where you can’t afford to have any teacher leave, people are going to belittle a teacher for missing a few days, thus making them leave forever. Not the best strategy. Hmmm let a teacher have a few days or have them leave forever. I think the few days is preferable.
I'm "one of those crazies" and applaud the teacher staying the heck home while sick, with anything💚
My son got a flu once that almost took him because we praise "working thru it" and not caring about spreading to all else. Anything. You've got a cold? Stay home. Tummy sick? Stay home? The next bug? Stay home. We'd never gotten here if we started praising staying tf home if ill
You're not negative. You're just telling it like it is.
Teacher's you are the backbone of our society. Thank you for all that you do! Hugs.
It’s like an abusive relationship. The way teachers are treated with the gaslighting , bullying , the disrespect and left abandoned with no safety net
I’m a student and watching these videos open my eyes a lot to what teachers experience. It motivates me to be the best student I can xD
Moral of the story what your doing is amazing! Thank you!
Watching this! Is a true confirmation that I am making the right decision by retiring May of next year and I won’t look back! Thank you so much!
The problem is not the teachers, it’s the parents not teaching their children how to behave and holding them accountable. If I misbehaved in school, I knew it was going to be bad when I got home. My kids know, if I hear about them disrespecting a teacher or acting stupid at school they are not going to be enjoying life for a while.
Yes! I never blame the students. It’s their parents fault for not setting boundaries and having consequences.
Thank you for mentioning the unwritten rule about never taking days off. My school "rewards" teachers for never taking sick days by having prizes and recognition for teacher perfect attendance. It has always rubbed me the wrong way because they use it to try to convince you not to use your sick days.
1. Incentivinzing attendance is never good. We do not want sick kids or teachers in the buikding. This just makes more sick people. 2. You don't use them and you will be mentally unhealthy. 3. They want you to not use them because it is much cheaper to pay you $10 per day you have banked than to hire a sub. NONE of these are good for teachers.
at my old high school, they used to hold award ceremonies that the whole high school would have to sit through to award students for perfect attendance. this includes no tardies. this always rubbed me the wrong way too because a lot of kids don’t drive themselves to school. if something is going on at home, how does it fall onto the child for not being to school on time? children are not in charge of their parents or their time management so why should they have to miss out
this is why I can't stand perfect attendance awards. I never liked them. I've earned them before when I was younger, but I never really felt too excited about them. It's just not right to expect something like that of somebody.
I am a teacher who barely takes days off because it is harder for me to prepare to be out than if I just go to work. I also don´t like returning to school and having to deal with behaviors from the day before that never seem to happen when I am in the classroom. Unfortunately, there are teachers who purposefully use their sick days to make long weekends or to avoid certain situations like field day and parent night for example. I also understand that if a teacher has school age children (mine are grown) you can´t help being out when they are sick. Speaking from experience, children can be fine when you put them to bed and then wake up during the night throwing up and running a fever. I don´t want that teacher to feel bad that they had to take off to care for their child.
Rewarding either teachers or students for perfect attendance is wrong because you're encouraging people to go to school sick. Did we not just have a global pandemic?!? Did we learn anything from it?? Stay home if you're sick, people, and keep your kids home if they're sick! Some people can get seriously ill when they catch the contagious viruses you bring to school. A teacher shortage is NOT the teachers' problem! That is an admin problem. Don't expect teachers to solve that problem. Teachers aren't getting paid to solve admin problems. People have emergencies and have to miss work sometimes. Have a plan. Don't act surprised.
Here’s a thought, let’s treat the teachers like the amazing people they actually are and holding the children accountable for their own behaviors (good and bad)….. perhaps these teachers aren’t walking out!!!!
I think it’s more than just children. It’s important that administration at the school, district, and state level are held accountable for the decisions that they make as well.
I agree. Just thought it was implied….
Amen. Hold children accountable and stop blaming teachers. Also make mom and dad be accountable too.
This is why teacher unions are really important. They may be your only resource at times for support.
Things have to change, there’s a teacher shortage everywhere. They need to start listening to teachers, treat them better and pay them better
You are so articulate, classy, and often so funny. Thank you for your truth telling
I was teaching highschool and had classes the size of 36 up 45 students. Once of the vice Principals came in to review me. He complained that I turned my back to the students when walking the classroom. I had five rows of nine students. How was I supposed to check with all my students and NOT have my back to any of them?
In a civilized society (which the U.S. is not), a teacher would not need to worry about momentarily turning her back on young adult students. Something is seriously, seriously wrong with our society.
