Mean Spirited 3rd Graders & Very Happy 5th Graders

so today while covering my oh-so favorite 3rd grade class i came across something very disturbing....one of the kids in this class is a tough case to deal with, he comes from a broken home and he can be very violent/disrespectful at times....well first when i picked up the class he ran off...i thought well at least he wont cause me trobule if hes not around....but the last 10 mins of the period he comes back and as soon as he did all the kids in the class started to gang up on him and attack him...they shouted "free hits" and were smacking him up....I grabbed him knowing he was gunna retaliate and just held him...while the kids were still smacking at him and taunting him....the shouted things like "you aint got no family....you definielty dont have a father cause your so ugly" and just other randomly mean things mostly about how hes go no family

the sad thing is that its true and he lves with a foster family....i felt soooo bad for him I held him as tight as i could cause he was crying and trying to fight back....geez i was so dissapointed I had to tell the classroom teacher that her class needs a lesson on feelings and manners

on the brighter side....i covered for my old class (i suprised them they had no clue) and they we soooo happy to see me! one kid the one who constantly calls me a traitor in hallway for leaving had this big kool-aid smile on his face....it def cheered me up after those mean nasty 3rd graders nearly broke my heart with the meaness they inflicted upon one kid.

seriously sometimes i really hate my job but sometimes i love it

Re: Mean Spirited 3rd Graders & Very Happy 5th Graders

i'm sorry you had to deal with this

but just an FYI--you should never physically restrain a kid even if he's about to get hurt. you restraining him could get you in serious trouble. even if this is a special needs school or a typical one, it's one thing you shouldn't do for your own protection. unless you're trained to do this specifically for a special needs student or class, never get involved in physical altercations

always call for help from the security guard, principal, psychologist, etc.

i've seen and heard of teachers getting fired for much less.

Re: Mean Spirited 3rd Graders & Very Happy 5th Graders

yea i know, i normally dont but in my head at that moment felt as if he really needed that hug...i should be careful tho the admin already dislikes me so i def dont want to get myself into more trobule

Re: Mean Spirited 3rd Graders & Very Happy 5th Graders

Wow...where do you work? I can't believe the kids would speak like that to each other, especially in school? Third grade...that is so sad. Sorry you had to deal with that.

Re: Mean Spirited 3rd Graders & Very Happy 5th Graders

I work in Harlem

Re: Mean Spirited 3rd Graders & Very Happy 5th Graders

First of all, if this child ran off, why didn't you inform the supervisor? That would be my first concern - that a third grader is roaming around the building or even had left the building. My thought wouldn't be "oh well, he isn't going to cause trouble". Second, I agree with the PP you cannot touch a child, in any way shape or form. I would have again called administration or someone to deal with this asap! Plus, then I would immediately report this to the school psychologist or social worker b/c this whole class needs some counseling of some sort, if they are beating up on one child! If you aren't comfortable doing this, you should speak to the teacher that is normally there. I honestly, just can't understand how a bunch of 3rd graders would "riot" like that. I taught in a very tough school too and as the SETSS teacher I was always doing coverages! it is always good to get the kids on your side. If I was covering a class I would bring word puzzles or games for the kids to play so there was no down time. Downtime=trouble!!!

ETA: I just read where you told the teacher that her class needs a lesson on manners and feelings. I think it goes a lot more above that! This is not something a teacher should have to handle!

Message edited 1/25/2008 5:58:41 AM.

Re: Mean Spirited 3rd Graders & Very Happy 5th Graders

Posted By Message
ejm1219

First of all, if this child ran off, why didn't you inform the supervisor? That would be my first concern - that a third grader is roaming around the building or even had left the building. My thought wouldn't be "oh well, he isn't going to cause trouble". Second, I agree with the PP you cannot touch a child, in any way shape or form. I would have again called administration or someone to deal with this asap! Plus, then I would immediately report this to the school psychologist or social worker b/c this whole class needs some counseling of some sort, if they are beating up on one child! If you aren't comfortable doing this, you should speak to the teacher that is normally there. I honestly, just can't understand how a bunch of 3rd graders would "riot" like that. I taught in a very tough school too and as the SETSS teacher I was always doing coverages! it is always good to get the kids on your side. If I was covering a class I would bring word puzzles or games for the kids to play so there was no down time. Downtime=trouble!!!

ETA: I just read where you told the teacher that her class needs a lesson on manners and feelings. I think it goes a lot more above that! This is not something a teacher should have to handle!


Informing an admin or securrity in my school about a child running out of the classroom is like talking to a wall....it happens so often that they dont do anything unless they she the student themselves in the hallway....rather they make PA announcements to tell the child to come to the office or tell teachers to keep kids in the room so there's too many students in the hallways....ive once heard a total of 3 announcements in one period regarding this....

in regards to not believeing the kids would act like this oh believe me they do even in second grade today a girl was STOMPING on a boy becuase he touched her and she got mad but the AP was there when it happened but 20 mins later the girl was back like nothing happened

and yes i agree the teacher should not have to deal with teaching manners and behavior but the many parents dont (some are worse than the kids they come in cursing and screaming all the time) so where that falls short we have to deal with and its unfair

i always come in prepared to do something but sometimes im given like 2 mins notice to cover and its not easy to gather something to do...it stresses me out, i like structure i like knowing where im going to be and what i will be teaching way in advance and i dont have that luxury

im just really burnout, i mean hell i was stabbed in the hand by a kindergartener today with a sharp pencil and thats just ridiculous....i think about quitting all the time but ijust cant bring myself to do it and mess up my career

im just really feeling down and out

Message edited 1/25/2008 11:19:16 PM.

Re: Mean Spirited 3rd Graders & Very Happy 5th Graders

I sorry you have to deal with this!

I gotta tell ya that I am really in shock that it all went down like that with 3rd graders. I guess I'm clueless?