I’ve written about the few teachers who bully students. But what about the teachers- good teachers, the best and the brightest, who get bullied?
Teaching is not only a thankless but also dangerous job in times like these. In my opinion, teachers should get hazard pay, maybe even combat pay! With the school climate what it is today, teachers risk being harmed, maimed, also murdered, and many don’t make it to retirement.
I’ve seen many teachers quit and opt for second careers because of the many issues in schools and communities. I can’t say I blame them. Teachers get paid a pittance for what they must put up with and they don’t get the support from parents, principals, and higher school officials they did decades ago.
And teacher’s unions are a complete joke! They don’t care about the kids much less the teachers. In my opinion, teacher’s unions are a big money racket and political activist group! I wouldn’t be a teacher if someone offered me triple the salary!
Along with crappy pay, teachers are held responsible for the poor performance and failing grades of their students. And let’s be real here. Many kids are lazy, and many parents are too busy being the child’s BFF rather than being a parent and making their children hit the books. So why is this the teacher’s fault?
Teachers also have a truckload of homework themselves, often having to grade test papers and assignments at home on their own time. And if parents can’t buy the necessary school supplies for their children to bring to class, teachers end up having to dig into their own pockets to provide for these kids. Couple that with the shoddy pay, and these teachers get a pretty raw deal.
Child abuse with the eye of a young boy or girl with a single tear crying due to the fear of violence or depression caused by hunger and poverty and being afraid of bullying at school.
Many teachers also get bullied, not only by their fellow teachers and staff but by students and their parents as well. And when it’s the child who bullies the teacher, how’s that teacher supposed to handle it effectively if he/she doesn’t have support from the principal, the school district, and parents?
A lot of kids are disrespectful and unruly these days. Many of today’s parents have an overinflated sense of their own entitlement, so it makes sense that they would raise kids with the same pathetic attitude.
Lots of times, the parents of these kids will overlook the behavior at school and, yes- even encourage it because they feel that their child is “entitled” and that the teacher transgressed against their kid by disciplining him.
Also, schools and their districts often encourage teachers to give the kid a passing grade even if the student doesn’t earn it, all in an attempt to keep the school’s performance ratings up and the government off their backs. If the teacher happens to be an honest person and doesn’t comply, she’s fired.
I’ve both heard and read of instances when the teacher disciplined a student for disruptive behavior. The teacher only made the child leave the classroom and stand in the hall or sent the kid to the principal’s office, and an angry and hostile parent confronted him/her later.
And when a student failed a test, the teacher gave the kid a bad grade, only to have an enraged parent storm into their classroom the next day, demanding to know why. Some parents go so far as to threaten physical harm!
Understand that kids aren’t stupid, especially kids who bully. These kids are often socially intelligent beyond their years, and they pick up on these things- things that other kids their age often miss. These children know that these days, teachers can’t do much about their bad behavior, and they take full advantage of it. It’s just what kids do.
Pushing boundaries to see what you can get away with is only a part of being a kid. Kids do either what their parents allow or aren’t aware of, and they imitate what they see at home and what they see peers do. And teachers don’t get near the support they should. Is it any wonder there’s a mass shortage of teachers in this country?
It takes a special kind of person to be a teacher in today’s world. If you’re one of those brave, caring, and awesome people, know you have my utmost respect.
Know that the hard work and sacrifices you make haven’t gone unnoticed. You are one in a million and though you may not know it, I and so many others salute you!
The most important work gets the least reward these days 😢
You’re so right about that, Jim. 💯 And it’s sad.
The behavior doesn’t stop when they get to college. Part of the problem is that people don’t respect one another. Teachers used to get a lot of respect from the parents. I think believing the child over the teacher is a recent thing. It used to be if a child got in trouble at school he/she was in trouble at home.
You’re absolutely right, Molly! 💯🎯👍It was the sane when I was growing up- if you got a bad report from a teacher, you got punished by your parents when you got home. Not so anymore, instead of punishing the kids, parents these days want to go beat up the teacher! It’s horrible! I wouldn’t teach today if they offered me double the salary. Nope!
Real truth is brought through your this post 👍
Thank you so much, Padmaja! 🕊💐🌹
I totally agree with your profound reflections!
Thank you so much, Luisa! 🕊💖
You are so welcome. 🤗💕
You may have pointed this out and I missed it, but, at least in the area where I live, teachers are also expected to pay for most of their supplies out of their own pockets, or they have to beg the parents to send them with the kids.
That’s exactly right, Jeff! Most parents anymore are too cheap to buy their kids school supplies, so the teacher has to do it for them. And teachers already get crappy pay to begin with. It’s awful! 💔
An excellent post offering a new insight on bullying of the teacher. You have beautifully presented a sensitive topic and it did happen to me when I was taking a coaching class. One of my students made up stuff about me saying that I had beaten her for not doing her homework and that she was suffering from severe body pain because of it. It was a big fat lie. I never hit even a cockroach. In fact, I was too soft in my approach while dealing with children, fearing the parents’ ire. By God’s grace, my uncle intervened and stopped that person from dragging me to court. My other students supported me and were willing to testify against the lying student. I told them to drop the matter as the best punishment for an evil person is to forgive and forget him. Thank you so much, dear Cherie.