I would have asked him to come and demonstrate that for me since he apparently had the special knowledge and talent to face all the kids simultaneously.
@@kraftymum That was my exact thought!
Up to 45 students?!?😮😮😮
How can you not have your back turned from the students? How are you supposed to write on the board during your teaching? Let them demonstrate that. And up to 45 students?! Whoa Nelly! What the heck! Thats just crazy.
In the last story, Karma needs to come for that principal. He's pure evil. The teacher needs to take legal action against him, the school, and the district. Guess who it is that cannot do the job he's given? You guessed right.
Please do keep telling these stories. Teachers need to have these stories heard by people. Maybe 1 day things may change.
Change starts at home with parenting, sending better behaved kids to school. Then yes the schools and legislation has to follow.
I left after 27 years in my state. After 2 months, and not being in a school this week (classes began), these stories are triggering my anxiety. One day you will get an email from me with a sampling of my episodes.
I can relate. I just retired after 26 years of teaching. My anxiety was triggered too.
I’m so tired of admin not taking what we say happened at face value.
Thank you for taking the time to give teachers a voice. I pray "Teacher Stories" makes a change in the education system.
This is why I hate when some middle/high school teachers minimize the challenges of teachers of younger elementary students. Like, where do they think these misbehaviors begin? Elementary teachers have their hands tied behind their backs too.
A 300 lb. kid??? That's a grown man!
Thank you for sharing the crazy things teachers go through on a daily basis. If these stories make you uncomfortable: good, they should. I hope those who are seeing this as “negativity” are taking steps toward improving the hell teachers have to go through, not just slinking away to hide.
They make me mad- when I was in school teachers has paddles and this kind of crap didn't go on
During summer school last year I tore up my legs because I was the only adult willing to lift high school aged students with multiple disabilities out of their wheelchairs to change their diapers. I’m F 5’2 and 100lbs. No upper body strength. There were three adult male teachers that could have helped but refused to. I will never do summer school again after that. I also didn’t get to eat during the school day because I was the only one feeding the same students and prepping their meals. That’s 6 students with different dietary needs and some had to have their food blended. That took hours of my time with no breaks or lunches. I barely had time to use the bathroom myself. I refuse to be used like that again.
I was told once that a student would have to “maim” me in order to be removed from my class. The kid could continue to injure me and get suspended an return to my classroom. An example was stated that losing an eye might get the student removed from my class.
I mean…. I’m shaking my damn head right now. This is just awful. ♥️ sorry you went through that.
Unbelievable. I mean, I do believe you, but wow...
It is amazing to me the similarity between teaching and nursing. Seems like admin are the same. Admin in nursing will nit pick over things that pt's complain about that has nothing to do with their care, but nurse's are held accountable for them. Pt/nurse ratios that are unsafe for both nurse and pt. Huge pressures to come to work sick (which is mind blowing to tell a nurse she needs to work while sick CARING for sick people) and can be written up for calling out sick more than 3 times in a year. Violence against nurses and staff - literally every kind you can think of, but hospitals will not support nurses filing charges because 'the pt was sick'. I have been kicked, hit, spat on, slapped, groped, pinched and pushed. Yet nurses are expected to ignore this. In a 12 hour shift, nurses have to clock out to eat lunch - sometimes even when they do not get their lunch - holding to pee because there is not anyone to cover their pt's while they step off the floor to use the bathroom. I totally get what teachers are facing and it hurts my heart as much as my heart hurts for my nursing co-workers.
I've been seeing more comments lately about how nurses and teachers are mistreated similarly. I had no idea: this is disgraceful that nurses are so poorly treated along with teachers. One would think that people in the helping professions would be HELPED. 😐
I’m not a teacher but as a parent I have noticed that more and more teachers have to put up with verbal abuse from students and their parents. They have to deal with parents coming to the school and complaining that the teachers are picking on their kids and the teacher gets in trouble, even though the kid is usually the 1 that is doing wrong. Or parents having fits at teachers that their kids grades are bad even though they have more then enough time to do their schoolwork.
Show me one mother on the face of the planet that successfully parents 20+ children ALONE, with no family, no husband, and only the neighbor to swing by in emergencies.
Thank you for sharing these stories. I feel like many of us have been gaslit into thinking our concerns are not valid.
