And then...I got on Facebook. (why?)... after scrolling mindlessly through many posts about back to school, I came across one that just burnt right through me. Before I comment on it, I should say that this is not a personal attack on the poster. This is not even directed toward the poster OR the commenters...it's about the high schoolers who are feeling this way, already complaining about school. I've been on the outside so I get what it must look like, but now I am on the inside so I'd like to provide a peak for those that are not.
"...high school must stink nowadays bc I haven't read one positive thing from any of the high schoolers..."
First of all, teachers don't get to choose what we cover in our subject area. We are given standards by the Department of Education that we are required to cover. When we take a closer look at them, it seems that there is about 220 days worth of information to cover in 180 without considering pep rally's, school day meetings, testing, and all of the student's appointments/sick days that MUST be scheduled during the school day. Not only is what we teach mandated, how well your student performs determines our pay check. Literally. If your child is completely uninterested in Agriculture and I put on a smoke show every single day to try to engage them, but they still don't care enough to do their assignments and give a shit on their assessments, I don't get a raise...ever. It doesn't matter how long I have been teaching or how many chances I give them to do and re-do work, if they don't care - I get punished. Period.
While it may seem that teachers continually PILE on homework, I find it hard to believe that ANY teacher would intentionally give pointless and ridiculous assignments just because. Your student does ONE assignment for that teacher - they grade ALL of them. If I give daily assignments to each of my students, I have 150 assignments to grade every single day. Ain't nobody got time for that! However, it is a requirement of teachers to post grades at regular intervals. And get this, the same parents/students that complain about the excessive amount of homework that is assigned, complain when there is no homework assigned and there are minimal grades in the gradebook. We just can't win!
But here is what it really boils down to. The kids I saw in the hallway today were excited to be back in school and eager to meet the new year. They were laughing, chatting, and enjoying the new"ness" of the year, but as soon as I asked them if they were happy to be back, they instantly grumbled. Just like my teenage self did...who likes school any way? It would be so not cool to admit that they had a great first day...especially on facebook.
You know what would be super cool though? If the parents, adults, older siblings, and community members didn't fuel their dislike for school and instead, told them how important it was/is to get an education. That their teachers do their very best every day to help prepare them for college, careers, and life. Often taking time away from their own families to help each student succeed. This stuff really does matter and you have used it in a real world situation. Instead of complaining to the teacher when their students are "bogged down" with homework, help the students understand that it is a privilege to attend school freely and without persecution. Because, there are many places in the world that is absolutely NOT the situation.