You’re most welcome! 😊 I’m so sorry the student lied about you. I can only imagine how scary that situation was but I’m so glad others came to your defense! I admire you for forgiving the people who lied about you. That takes strength! 💖💐🕊🌹
Thank you so much, Cherie. You have been very kind and supportive. 😊😊♥️♥️
You’re most welcome. 😊
Thank you Cherie for this. I was called to teach- it is in my every fibre- I have a gift for it and I truly enjoy students- I even keen to work with those with learning and behaviour isues! What hurts, and is the reason so many good teachers are leaving the profession these days-(I too comtemplated that in the last little while), is having a spineless jellyfish of an administrator who is so weak and cowardly that s/he can’t back a strong, hardworking highly skilled and dedicated professional whom that same administrator has relied upon on, on countless previous ocassions when a helicopter parent objects to a mark or a teacher’s approach. (BTW: parents are suppose to first speak with the teacher directly and then if not resolved ask the principal to assist – but many “priviledged parents’ jump the cue and go directly to the office) Instead, the pissed off parent begin to descend upon the principal for immediate backing and resolution! And the weakling (principal) in turn sacrifices this best teacher labeled repeatedly as a ROCKSTAR because they cannot stand their ground and simply state the track record: I need you to know that this teacher is our best educator with years of training, expertise in this area and experience- she leaves no child behind even if she already has a dozen individual behaviour plans on the go and that her room is a caring, safe, welcoming and engaging learning space – your child is in the most capable hands and I know she will do EVERYTHING and then some to help your child overcome (whatever the matter)! Why can’t they say that when the chips are down? Instead they seem to simply want to save their own necks with this disgruntled parent and toss the teacher (whom coincidentally they actually hired and bestowed that assignment) under the proverbial school bus! Some team effort, big boss! Team Effort is a one way street- when it benefits the Administrator (probably on his/ her evaluation or superintendent visit)! And btw, it is a tragedy not only for the teacher and her relationship with the principal, but the whole entire school, board and staff! The hardest part for me is that the children lose out too- but as some politically charged school administrators like to spew-“thank goodness kids are so resilent these days!”😒😢👍 On a final note, I have decided to leave…that school, BUT I have too much moxie to quit my calling!) Thanks for inspiring a rant- am done now. LOL!
I completely understand, Kim. It takes a special person to become a great teacher. A lot of administrators and school board members are very self-centered individuals and they get jealous when they hear of another teacher being highly praised by parents and other members of a community because they do such great work with kids. And teachers unions are the same way. Administrators feel threatened anytime a teacher gets high marks because it overshadows them. And that’s why they bully the good teachers. I’m so proud of you for speaking out about this. Stay strong and keep asserting your right to be treated with respect.
Excellent points Cherie. If ANY of us behaved badly and disrespected teachers or any of our school’s administrators, let alone any of our elders for that matter, trust me I wouldn’t be here commenting on your post today. I would have been gone on to glory 63 years ago. SMH 😠
You hit this on the head: “many parents are too busy being the child’s BFF rather than being a parent.” 🎯 Ridiculous! 😖
Thank you so much, girl! <3 And it was the same with my parents, if one of us disrespected a teacher, we would've had hell to pay when we got home! 🔥🔥🔥You mom raised a fine and super-intelligent lady! That, I can see! <3 😀
Girlfriend, both of our parents did and I am grateful to this day for that! 🤗 Thanks so much my dear friend! Their raising made us better adults this day. 🙏🏼👨👩👦👦👏🏼 We know how to behave! 😜
Amen, sister! 💖💐🌹🕊🦋
So very true indeed! But like your honesty, Kym!
And I still see that nonsense- “parents are too busy being the child’s BFF rather than being a parent.” OMG! They might as well hang out in matching outfits! LOL!
My friend, thank you so much for your kind reply. I have already seen the matching outfits believe it or not? 😲 When their kids start to cuss them out and disrespect them, then they wonder why! SMH 😖
Oooo, girl! You already know it! 💯🎯👍
I knew you did! Me too, Kym! LOL But seriously, it is a hard day for a parent when a child at 11, 12 or 13 -aka their “buddy,” “mini me”, “junior” or “baby” has had enough and refuses to comply or go with the parental mama or papa flow. Then what??🥴💥
Great question! Disaster perhaps??? 🤔🤨😱
You would think as team players that they would see the good work as a great reflection on our school and learning community as a whole. Perhaps that is where I am wrong- being part of a team on a toxic staff is sadly just an oxymoron.
