What you did today

[BruceVC]

 

Working with kids isn't easy, and sometimes I wonder to myself what the hell I'm doing. I come home most days, absolutely exhausted, not feeling like doing anything. I'll sleep for an hour or two, browse the net with spotify in the background and watch any sports event currently on TV. I've got the day off on Thursday, because I've been working a lot of overtime, so I'm at least looking forward to that. Then I have until the 21 December, after that there is no more work for me this year.

 

I was watching a documentary about how strong the Swedish education system is, its obviously due to people like you. So good work, you probably don't feel it but you are doing a really good service for your country. I wish my country had an education system like yours. In our public schools there are so many examples of complete ineptitude and lack of effort from teachers. They are more concerned with striking than educating the youth. We honestly get some people who finish school but they are unemployable, they can barely speak English.

[Labadal]

Working with kids isn't easy, and sometimes I wonder to myself what the hell I'm doing. I come home most days, absolutely exhausted, not feeling like doing anything. I'll sleep for an hour or two, browse the net with spotify in the background and watch any sports event currently on TV. I've got the day off on Thursday, because I've been working a lot of overtime, so I'm at least looking forward to that. Then I have until the 21 December, after that there is no more work for me this year.

 

I was watching a documentary about how strong the Swedish education system is, its obviously due to people like you. So good work, you probably don't feel it but you are doing a really good service for your country. I wish my country had an education system like yours. In our public schools there are so many examples of complete ineptitude and lack of effort from teachers. They are more concerned with striking than educating the youth. We honestly get some people who finish school but they are unemployable, they can barely speak English.

 

We have have a great educational system and I have to say the teachers really put in their heart and soul into their work. But, and this is a very big but, it's getting worse with every generation. We're getting more and more kids that finish school that you know will either end up as criminals/drug addicts or social cases or they'll get work as dishwashers (did that for 1 year myself). It hurts me like hell. I know what I do matters, but when I see kids that are only 6-7 years that are already messed up, then you want to cry. You'll be able to steer some of them in the right direction, but others... It only gets worse and worse. I'm seeing 12-13 year olds smelling cigar smoke when they come back after their breaks, and I know for sure that some of them have done drugs already (can't prove it). There are kids that when they get upset, start hitting teachers with fists, kicking or hitting them with objects, throwing objects or using swear words and breaking stuff. It's nothing like it was 6-7 years ago. It's like being in a movie where they have decided to blow stuff completely out of proportion, only this is the real deal. I don't know how many insults I've heard, or how many times someone's hit me. The great thing is that the teachers at my work are all great and we support eachother, plus the bosses are really nice too. Last year was good, with incidents now and then, but these last few months have been very tiring and frustrating. Today was probably one of those days that made me reflect at my work, because I've been able to handle most things this year, even if it's involved some really crazy ****. A day of in two days will most probably solve this, it usually does for me.

 

Sorry for the rambling.

[Cantousent]

Keep up the good work, Lab. Caring for the children of others is a noble thing.

 

Happy birthday, Oro. I've been there, man! hehe

[Orogun01]

Thanks everyone, if anyone is still curious I'm celebrating by finishing a bottle of Scotch and listening to blues. Maybe later my mood will pick up, although I doubt since its going to be "family time"

[Labadal]

I hope youn live for 100 years, so you get a lot of "family time"

[Gfted1]

We have have a great educational system and I have to say the teachers really put in their heart and soul into their work. But, and this is a very big but, it's getting worse with every generation. We're getting more and more kids that finish school that you know will either end up as criminals/drug addicts or social cases or they'll get work as dishwashers (did that for 1 year myself). It hurts me like hell. I know what I do matters, but when I see kids that are only 6-7 years that are already messed up, then you want to cry. You'll be able to steer some of them in the right direction, but others... It only gets worse and worse. I'm seeing 12-13 year olds smelling cigar smoke when they come back after their breaks, and I know for sure that some of them have done drugs already (can't prove it). There are kids that when they get upset, start hitting teachers with fists, kicking or hitting them with objects, throwing objects or using swear words and breaking stuff. It's nothing like it was 6-7 years ago. It's like being in a movie where they have decided to blow stuff completely out of proportion, only this is the real deal. I don't know how many insults I've heard, or how many times someone's hit me. The great thing is that the teachers at my work are all great and we support eachother, plus the bosses are really nice too. Last year was good, with incidents now and then, but these last few months have been very tiring and frustrating. Today was probably one of those days that made me reflect at my work, because I've been able to handle most things this year, even if it's involved some really crazy ****. A day of in two days will most probably solve this, it usually does for me.