You all are not paid enough thanks for all you teachers do ❤
I’ve thought of going back part-time now that Covid hysteria has died down. In the past two weeks I’ve gone to two interviews and discovered that in both situations, the schools have added two requirements. 1) Need to take and pass an active-shooter drill and self-defense course. 2) Need to pass a minimum physical fitness class involving running, power lifting, restraint holds. I’m age 63 and have RA. WTH? I suggested they look for new teacher assistants by contacting the military for the names of people soon to be discharged.
I had to leave but it's not you. I was a preschool teacher for 3 years and had a kid just like the child you described who would just walk up to me and bite me hard to the point I finally lost it when he came back to my class after hitting me with a chair. I yelled look at me to my director and showed her all the bruises and bites all over my legs and arms. Her mouth dropped open in shock despite me telling her I need help. I don't know how to get him to stop because teachers choice and bribe to make happy choices wasn't working. I told her I'm going to go ice my back and take a walk and if I come back and he isn't picked up by his parents I quit. 20 minutes later he was picked up so I stayed but he was back the next day on probation and it wasn't until he kicked me in the throat 2 months later despite my documenting of still getting bitten that they expelled him after I lost it again when my director asked me what did I do to get kicked. I yelled nothing and I don't deserve to be abused everyday. Observations of my class previously by other teachers backed up my story that I would be standing there and he would just walk up and bite me. He only got expelled because they checked the video cameras determined that I had to have done something but nope. It shouldn't take a melt down to get support and backed up by the administration, and I guess I'm still traumatized by the experience because I started feeling angry and anxious while listening to that teachers experience. I'm so sorry. I feel her pain.
Oh my gosh! You went through a total nightmare-I'm so sorry. I'm feeling anxious after being told that a very volatile student who escapes the school campus almost daily is returning (I was lied to). This kid is smart yet will curse and scream so loud that it disrupted the entire school at least a dozen times. I was looking for another job last year for various reasons. I hate being lied to by admin: this kid will be in my grade level this year 😐.
OMG! I'm so sorry you went through that abuse. Not only from the child but from your Admin as well. SHAME on your Admin for not giving you the support you needed.
Thanks for sharing these stories. It all needs to be revamped. Thanks for all you do.
Omg when I taught two year olds I had 20 of them in class and we could be alone with 8 so that happened. When I did summer camp at the same place and I was alone most of the summer when the other teacher quit. I had to do a field trip alone once and a kid had a complete fit during the field trip and kept hiding, refused to cross the street with the rest of the class in ATLANTA. We were at Braves Stadium, turner field so super sketch neighborhood and GIANT streets to cross. I was so livid and refused to ever to a field trip alone even only five kids showed up. She was not allowed to go on the next field trip but damn
Oh my! That sounds dangerous. So very unsafe for you and the children to be in that kind if situation. Field trip should have been cancelled for obvious safety reasons I wonder if Parent helpers/chaperones could have been available to assist? I think I would be livid like you were in that situation too. Also I would be a livid parent finding out my child was in this situation too. But not livid at you mind you. The AUDACITY!
As a school admin, I find what you are sharing to be honest and on point. As an educator first who has had to sub for many K-2 classes, have to say thank you for sharing. Admin SHOULD be teachers first. It is important especially during a teacher crisis. THANK YOU
I have found in the past that admin often ¨forgets¨ the reality of being in the classroom. My ¨contract hours¨ are the hours my students are on campus. I can´t do anything during those hours but teach, facilitate group work, run centers and pull my small groups. Any paper work, grading, filing, responding to emails, calling parents, parent conferences, documenting behaviors, creating behavior plans, creating IIP´s, updating data, planning lessons, gathering materials and supplies for upcoming lessons, etc. has to be done outside of contract hours. Counting all of the school work I do at home, I would have to say I work an average of 10-12 hours per day and most of my weekends are filled with getting these things done. Each school year our list seems to grow. Our job cannot be done the right way within the 8 hours a day we are required to be at school. At my school, teachers are the ones to take the students out for recess and it has to be a structured recess. We also take our students to lunch and remain at lunch with them. Most days, I don´t eat lunch because I am monitoring students and dealing with issues that arise. We even have to sweep the floor and wipe down the tables when our class has finished lunch. (students are not allowed to do this due to safety reasons.) We have no time for ourselves to just stop for a few minutes and breath. We have 45 minute resource daily, but that is filled with content planning with other teachers, grade level planning, and our PLC meetings. We do not get any kind of break. I barely can find time to use the restroom. Those of us who are also responsible for mentoring new teachers have to be creative in finding the time to help them.
