13 Things Your Child's Teacher Won't Tell You

My daughter never usually liked her teachers.... So I don't totally agree with most of theese.

I have but one question, if you are so dissatisfied with teaching, children and parents, why do you continue? There will always be a child who doesn't listen or a parent that doesn't understand your concerns. It is a disservice to them to stay in a position you are unhappy with. But, if you like your job then you should overlook the "difficult" situations and appreciate the positive ones.

This is in no way meant to be a critizism but another point of view. Many posts on here seem to be from disgruntled teachers.

Maybe it's time to think about a career change. I would really prefer my son not be in your class with these types of reactions.

Thank you.

To be honest, the challenge of being a teacher is what draws me to it. I can guarantee that once I'm done with the Army, I'll be trying to get my way into the classroom. I thank the teachers of America that actually do their job because they love it and not just for the money...the little that is given.

This is a great article...opens your eyes a little. Teachers have to put up and deal with a lot. Thanks to all the "good" teachers out there for everything you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Teachers are wonderful and it is truly a calling, but the person who wrote this article sounds particularly bitter and perhaps should consider a career change if they dwell on these issues enough to write about.

I wish I knew of a school district that was paying $51k. I teach 7th grade and barely make $29k.

I love my childrens teachers and school system. I know how much hard work they put into each school year, each day for that matter. The one about gift cards instead of actual gifts is something I have been doing for my teachers since my kids started school, I mean after all most teachers are parents and grandparents and have those special items made by their own children. A gift of school supplies or something useful for the classroom as a whole is always appreciated, severely needed and will certainly be used.

definitely, favored #4,8 although there are so call(rules)when it comes to parenting some parents aren't that clicked when it necessaries to teach their kids how to "behave"..............best wishes,parents:-)

#1 A loud belch has nothing to do with a persons parenting skills. It is gas and it rises.
#2 We need teachers to be advocates for counceling children on getting along with others. These days it is more than "hurt feelings" it is flat out bullying and bullying should NEVER be acceptable yet this article acts like well back in the day.... Most teachers/principals brush it under the rug because they have too many kids to deal with.
#3 A lot of times it is the kids that pick out the gifts to teachers not the parents...talk about manners!
#4 I won't say teachers are not good but no one forced them into it so if you don't like it (the pay etc) then leave the profession. On one hand teachers say they are not in it for the money so then why equate it with what a basketball star makes? I am sure there are plenty of people who would love to make 51,000 a year. That is not paupers pay by any means.

Do teachers ever stop whining and looking for that never ending pat on the back??? You chose your career path, if you don't like it..change your career! Teaching hard work? Spend a few days out in the real world working in the elements, dealing with the physical toll as well as the mental toll that other careers come with, and generally at less pay and a whole lot less respect than teachers receive. Most teachers wouldnt last a day in the real world, which is probably why they're back working in the only place that they could handle...School!

Summers off, decent pay, good healthcare, not working in the elements and your performance can stink yet it doesn't affect your salary?? (like everyone else's)..Yeah, you have it rough dont you!

And stop blaming your lack of effectiveness on parents not getting involved! If i hire a man to mow my yard, and i have to spend 2 hours a week mowing it, what am i paying him for???

OMG, after reading most of these posts, you people need to realize that teaching is no easy task. The reason it is hard, and mostly the point of this article that ALL of you missed, are the WORTHLESS parents who do most of the whining. The pathetic way children are raised is the main issue of most teachers today not the kids. Also the way most spineless administrators cow tow to any whim or whine of the parents. Kids today are lazy, not self disciplined, no work ethic sniveling little turds because the parents have taught them (through example) how to be this way. Teach your kids that the only real rights they have are to be clothed, fed, loved and not neglected. They should in no way feel they are entitled to anything/everything they want and that their actions affect others. Come on parents, do your job because by junior high in 45 min a day 4-5 days a week a teacher can't fix what most of you have screwed up for 12-14 years.

Randal, sorry to be blunt, but you're crazy. Never once as a teacher was I told that I must adhere to what you call the "reconstructuralist" philosophy of education. My goal was to teach each child and help him/her reach their fullest academic potential. If a parent asked me what my educational philosphy was during a parent teacher conference, I would tell them just that with no stammering. You are so off base it's not even funny. Thank God, nutty people like you usually homeschool.

You are paid a professional salary and you get two months off for free. Just do your job and complain to your spouses.

Great list, but perhaps you might survey high school teachers as well.

I'm SICK of hearing teachers complain about how little they get paid, how hard they work, how under appreciated they are and especially about "Teaching to the test". Most americans woudl LOVE to get Paid $51,000 for 9 MONTHS work, and with all the teacher planning days, and various holidays, and short school days they really only work about 180 days a year. So they have a far easier job than most. And if they don't feel appreciated enough, QUIT, and go somewhere else or get over it. And last but certainly not least, If they would teach the students the material they are supposed to in the first place, they wouldn't have to worry about the TEST. So in short, STOP WHINNING and DO YOUR JOB!

Terri-

"It doesn't take a mental giant to get an elementary teaching certificate."