 

Sorry for the rambling.

 

You work with "troubled" kids, right?

[Labadal]

We have have a great educational system and I have to say the teachers really put in their heart and soul into their work. But, and this is a very big but, it's getting worse with every generation. We're getting more and more kids that finish school that you know will either end up as criminals/drug addicts or social cases or they'll get work as dishwashers (did that for 1 year myself). It hurts me like hell. I know what I do matters, but when I see kids that are only 6-7 years that are already messed up, then you want to cry. You'll be able to steer some of them in the right direction, but others... It only gets worse and worse. I'm seeing 12-13 year olds smelling cigar smoke when they come back after their breaks, and I know for sure that some of them have done drugs already (can't prove it). There are kids that when they get upset, start hitting teachers with fists, kicking or hitting them with objects, throwing objects or using swear words and breaking stuff. It's nothing like it was 6-7 years ago. It's like being in a movie where they have decided to blow stuff completely out of proportion, only this is the real deal. I don't know how many insults I've heard, or how many times someone's hit me. The great thing is that the teachers at my work are all great and we support eachother, plus the bosses are really nice too. Last year was good, with incidents now and then, but these last few months have been very tiring and frustrating. Today was probably one of those days that made me reflect at my work, because I've been able to handle most things this year, even if it's involved some really crazy ****. A day of in two days will most probably solve this, it usually does for me.

 

Sorry for the rambling.

 

You work with "troubled" kids, right?

 

I work with them too...

[Hurlshort]

Every problem in education can be traced back to the parents.

[Labadal]

That's the truest statement of the day. Some parents don't give a **** and others get ultra defensive when we bring up problems.

 

It might sound like I don't like the job, but I love it. It's just that some days are crazier than you want them to be. There are a lot of great kids too. And even the kids that need to get their act together are fun working with most of the time.

 

This guy needs to go to sleep if he wants to wake up in time for work.

[Cantousent]

I remember I busted one kid for talking back in class and he said he was going to tell his mother. I actually liked the little fifth grade smart-ass, but he was a mouthy as hell. Anyhow, I just shook my head and ask, "Do you really think your mother, a local superior court justice, is going to side with you on this one?" I pulled out my phone and suggested we call to settle it right there, but he didn't bite.

 

Anyhow, I was a teacher for a couple of years a long time ago, and so I don't take any credit as a teacher, but I do have the utmost respect for dedicated teachers. Sure, there are some worthless ones who don't care about the kids, but they tend to get weeded out for the most part. The people who stay, like Hurlie and you, Lab, are the ones who really make a difference in the lives of the children.

[Hiro Protagonist]

Every problem in education can be traced back to the parents.

 

Reminds me of this TV ad. Children see, children do.

Edited November 27, 2012 by Hiro Protagonist

[Orogun01]

I hope youn live for 100 years, so you get a lot of "family time"

What did I ever do to you?

[Cantousent]

I hope youn live for 100 years, so you get a lot of "family time"

What did I ever do to you?

comedy. Laugh. out. loud.

[Hurlshort]

Every problem in education can be traced back to the parents.

 

Reminds me of this TV ad. Children see, children do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90aZ1KTNbms

 

Wow, that made me tear up a bit. Why the heck was that banned, it is brilliant.

 

 

Which is a weird byproduct of having kids, I get freaking choked up at all sorts of stuff.

