Job Discussion Forums

[Paulie2003]

Some of the stranger acting students in my classes are, as it often turns out, experiencing some sort of disruptive family life. Trouble is, I try to discipline them in class and then feel like sort of a 'heel' after I find out that their 'acting out' is much more of a reflection of their internal struggles than the result of any difficulties they may be experiencing in their education. Most of the time I just wish I knew these things earlier -
but this particular school is not quite organised well enough to send me those warnings beforehand. Having come from a 'broken home' myself,
I can only imagine some of the pain they may be feeling...

Lord help me to be more conscious of these young lives...

[Ben Round de Bloc]

On a similar note, when I taught in public schools in the USA, it was common practice to receive a list of students' names and any medical/health problems that could possibly affect them in classes. Not so where I teach now, where I've had a student who had blackout seizures . . . would either stay in his seat or sometimes get up and walk around the room, gripping his groin area, eyes out of focus, and making strange noises. They usually lasted less than a minute, and he didn't recall what had happened or what he'd done afterwards. I had a student who was epileptic and sometimes on anti-seizure meds whose behavior often hit the extremes of hyperactive and lethargic depending on his meds. When I taught in the States, I had students go into seizures in my classroom on a couple of occasions. I've had students in both places who were diabetics with problems adjusting their insulin. I think it would really be nice to know about these things in advance, but our administration doesn't see it as important.

[Paulie2003]

Speaking solely for the school at which I'm currently teaching, Tim, my gut feeling tells me that those who often are in positions to mandate a 'whole person' educational view most often do not. Whether its the monetary factor (which I'm certain it often is), the lack of proper training in specialized education, both - or just plain ignorance, these students - as well as parents - are the ones being slighted. Now, a lack of money could result from many causes - but it always makes me think of the value of education. Why, didn�t someone say that one can tell where the emphasis on education in USAmerica is when a pro-sports player makes more in one season (or now one game) than a teacher makes in a year!?

"If I could change the world - I might start with one person at a time..."