I completely understand. I know it’s hard, but being able to survive means learning to accept that not all people think the same we do, nor do they have the same values. And prepare for that. Thank you so much for your thoughts on this! You don’t know how valuable they are!
Good that we don’t. Maybe my abusive upbringing did indeed keep me a bit naive…rare to find someone on the same wave length- when I do- OMG! It feels fabulous! I am certainly transforming as we interact!
You don’t know how glad this makes me, Kim! I’m so glad it’s making a difference in your life! ❤💐🕊
YOU certainly are- your words, insights and responses have been so kind and validating!
💖💐🌹🕊🦋
I won’t teach in secondary schools anymore because of all this. I did teach in one for one term and every time I tried to instill some discipline, I found myself the subject of a false allegation from a pupil. I agree with the supposition that children today have too many rights. During that term, when I addressed the class that they were preparing for exams, one kid came back with, “If we don’t pass, you’ll get fired.” Children today think it’s not their fault if they fail.
I don’t blame you, Michael! Most children feel entitled anymore and that’s because they have parents who think they’re equally entitled.
That’s so true!
Oh they try that at Middle School too and now even at grade 4!
Get some great posters and pop them on the wall and point it out right from day one – Like this one- (sorry could not attach a clip art:) Live with Integrity: Be dependable! Hold Yourself Accountable! Do the Right Thing! Aplogize when you make a mistake! Do your BEST work! (and ya better be prepared to define ‘best’) Complete what you set out to do!
This is public education, is it not? We are all entitled! We are all here trying to grow and learn from one another- Welcome to…
All I can say to you respectfully, Michael: Teach where your heart is! You’ll be the happiest there- truly! Don’t let them take that from you! 👍🤗💗
I believe in standing up for the teacher too. If students are harassing, disrespecting the teacher or talking behind his or her back, we should have the guts to stand up for them as well. Some of the best teachers I ever had were hard asses. They would stay on the student not because they were mean but because they cared about the student learning. My personal opinion and this isn’t popular but any kid that doesn’t know how to act in a classroom and can’t be respectful, get them out of the school and send them to alternative school or let them become the parent’s problem. I liked learning new things and it would drive me insane when there was the same group of unruly students that would ruin every class.
Let me also say that for the most part, most of the closest relationships I formed actually didn’t come from high school but college professors and stuff. Maybe because at that point I was an adult too. It is funny but the ones I got the most from were the very early grades of school and my college instructors.
I agree with everything you say here! Especially this part here: “My personal opinion and this isn’t popular but any kid that doesn’t know how to act in a classroom and can’t be respectful, get them out of the school and send them to alternative school or let them become the parent’s problem.” Spot on! It may not be popular, but I agree with it. Most parents have gone soft. Instead of being a parent, they want to be the child’s best friend, which is wrong! You’re a parent first, then a friend later.
Awesome comment! 💯🎯💖💐🕊
Thank you for writing this about the teachers. There are still a lot of good ones out there!
It’s my pleasure, Dawn! 💖💐🦋🕊 And I agree! There are still some great teachers it there! 💯
Teaching is a very hard job these days because kids are not kids anymore! 🙉
You’re absolutely right, Chaymaa! 💯
😅🙌🏻
You bring such honesty and light to an important topic. Thank you. 💕C
You’re so welcome, Cheryl! And thank you for your words of kindness and encouragement. They mean a lot. 💖💕🤗
You are so right, Cherie. Excellent post <3
Thank you so much, Sunra! 💖
Teaching can be so hard under such circumstances!
It sure can. 💯 I know my limitations and I couldn’t do it.
I taught school for 18 years and ran into all of these issues, including bullying (sometimes from our administrators!).
Teachers who care, are worth their weight in gold and have done more to stop bullying than just about anything else except of course, good parenting (and this site you have here is extremely helpful).
I finally had to resign teaching in 2020 because I would not go back in to enforce masking rules on our little ones. The bullying from our politicians has come all the way down to depriving kids of oxygen and terrifying them of human contact. It is beyond shameful and I just could not participate in it.
I totally agree with you there. 💯🎯👍 The mask mandates are overreach and tyranny and they are harming our precious children! I’m so sorry you had to walk away from the career you loved because of power-hungry politicians. And great teacher are worth their weight in gold. In fact, they’re priceless! Thank you for your dedication to our children! I so admire you! 💖💐🌺🕊
So true! As a public school teacher, I felt this to my core. What makes this whole thing worse is that the bad stuff is being shared around the internet and we become known for that thing a person does who happens to be a teacher … like we’re all the same, going through the same exact problems both personally and professionally.
That’s a sad thing, Dylan. And teachers get no support whatsoever anymore. Not from the school system, the principals, teacher’s unions, or the parents! It’s pitiful! Know that I solute you for doing a hard and dangerous job. I think teachers should get hazard pay!