[BruceVC]

Thanks everyone, if anyone is still curious I'm celebrating by finishing a bottle of Scotch and listening to blues. Maybe later my mood will pick up, although I doubt since its going to be "family time"

 

I'm glad you celebrated in your own way. What might be fun is a visit to a nice, welcoming strip club. The girls love "b-days" and will spoil you rotten. Yes you will have to pay but where in life don't we pay for things?

[melkathi]

Every problem in education can be traced back to the parents.

 

Not really.

Sub-standard curricula

educational systems that only prepare for set standardised tests

teachers who work too many hours in classes with too many students for them to be able to actually pay attention to them

facilities in various states of disrepair

parents who need to work two jobs because with one 8 hour shift a day the below minimum wage income isn't enough to raise a kid (as if minimum wage was)

 

Then we have all those countries that ask for specialists with 5 year experience for every other job, but people can become teachers without any prior training whatsoever. On the lines of "Couldn't cope it in the industry? Don't worry, go stand in a classroom."

 

Could go on.

And on.

Won't though

[BruceVC]

Every problem in education can be traced back to the parents.

 

Not really.

Sub-standard curricula

educational systems that only prepare for set standardised tests

teachers who work too many hours in classes with too many students for them to be able to actually pay attention to them

facilities in various states of disrepair

parents who need to work two jobs because with one 8 hour shift a day the below minimum wage income isn't enough to raise a kid (as if minimum wage was)

 

Then we have all those countries that ask for specialists with 5 year experience for every other job, but people can become teachers without any prior training whatsoever. On the lines of "Couldn't cope it in the industry? Don't worry, go stand in a classroom."

 

Could go on.

And on.

Won't though

 

I tend to agree with these points and I was going to make similar comments.

 

A child born in abject poverty with a very bad public school system is at a disadvantage. Thats not to say they can't uplift themselves through education but its harder. The parents are unemployed or don't have an education themselves but this is a result of the social conditions of the particular country, this was not the parents intention and also not the parents fault.

 

So I would argue most of the time tracing the root cause of bad education is not due to the parents.

 

So the causes of badly educated children will be different from first and third world countries

Edited November 28, 2012 by BruceVC

[melkathi]

A child born in abject poverty with a very bad public school system is at a disadvantage.

 

*looks at BruceVC's location*

I met some teachers once at a conference, from the poor part of Soweto. Admirable job they do.

[Fionavar]

I think/hope with the Squads help, we may have diverted evil SPAM-bot algorithms!

[melkathi]

I think/hope with the Squads help, we may have diverted evil SPAM-bot algorithms!

 

This forum has been amazingly spam free. A couple of weeks ago there was an enormous spam bot attack all over the net. This forum seemed to have been unscathed.

[Fionavar]

Thanks for the affirmation melkathi! The credit is all due to the Squad - we have been certainly affected, we are just VERY fortunate with a committed group of folks who squish 'em fast

[Fionavar]

OT The Big Green is now @ 10k! Ah if only we could accumulate from all of OBS previous manifestations

[LadyCrimson]

Listening to some bamboo flute music while drinking hot chocolate, waiting for the rain to come.

[Gorth]

10k...

 

(insert "achievement" jingle)

[BruceVC]

A child born in abject poverty with a very bad public school system is at a disadvantage.

 

*looks at BruceVC's location*

I met some teachers once at a conference, from the poor part of Soweto. Admirable job they do.

 

Don't get me wrong there are many public school teachers that are committed and hard working in South Africa but the reality is our public schooling is a mess in many area's. Its really bad. The government has dropped the standard to pass grade 12 so you literally get people who finish school but are unemployable. They can barely speak English and battle to read and write in English. Also it doesn't help we have 11 official languages, 11 !!! So what happens is sometimes a black person finishes school in there own language but this doesn't help as English is the main language and the language of business so they can't find work as they cannot communicate properly. This is not a problem in other African countries like Nigeria or Zambia where English is mandatory at school.

Edited November 28, 2012 by BruceVC