LostArt
03-14-2010, 09:18 AM
And on some issues its become hard to see change. A few weeks ago EL started a "what pisses you off..." thread and while reading them, I didn't realize that most of those things listed did bother me.
However, I have grown so laxed myself, that I don't even bother fighting what I know I can't win. And this is not good. I should speak up and say something. I do sometimes, and find myself sometimes the only one to speak up and hold my ground too.
It's the little things that start first. Like common manners. I've been working in the professional world my whole life and 17 yrs of it has been in education.
Education has it's problems, and public education really does. One day I feel like it's going to be "okay" for a teacher and student to have relations as long as they have consent with student that is high school age. Maybe starting at the age of 15 or maybe 16. Or with their parent's consent. There are parents today that push their kids to grow up way too fast. We have mature 7th and 8th graders going to prom. "Oh, but this is a 6 -12th grade school and it's a school function---and there are parents and staff there to monitor it---" And it goes on, and on, why it's okay.
Then we wonder why students become familiar with adults. For instance calling them by their last name without the Mr., Ms., or Mrs. Or even without the Coach infront of it. What is up with this??? Why aren't our staff calling them up on it? Complaisancy or indulence.
And the few of us that are trying to keep it at a professional level. Adult to student level, are thought of as the bad guys or just plain old and can't keep up with the "new thing" these days. Well, I'm old and a bad guy then.
I'm called Mrs with my last name. A last name that isn't easy to pronounce the first time. I am also shown some respect. I also do not tolerate disrespect. But, I also give the student their respect------at a distance. I do not want to hear their weekend activities. I am not one of the crowd---I could be your mother, aunt----not quite your grandmother yet, but if I stay here another 13 yrs for retirement, I could be.
I've noticed a trend that is coming to the workplace. It's getting out of hand. Why are we talking adult language in front of our students? Since when is this okay?? I had to call a female staff member talking about another staff members pants in the front that -----well, they were Dockers----and do you know how Docker pants kind of baloon some in the groin area? It's no big deal for the majority of us because that's the way they made them right? I'm even embarrassed trying to even explain this!
I spoke up and said, "Whoa Nellie! I have a peer counselor here guys!" The female co-worker only laughed and turned to the female student and said, "Well, it is kinda bulky, right?" OMG. I shake my head and turn to the student and say, "I'm sorry." She said it was okay and called me by my sir name.
And curse words flying in the workplace---a professional workplace---parents, students, staff/administrative staff/political people. Of course you all are in a different environment, and I understand this. But, when you are in the office with ladies or with customers present, do you let curse words fly?
It doesn't happen often with me unless a parent is upset, but I'm finding that even our staff says these words in the common place. Not all, but some. I know one thing, I know my husband doesn't curse in front of the office staff or any other profession work area or at an administrative meeting where there are suits.
Suits. I wear a jacket/blazer most of the time even on Fridays. Every now and again I wear a polo shirt that has our mascot on it with jeans. I feel funny in t-shirts in the workplace even on Fridays when we can.
These things might be petty to you all. They are small things. But, that's where it starts---small. I'm not sure I'm going to make it in this world. I use to feel kinda protected in my environment.
I've mentioned some of these instances to my husband and he even wonders who is in charge. He told me some great advice and that was to distance myself from these kind of people. It's kinda hard. I pretty much can get along with all walks of life. I'm an out going type of person. But, it's real obvious now that I'm pretty conservative compared to some.
Soon, someone like me, will be considered an old fuddy duddy. One that can't go with change. I'm all for change when it makes our jobs easier---thinking of technology and routes to take in this ever changing fast pace world, but to what cost? Our values, ethics, just common decency?
However, I have grown so laxed myself, that I don't even bother fighting what I know I can't win. And this is not good. I should speak up and say something. I do sometimes, and find myself sometimes the only one to speak up and hold my ground too.
It's the little things that start first. Like common manners. I've been working in the professional world my whole life and 17 yrs of it has been in education.
Education has it's problems, and public education really does. One day I feel like it's going to be "okay" for a teacher and student to have relations as long as they have consent with student that is high school age. Maybe starting at the age of 15 or maybe 16. Or with their parent's consent. There are parents today that push their kids to grow up way too fast. We have mature 7th and 8th graders going to prom. "Oh, but this is a 6 -12th grade school and it's a school function---and there are parents and staff there to monitor it---" And it goes on, and on, why it's okay.
Then we wonder why students become familiar with adults. For instance calling them by their last name without the Mr., Ms., or Mrs. Or even without the Coach infront of it. What is up with this??? Why aren't our staff calling them up on it? Complaisancy or indulence.
And the few of us that are trying to keep it at a professional level. Adult to student level, are thought of as the bad guys or just plain old and can't keep up with the "new thing" these days. Well, I'm old and a bad guy then.
I'm called Mrs with my last name. A last name that isn't easy to pronounce the first time. I am also shown some respect. I also do not tolerate disrespect. But, I also give the student their respect------at a distance. I do not want to hear their weekend activities. I am not one of the crowd---I could be your mother, aunt----not quite your grandmother yet, but if I stay here another 13 yrs for retirement, I could be.
I've noticed a trend that is coming to the workplace. It's getting out of hand. Why are we talking adult language in front of our students? Since when is this okay?? I had to call a female staff member talking about another staff members pants in the front that -----well, they were Dockers----and do you know how Docker pants kind of baloon some in the groin area? It's no big deal for the majority of us because that's the way they made them right? I'm even embarrassed trying to even explain this!
I spoke up and said, "Whoa Nellie! I have a peer counselor here guys!" The female co-worker only laughed and turned to the female student and said, "Well, it is kinda bulky, right?" OMG. I shake my head and turn to the student and say, "I'm sorry." She said it was okay and called me by my sir name.
And curse words flying in the workplace---a professional workplace---parents, students, staff/administrative staff/political people. Of course you all are in a different environment, and I understand this. But, when you are in the office with ladies or with customers present, do you let curse words fly?
It doesn't happen often with me unless a parent is upset, but I'm finding that even our staff says these words in the common place. Not all, but some. I know one thing, I know my husband doesn't curse in front of the office staff or any other profession work area or at an administrative meeting where there are suits.
Suits. I wear a jacket/blazer most of the time even on Fridays. Every now and again I wear a polo shirt that has our mascot on it with jeans. I feel funny in t-shirts in the workplace even on Fridays when we can.
These things might be petty to you all. They are small things. But, that's where it starts---small. I'm not sure I'm going to make it in this world. I use to feel kinda protected in my environment.
I've mentioned some of these instances to my husband and he even wonders who is in charge. He told me some great advice and that was to distance myself from these kind of people. It's kinda hard. I pretty much can get along with all walks of life. I'm an out going type of person. But, it's real obvious now that I'm pretty conservative compared to some.
Soon, someone like me, will be considered an old fuddy duddy. One that can't go with change. I'm all for change when it makes our jobs easier---thinking of technology and routes to take in this ever changing fast pace world, but to what cost? Our values, ethics, just common decency?