Au Contraire! - I worked my a** off for my two degrees and certificates! You obviously have no idea what it takes. I had to go through testing (passing 3 tests), writing huge papers, oral presentations, practicums, student teaching; working the same amount that my cooperating teacher was working, but with zero pay (so I couldn't have a job) a lot of planning, before and after-school activities, and evaluations of my teaching. I am highly offended, as I'm sure other teachers are also! To get ANY degree you must have perseverance and determination. It definitely was NOT easy! Don't make comments you can't back up! If you haven't been there, don't make a comment about something you have no idea about.

If you don't like teaching, then by all means, please quit. If you actually got into this field thinking that working around large groups of small children was going to be in any way easy, then you weren't thinking it through. Get out before you ruin too many young lives by becoming a librarian. I'm sick of burnt out teachers who tell children things like 'get your crap and get out." This article is for putzes since it makes parents out to be morons, which is a fallacy. Believe me, teachers, our children are dishing on your mistakes every day. We know what is right and what is wrong when you're in with our particular child and by the end of the year, we also know that you just don't care. If a teacher is actually so callous to say "no more cups please" then that should speak for her rotten attitude all by itself. So many professionals go completely without gifts their entire careers and to act like one individual group is more special than another in the overall scheme of our lives just shows how dumb yahoo news articles really are. I'm sure it's just so hard to be around a classroom of small children. No wonder you want all that tissue. You must be sobbing into it in the teacher's lounge. Listen, Brunhilda, nobody made you take the job. Now get into it, or get out of it, for the sake of the future generation!

Item 3 doesn't fit. To say that teachers don't tell people that they don't like standardized tests is bologna. All we here about standardized tests is how teachers hate them. The problem is the only reason ever given is that they hate having to teach to the tests. This says to me that their curriculum deviates from the standard that was set by their peers or that their peers haven't written the standardized tests to properly reflect the curriculum the teachers use. Maybe teachers think that the curriculum should be entirely up to the teacher and the teacher can be the only determining factor in whether the child has learned or not. Standards become as individual and varied as the individuals who establish them in that world. Basically, there are no standards at all in that world. I fear this is what teachers really want when they reject standardized testing. Standards are important in life and we need to have them. If the standards are poorly established they need to be corrected but I feel teachers just want to eliminate them rather than be held to a standard. If we teach the kids what we should, then they should have no problem passing the standardized tests if they were developed properly.
What teachers need to accept is that there has to be a way to objectively measure student competency. They should also know that disliking standardized tests looks more like disliking accountability. perhaps teachers are teaching to the test because it forces them to teach specific things that are deemed important by those other than the teacher and the teacher would rather teach what they feel like. perhaps they would prefer to spend more time on thios thatn that and cannot because the state says that they deserve equal time.

Yeah,with the 9 month year,tenure,union and pensions these poor teachers have got it real bad.In small towns they're like another industry(and all related).Quit whining.If you don't like your job ,go bust it in a blue collar job for 8 or 12 a day.You're teachers because you chose it.You never left school.Why do you think we have so many sexual abuse cases in education?Still livin' the high school fantasy on the taxpayer dime.Let us parents spend 8 hours a day with the teachers kids and I'm sure we will have an mouthful to say about these "educators" parenting skills.You're not special.You're not heroes or victims.You're just like everybody else moaning and groaning about your job.And what about the roles these "saints" played in the school shootings by ignoring violence because of where the bullies/victims stood in the school food chain...

NOT TO BE MISTAKEN AS A NEGATIVE COMMENT BUT SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT!!!...
#1-Did you ever stop to think that you being told that your job is "so cute" is because your doing fun things with little ones and being able to enjoy them as we do as parents at home!!
#2-I agree about the personal conversations but aren't those usually the best ones to have with your childrens parents? Afterall that is an easier way to find out how a childs lifestyle is right?
#5-NOT TRUE!! Did you forget that "monkey see monkey do" happens alot with kids? Kids see other kids doing things. Example: My daughter has belched at the dinner table (which I have taught is disrespectful)so I can only think that she has picked it up from someone else or it just came out.
#8-You teachers should be proud that you educated that basketball player to his/her success!! That was his/her interest in life as your was teaching!! Money SHOULDN'T matter. This is why our world is the way it is. "Money is the source of all evil"
#9-Tho it is sad that not every parent appreciates what you do for their children, remember who signed up for the job and why you signed up for it!!
#11-Now your just being selfish & greedy (I wouldn't want you as my childs teacher)what happened to appreciating what is given to you? For those of you teachers that have forgotten, those gifts come from the hearts and minds of your students. What could be better then that?
To end all of this, I am a Nurse because I absolutely love to help people and there is NO better reward then that "Helping"!! I did not do it for the money nor for expectancy of someone giving back to me. I am a little bothered at how this was worded especially after recently speaking with my childs teachers just the other day and she said she is not a teacher for any other reason than the fact that she loves the children and seeing and helping them grow! Thats how it should be!! Thats all I have to say:-) Again, this comment was NOT intended to be a negative one just to point out the things that I did. Bottom line is appreciate what you do and you will be appreciated unknowingly!!