Accountability — Get Some!

Warning: Do not read this post if you cannot handle the truth. Please note this is NOT an attack on any parent; this is an observation made by ONE teacher of MANY students (not necessarily her own). 

I have come to realize that many people — bystanders, organizations, etc. — want to point the finger one way: at teachers. No one turns the finger back on themselves and asks, "What can I do to make this situation better? What have I done to enable this misbehavior?"

Said misbehavior in question: texting or calling done by a parent to a child at school.

Parents, do you know where you drop your children off, where they ride the big yellow bus, or possibly drive themselves to in the morning mainly between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4:20 p.m.? If you do, then why are you calling them on their job expecting them to answer?!

Let me back up before I continue my tirade. This was a dialogue between myself and my students today. I'm not sure what caused the dialogue prior to class beginning but it definitely caused sirens to sound off in my head. 

Student A: "If my mom calls me and tells me my dad died, I'm getting out of here so fast!

Me: You can't do that.

Student A: Yes, I can.

Me: Do you understand that you cannot just leave campus without permission? Once you step on campus, we (the school) are responsible for you and your whereabouts.

Student B: When you're 18, you can sign yourself out.

ME: You're not 18. (students start murmuring because quite a few didn't know they had these rights at 18. ) Ya'll (getting their attention), your parent should not be calling you to tell you devastating information. It's going to cause chaos and your parent has to call the office first! It would not be wise for the school to let you drive hysterically to the hospital. If something happened to you on the road, the school is responsible!

Random student: Oooh, there could be a lawsuit! 

Random student #2: My teacher lets me to talk to my mom when she calls.

I gave them a look, reserved comments for the blog, told them about my experience in high school (because I understand but there is a procedure that has to be followed) with beepers (they laughed), then continued on with said lesson plan. 

What is going on AMERICA? Why are we (because it takes a village) enabling our students/your children to do wrong? Why are YOU calling them during class?! Parents as well as teachers as well as students and ANY other human being living on this green Earth have to follow the proper channels for so many reasons — order, safety to name a couple.  

When you call your child at school the following tends to happen:

• It causes a MAJOR disruption in class (because Generation Apathetic) does not know or care about discretion.
• There becomes a sudden need to go to the bathroom and/or simply walk out of the class.
• A referral is written. Hillsborough County Policy on cellphones says, "We see it, we take it. During school hours and while on the bus, cell phones and other electronic devices (unless authorized for school use) are not to be activated or used in any manner and must be stored out of sight." But not with generation apathetic because then they start talking about what the teacher is not going to do.
• Lunch detail, in-school suspension, out of school suspension (depending on number of prior offenses).
• (And although listed last, it's definitely not the least) Loss of instruction (but you want to call me and ask me what I am teaching your child about FCAT; you would think it's rude if I replied, "Nothing, because you keep interrupting!" — isn't it ironic?) 

All because:

• You wanted to ask your child about a misplaced sock.
• You wanted to tell them to go to Aunt Sarah's house instead of home.
• You were bored.
• You wanted to ask them if they have practice 'til 6, or was it 7?

All of this could have been done: 

• On the ride to school.
• The night before.
• Through a text message that the child can sneak (because it happens) and check during passing time, lunch or on a bathroom pass.

I understand that:

• Mistakes happen.
• Life is hectic.
• Things come up and you have to make sure your child is safe and knows the plan.

But just like you:

• I have a job to do and it would be a lot easier and less stressful if I could get some real ASSISTANCE from parents who can also be known as ENABLERS.

Because:

• I care about your child 
• I want him/her to succeed

And you know that:

• If you walked in ANY teacher's classroom and saw a child on the phone (even if it was their parent, which you wouldn't know) YOU would be .... PISSED!