I absolutely love teaching and working with students. I love helping them to grow academically and socially. These are the reasons I continue to teach. I believe that everything we are asked to do is in the best interest of our students but often it is repetitive and requires an amount of time that is unrealistic. I thought it would get better when schools added Academic Coaches and Intervention Specialists, but it hasn´t. We just have two more people to pile more work on to our plates. Someone in admin. needs to sit down and create a list of teacher duties and obligations, along with the time it requires to complete. I have a feeling it is so much more than anyone realizes. We are departmentalized in 3rd grade and we make sure we each know what is expected and when for each class so we don´t overwhelm our students with too much homework/projects. I wish someone at the top would do that for us!
@@mariemolloy2392 you have to clean the tables and floors?? Maybe I misread, but I thought you said you're a teacher, not a janitor. 🤔 Structured recess?? Not only is that an unnecessary burden on the teachers, it's not even in the students' best interest. They need unstructured time, developmentally.
Lots of youtubers say they get feedback viewers don't want to hear the negative aspects, whether it be teaching, farming, raising animals or even cooking. If I only hear about the positive things, when something goes wrong I feel like a failure. When other people share what went wrong, there is a community who can advise on how to improve or give feed back in a positive way.
What is so sad about missing work, even if you have sick days, you have to plan for a sub. Planning for a sub takes HOURS. I have had to miss because of some health issues. I wasn’t made to feel bad for taking off but I still had parents contacting me when I was off. I had to communicate with the sub almost daily. You are 100% correct about not being given resources to do our jobs
I felt that second one. In my state, there can only be 8 kids age 3-4 per one adult and for a gen ed class we can only have 6 kids with IEPs. I worked in a public school, in a gen ed ECE class, and had 21(3 year olds) in our class and 15 of them had severe IEPs. Well one day the lead teacher was out and the AP told me "We don't have anyone to help in your classroom. We need you to teach the class alone and not take any breaks or lunch breaks, since we have no one to cover for you." I informed him that that's illegal and if licensing were to walk in, the program would be shut down and I'd be charged with child neglect. He said "Licensing isn't going to be here today, so you're fine. And we really need you to be a team player. I'm sure your coworkers would do the same for you." I kept telling him I refuse to go against guidelines and he needs to get someone else in here. The bell rang and he just walked out leaving me with 21 kids waiting for circle time to start.
So there I was...alone...with 21 kids. 6 of those kids had non-vebal autism, 4 of them had mild moderate autism, 2 of them had violent behavioral problems, and 3 of them had serious medical conditions. It was insanity. By the grace of God, I manged to get every kid working on something and it took A LOT of work, creativity and prayer. At the end of the day they said "Wow, everytime I walked by your classroom, all the kids were doing great! Good job!" I cried for an hour when I got home and I wanted to quit. And because I did so well they had me do it SIX TIMES that year they PROMISED me that it would never happen again but it happened over and over! They didn't even bother to get coverage because "Well, you do such a good job on your own and we feel like other teachers need the help more." I wanted scream "IM NOT FINE! THIS IS ILLEGAL AND I NEED SUPPORT!"
I was terrified reading your post. That is awful. I'm so sorry you experienced this.
you should have called the police for neglected children or something. police for whatever reason this would have fallen under since it is illegal.
I broke my foot last December and initially missed a week of classes and later had to leave early a few times for PT. I was fully supported and never given a bit of grief over it. That’s how it’s supposed to be!
This! My admin is always understanding when things happen like this. I was hospitalized in my 4th year with them and I received offers for help but no reprimands or anything. I can’t imagine. That isn’t to say things are perfect. Far from it and we also have a bad shortage… but it could be so much worse!
I’m glad there are still some decent administrations out there.
Wow. These stories 😔
My son is 8. From kindergarten to 2nd grade there were always 2 teachers! The “main” teacher and the Teachers assistant. At 2 different schools too!! We moved in the middle of his 2nd grade year and even the new school he went to had 2 teachers in the classroom. I think it’s just 1 teacher next year for third grade though. Still, young kids, I feel like it should be common sense to have 2 adults in the classroom. ESPECIALLY for preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade.
