Things Educators Won't Tell Parents

I found this article on yahoo this morning and decided to pass it along. My thoughts are in italics.

13 Things Your Child's Teacher Won't Tell You
by Reader's Digest Magazine, on Tue Aug 17, 2010 11:19am

A look inside a teacher's mind could help you understand lesson plans and maybe even guide your child to perform better.

1. If we teach small children, don’t tell us that our jobs are “so cute” and that you wish you could glue and color all day long. God bless elementary educators, I don't have the patience for it!

2. I’m not a marriage counselor. At parent-teacher conferences, let’s stick to Dakota’s progress, not how your husband won’t help you around the house. AMEN! I can reccomend a great therapist/counselor but I really don't care to know how your husband drinks all night and never wants to come to bed. I don't care people!

3. We’re sick of standardized testing and having to “teach to the test.” TOTALLY!

4. Kids used to go out and play after school and resolve problems on their own. Now, with computers and TV, they lack the skills to communicate. They don’t know how to get past hurt feelings without telling the teacher and having her fix it. I get high schoolers that are unable to talk things out. I hate when a 17 year old will "tattle" and say, "Jenny said something mean about me. Can you make her stop?" Really? Can you not go up to Jenny and say, "That hurt my feelings and I would appreciate it if you'd stop." Or, what about just letting it "roll off your back."

5. When I hear a loud belch, I remember that a student’s manners are a reflection of his parents’. Manners people, they will get you far in life.

6. Your child may be the center of your universe, but I have to share mine with 25 others. I sometimes wish the parents I worked with saw their child as the center of their universe.

7. Please help us by turning off the texting feature on your child’s phone during school hours. Don't get mad when I require that your child put their cell phone in a box upon walking in my building. They will get it back at the end of the day, I have my own phone, I don't need to "steal" your child's.

8. Guys who dribble a ball for a couple of hours a game can make up to $20 million a year. We educate future leaders and make about $51,000 a year. I wish I made that much! And as for summers off, I WISH! I work year round, and I hate when teachers complain, "Is it summer yet?"

9. We take on the role of mother, father, psychologist, friend, and adviser every day. Plus, we’re watching for learning disabilities, issues at home, peer pressure, drug abuse, and bullying. Don't forget doctor, teacher, conselor, enemy, etc.

10. Kids dish on your secrets all the time—money, religion, politics, even Dad’s vasectomy. Or even about how they couldn't sleep last night because mom and her boyfriend were making too much noise. Really, kids talk people!

11. Please, no more mugs, frames, or stuffed animals. A gift card to Starbucks or Staples would be more than enough. A thank-you note: even better. I have had over 100 students in 4 years and have only received 3 verbal thank you's.

12. We love snow days and three-day weekends as much as your kid does. I wish I could stay at home on snow days. I still get up and come to work.

13. The students we remember are happy, respectful, and good-hearted, not necessarily the ones with the highest grades. AMEN!