Monday, May 11, 2009

I Love My Job? Yeah, Most of the Time

May 11, 2009

I don't know why I still take it so personally when a student says something mean to me in the guise of humor. I mean, they're teenagers. There are an awful lot of them who confuse 'mean' with 'funny.' (Come to think of it, there are an awful lot of adults who confuse 'mean' with 'funny.') But still. I work hard everyday, trying to do my job. I'm pretty sure they don't have any idea how much time after school and at home that I spend in grading and planning. So when I hear a flippant comment about what I do in class, it can get to me. It kind of makes it hard to be enthusiastic, and I hate it when I'm not enthusiastic about my kids and my job. Clearly, it's Monday, and I'm ready to go home. Here's hoping for a better tomorrow.

13 comments:

  1. Ugg. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you too.

    I used to teach in the inner city and the way the students treated me was ridiculous. On my very first day I got punched in the face. And for the duration of my job I got called every name in the book by my students. Some words I didn't even know of yet. Needless to say that job lasted a year and now I'm a nanny and much happier.

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  2. Sorry kids can be such jerks! it would be so hard to work with teenagers everyday.... you're one tough cookie! I'm such a smart a** I'd open my big mouth and say something rude right back ;) I doubt that they talk to their parents the way that they talk to you, but they should show you the same respect!

    I know tomorrow will be a better day, just brush it off and laugh!

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  3. Teens are teens..today was Monday...I agree, just let it roll off your shoulders....tomorrow is a new day!

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  4. I've always felt like that would be the hardest thing about being a teacher.

    I remember being in classes and being disgusted with what some of my fellow classmates would say.

    Being in your class was a blast and I would definitely put you in my top 5 of my favorite and inspirational teachers.

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  5. It's like that anywhere you work..
    I do my best not to take it home with me.
    My home life is too valuable to be spent worrying about what a coworker thinks/feels..
    when chances are, it's nothing personal.
    If someone has an issue, truly it's their issue.

    I know it's easier to say, then to really realize that. But just keep telling yourself over and over..

    Plus, like you said.. they are teens.
    What was said yesterday, is long forgotten today.. they'll be busy busting someone else.

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  6. I hope tomorrow is better as well. Teaching is hard enough without adding this sort of burden.

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  7. Teens think the world revolves around them. I have a 13 yo -- I have conversations with her where I wonder if she is listening at all.

    I'm sorry you had a Monday. Hope today is better!

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  8. I hope today went better.

    I never really get the "mean funny" thing. Mean is just mean, even if it's covered in humor.

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  9. Oh, I've been there. It's hard not to take that stuff home with you sometimes. My favorite is when someone brings a textbook up to show you where someone wrote something rude about you on the page. Those pages are like little toxic time bombs.

    Then I remember that they only LOOK like adults at that age, and I shake it off.

    Hang in there!

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  10. Um, yeah, I can absolutely understand this. No one wants their work, especially if they are passionate about it, criticized. But, I'd remember - they are teenagers, they may think they are just being cool.

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  11. I'm sorry. Kids can be morons sometimes.

    I know my own children say things to hurt my feelings. Like the other day, Tommy said that my hair looked ugly--and yeah, okay, it was true but STILL. My own flesh and blood shouldn't say it.

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  12. Teenagers are assholes by nature, I give you TONS of credit for teaching high school, I couldn't handle it.

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