Another issue with story 2 is that who was watching all the kids in the classroom while she was outside trying to get one child! They didn't see that is she needs help asap! In a school I worked at they all had walkie talkies. That's when they'll call the principal in!! That's the support that poor teachers need! It's so disgusting how our our teachers are treated so awful. It's one of the HARDEST jobs out there! Mentally, emotional AND physically dealing with kids that will attack you! Thank you for putting these stories and creating awareness. This also happens in daycare as well. There is little support and They will put too many kids with behavior issues in one class. My friend was recently assaulted but a school age kids in the after school program. She was kit, pushed, swore at, and hurt both her elbows from falling down. When she came in the school for work the next day he was still there! Not one consequence was given! She quit and they tried to bribe her wish money since they are also going through staff shortages. She said you didn't support me and never
Made that kid accountable, and in my opinion suspended so that his parents could be held accountable as well! Walked right out! I was so proud of her.
I am not a teacher but I work at a school and I knew a teacher who had to take leave for her mental health. She had to figure out a way to pay out of her contact to quit so that prevented her from being able to quit. She had to find another job in the district. These stories do not surprise me our education system is broken.
You’re wonderful for sharing these stories. I’m a veteran teacher, since 1997, and have seen almost ALL of these stories over the years. Sad as it is to say, I feel a bit less lonely knowing that it’s not just my school and district, and, hopefully the more of this truth that gets out out there, the better the chance for positive change to happen. ❤️❤️❤️
Amen...... veteran SpEd Para for 28 years.
Teachers need strong unions. End of story.
Teacher aren't allowed to unionize in some states.
My heart goes out to you all. My last time spent in the school environment was fall/winter before covid hit. Things were bad enough then and from what I'm hearing, now 100x worse. I know it's far too easy for me to say as many of you are not in a position to do so, but no job is worth your mental and physical well-being. Please be well.
"Treat teachers like the educated professionals that they are"
When I was told my contract was not being renewed, I had the choice to resign or be terminated. I resigned so that I could honestly say I had never been terminated on future applications.
Resign effective immediately or at the end of the contract? None of this makes sense.
This EXACT SAME THING happened to a colleague of mine at the end of last school year...and then the admin escorted her off the campus without even letting her get her stuff 😡
When I was a TA I was regularly left alone with 2 to 5 students who had special needs and were in the class for behavior
Teenage students bigger than me
What's missing are not good class management skills, but good parenting skills.
My most crazy story of all time is when we had the parents of a special needs child SUE the district when the teacher died from Covid-19. The child’s IEP referenced the teacher by name. The IEP is a legally binding document. The lawyer argued that the district was in breach of contract since the teacher named in the contract was unable to provide the services. It didn’t matter that she was dead. She was supposed to be in the classroom. The case got thrown out but the lawyer collected his fees. Money the family could have spent on a tutor or private therapist for their kid. They came up with a special program of virtual classes and said that the teacher needed to look the same as the dead one so as to not confuse the boy. The teacher was a large black woman with an Afro so admin actually had to locate a person who met that description to open a zoom. The parent never showed up to the zooms so the lady basically sat and did her nails for half an hour each day.
😱😱😱😱😱
O…….M…….G!!!!!!!!! This is INSANE!!!!!!!!!! 😲😲😲😲😲
I was with you until the end. Who is the say the lady just 'did her nails'. If she was hired it means she had professional qualifications. Whether or not her outward appearance aligned with the whims of the parent is something completely different. This seems to presume the educator wasn't qualified or acted professionally.
@@stepahead5944 uh, yeah. thats exactly what they were saying that she was unprofessional about it. doesnt matter if she was qualified, doesnt mean she actually DID anything during the zoom classes. THAT is documentable. she was there just bc she looked like the parents wanted, not bc she was qualified anyway. the ppl to say she "just did her nails" were probably the ones watching the recordings.
WOW. Okay, you win, this is the most insane thing I've read today.
The final story sounds like a serious employment lawsuit. These stories break my heart. Thank you to all for sharing!
I appreciate your new platform with creating awareness of these situations. I am a lunch/recess supervisor. I am fortunate to have a wonderful principal and student services admin. But I see the exhaustion on their faces. And I equate my job as being a lifeguard on the ground. Keeping kids safe for a 35 minute break the teachers so very need. And my job gives me just a peek into the window of their classrooms! Angels these teachers are! Keep speaking the truth here. Our heads can’t swivel enough.
...and how can the kids feel safe if other kids are doing this sort of thing to their teachers?? This isn't negativity, it's sharing reality...
I was a teacher of littles for 30 years. When a student/students have such extreme outbursts and or behaviors, I always worry about what negative behaviors some other students are learning that they can get away with while watching the chaos.
