Cleaning House

Wow, am I tired! My demonic 6th period Physical science group decided to misbehave today. The worst student would not go back to his seat when I asked him repeatedly to do so. Finally he looked up at me and said "You're retarded". He then got up and wandered out of the room. I went to the dean personally at the end of the day and said I wanted him suspended for this. He goes home to torment his mom for a few days.

The others fed off of his behavior and basically acted like little s**ts. We are having a test tomorrow and I am knocking myself out trying to review them with a game and they want to sit there like Forrest Gump, giggle at each other, and generally act 10 years younger than their real age of around 16. I finished the review for the few who were actually participating and then verbally laid into them with gusto. I told them I expect no less than the respect I should get and I will accept nothing less. Many in that class have no respect for themselves therefore they have no respect for me. Well, that's not going to happen. After school I called 6 parents of these munchkins and we discussed at length their disrespect, chronic talking, and general silliness. Only one parent was lukewarm. She said "Maybe my daughter is bored". I replied to her that she was not making an "A" so I don't think it is a case of her not being challenged. In fact, I work my tail off to make that class interesting. We had two rock/mineral labs in the past 4 days along with a Jeopardy review game. I could just sit them down and give them 18 weeks of book work but I am actually trying to inspire them. 80% of that class is like teaching a class in the movie "Night of the Living Dead". They only live to socialize. That is all they care about. That is their entire life. Anyway, most of the parents were shocked their children were that uncaring and they were very willing to help correct the situation.

Teaching is a tough enough profession if you do it correctly. When you have to fight a group of students just to be able to teach, that is an impossible situation. It's house cleaning time so those who actually care about learning in that class can do so. There are a few in that class who are interested in science and care about learning. I am not going to let the rest hold them back.