Jul 24
Time and time again, each school year seems to bring more drama to the classroom. And no, not the kind that is required in theater class. The Gorilla is talking about the drama that plays out between teachers and students. It never ceases to amaze the Gorilla how irresponsible teachers have become over the last decade, with teachers having affairs with students (and sometimes even babies with them) and physical confrontations, as well as verbal confrontations. It seems that teachers don’t realize that they are the adults and are required to follow a certain protocol of behavior. Yes, we know: Students don’t act the way they should either. And we know that, in many cases, teachers have been pushed to their limits and have no recourse in gaining control over some students’ outrageous behavior. It is also widely known that, in some cases, teachers must fear for their lives since they never know what a student will do. So, what has happened? Where did the breakdown occur, and how can we rectify the situation? Can it even be rectified? The Gorilla has mentioned this issue several times in his blogs simply because he himself has had to deal with certain inappropriate situations from his kids’ teachers. Today, a student is suing her teacher for calling her “ugly” and “a brat,” and on top of that, the teacher physically assaulted the student by giving her a good swift kick in the buttocks, before ordering her to leave the class! According to the 14-year-old student, she only asked to participate in a singing telegram that was taking place for Valentine’s Day and the teacher became angry. Granted the girl may well have been a “brat,” but does that give a teacher the right to lose her cool? Should a teacher be allowed to do that? Or is she justified in her actions? The Gorilla thinks not. Definitely not. Teachers have been getting away with saying (and doing) inappropriate things to students for years now and something just has to give. The Gorilla recalls one instance in particular in which the teacher revealed private things about one of his children to the entire class, humiliating her in front of all of her peers. There are a dozen more examples that are equally shocking, but that is just a sample. The teacher was reprimanded and put on probation for her actions, but that is only because a parent actually spoke up. In the Gorilla’s humble opinion, this behavior must stop. Now look, the Gorilla knows how tough teachers have it. Make no mistake, they work very hard for so little pay and must put up with society’s brattiest and most out of control delinquents. The Gorilla sympathizes. But, even if a young student is acting belligerent or even threatening the teacher, the teacher must still always maintain a certain level of composure. The Gorilla is, quite frankly, sick of these ridiculous stories about confrontations between teachers and students. Back in the day, you simply gave the kid a pink slip and outta there he/she went immediately. No questions, no confrontation, and no problem. And the kid got to sit in the principal or dean’s office and then off to detention the next day. If it happened again, 2 days of detention, and then 3 strikes and you were out- quite literally, as you were expelled for a period of several days. So where is the support system for teachers nowadays? Teachers should never be put in situations that are too much for any human to handle. The Gorilla urges you to get involved with your children’s PTO and make suggestions regarding discipline that can be helpful in benefiting both teachers and students. Maybe if more parents spoke up, we could change things back to the way they were 20 years ago! Hey, a Gorilla can dream, can’t he?
Leave a Reply
July 24th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Great info - keep up the great work.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Yes Mr. Gorilla you can dream, but I suspect that you have done your part already in preparing you children not just for school life but for the someday responsibility that they will need to exist in this world.
My belief is that this is a two part problem. 1. As parents we should be teaching our children to take responsibility for their actions…and this is difficult for a parent to stand by and not interfere. Because after all don’t we as parents know that they didn’t mean what they said, or did. Yes, we did, but when a decision was made by my child (usually in a snit) we had him stand by it. I.E. he didn’t go bowling, or to the movies as this was his decision).
We also taught him compassion , yes compassion for other peers maybe less unfortunate than many others. He is 42 know, and I can see the same teaching lessons in my grandson. His befriending of classmates that others tease and fight. Oh he also knows karate and stands up for the “fellow” that bullies like to pick on. At ten, I am very proud of him. Two year ago he told me that he prayed to God every night “to keep the bullies from picking on him”. He learned karate, which teaches discipline and respect for others.
No. 2. - Parents need to also get together and explain to the superintendent that this observed behavior from teachers will not be tolerated. Although many parents may be working and busy, their support for this group could help it a long way. The taxpayers of the school district once aware that there is an unacceptaable environment and / problems will most likely support any actions this small group would like to get done.
No. 3 - Hopefully someday our students may choose to become a teacher and have the background needed to further a higher level of teachers. and just maybe a higher level of students will evolve! No more bullying of others!!!!!!