Meeting you was the highlight of my summer. Every word that comes out of your mouth is so true!!! You help bring awareness to why there is a teacher shortage. I so appreciate your videos and support! This country has a crisis and people just don't get it. Thank you!! If only they would put you in charge of education!! 🥰🥰🥰
Thank you for being an advocate 💖
When the health of the kids comes at the cost of my own health, or the health of my family, its time for me to go 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Bri, just as in the case of the clown that made the video about you justifiably pointing out the absurdity of a student having the latest tech device when they’re failing in school, you have nothing to qualify, justify or explain. Thank you so much for sharing these stories. Yourself, Rebecca and Lauren in the three weeks since I started watching your various channels have completely changed my perspective on teachers and made me realize how ignorant I was to insane challenges educators are dealing with from students, parents, administrators and now, STATE POLITICIANS, that feel it’s politically advantageous to make teachers the enemy. Please keep sharing the stories unfiltered, yours and others. It’s not just important. It’s necessary.
Teachers are worth their weight in gold! I'm a nurse for 44 years and its amazing how people are. Truth hurts! Just came across your channel and am subscribing.
Thank you for speaking up for teachers. Negative truths are still truths. This needs to be done! Change has to happen or there will be NO teachers in the next 20 years.
The state, the admin, the parents and the students all need to be held accountable. Teachers need these things to be able to make the next generation better. Stop treating these teacher's like they are robots and treat them like the humans they are.
I think it should be mandatory for all parents to volunteer 1 day during the school year (yes I am a working parent and understand how challenging this can be) but you cannot spend a day in the classroom and not see teachers as the superheroes they are.
💯
True.
I could listen to you all day and all night. You are so genuine and authentic.Keep sharing your light with us.
I give anyone who is a teacher the most respect. Between, admin, parents and kids I am amazed anyone stays in education. I have teachers in my family. Much respect for all of you.
I am thankful that you give teachers a platform to talk about the things that they can't say on the job site for reasons that you have stated. Teachers would not have as many problems in school if they had back up from parents. I have taught my children and grandchildren that I will always have their back, but they need to be in the right when they come to me wanting that backup. I have backed my children up at school, I have homeschooled my children, and I have dealt with these children as a school bus driver. My biggest problem as a bus driver was not getting back up when the students violated the rules and I followed the rules and wrote them up.
I'm sorry to say this but the parents need us more than we need them we need to start putting true blame where it sometimes is needed
Thank you for sharing these stories. Thank you for trying to bring to light the SYSTEMIC issues that are deeply rooted in this profession.
This is all so sad. Thank you for sharing. Teachers are not appreciated enough. These stories remind me that we made the choice to homeschool our daughter.
Have a blessed weekend! Please pray for me as I start this fourth year as a High School Spanish Teacher 🙏🏾❤️🙏🏾
My motto in life is “ if you don’t comply , you get ostracized.” I can only imagine how teachers feel .
Also hats off and applause to the teacher in story number 2 cuz I can relate a tiny bit. The most I've had to deal with is maybe 10 so I can't imagine that many.
I love you Bree and I love your channel and so glad you moved to TH-cam. I’m glad you were able to make this work for you and I wish you all the luck in the world. Stay strong for those of us that need you to give us a bit of a laugh and also a bit of compassion for everyone including the students.
I want to know how a teacher who didn't specialize in Special Education got a class of 20 3-5 year old. The ratio of for a Special Ed. teacher to behavioral students is 5:1. As for the 63 year old teacher, she can sub in another district with no problems and she can most likely get picked up. She doesn't have to say she was terminated.
Let's use our context clues... 🤣🤣🤣 You were born to be a teacher. ❤️
I love how you are taking up for these teachers. When I was in school we respected out teachers. I can’t imagine what these teachers go through. God bless you all.
I appreciate you so much. I am going through hard times and major anxiety at my school. So thank you for speaking up for us.
This is sad bc in daycare they have strict teacher - student ratio, espically for younger kids. They know that it's impossible this is just abuse at the highest level
You are speaking the truth, I'm in a rural area. Where the problems are less but still there no doubt.
Bring these back please, these are vital to hear
All I can say is DAMN
I'm not a teacher but my heart goes out to all the teachers and what they have to deal. It's so sad and it's up setting. Yall stay blessed
My story is similar to several you have shared. It was so traumatic I have to deliberately try to push the memory back to keep from crying over and over. I was suspended for something I didn't do. My principal, who I admired and loved, threw me under the bus. I had to hire a lawyer. It didn't do any good. I chose to resign and get away from the toxic situation. It took me several years to get over the trauma. It happened in 2014 and thinking about it is still very upsetting. I still take anxiety meds.