How I Joined Teach for America—and Got Sued for $20 Million

[DontSayBanana]

THE primary reason I moved from public-school teaching to private-school teaching is that, in a private school, you can kick kids out.  That makes a world of difference.  If public school systems ran a disciplinary subset of schools to whom problem children could be relegated, they would see a huge difference in classroom behavior.  You could even call them "alternative schools" to avoid the stigma.

Allowing teachers to physically discipline children isn't the answer (except to lawyers' dreams).

In NJ public high schools, the night school is more discipline-oriented, so it's the usual first stop for problem children who won't turn around. We do also have a few "alternative schools" where children who have problems severe enough to warrant court appearances tend to show up.

The parking lot for my last employer was immediately adjacent to one of those schools- at least when they were outside, those kids were a hell of a lot better-mannered than the yobbos at my public high school. It was kinda eerie.

[grumbler]

In NJ public high schools, the night school is more discipline-oriented, so it's the usual first stop for problem children who won't turn around. We do also have a few "alternative schools" where children who have problems severe enough to warrant court appearances tend to show up.

The parking lot for my last employer was immediately adjacent to one of those schools- at least when they were outside, those kids were a hell of a lot better-mannered than the yobbos at my public high school. It was kinda eerie.

You can actually do a lot with students like that if you have specialized teachers, small classes, and the right environment.  Clearly, you have to focus on rehabilitation where at all possible, or the students will have no motives not to simply game against the system - let alone the waste that warehousing children represents.

[Jaron]

In NJ public high schools, the night school is more discipline-oriented, so it's the usual first stop for problem children who won't turn around. We do also have a few "alternative schools" where children who have problems severe enough to warrant court appearances tend to show up.

The parking lot for my last employer was immediately adjacent to one of those schools- at least when they were outside, those kids were a hell of a lot better-mannered than the yobbos at my public high school. It was kinda eerie.

You can actually do a lot with students like that if you have specialized teachers, small classes, and the right environment.  Clearly, you have to focus on rehabilitation where at all possible, or the students will have no motives not to simply game against the system - let alone the waste that warehousing children represents.

You are very wise.

I knew you were good for something.

[grumbler]

You are very wise.

I knew you were good for something.

I am good at only one thing.

Unfortunately, I have to teach to pay the bills that that one things costs! 

[Jaron]

You are very wise.

I knew you were good for something.

I am good at only one thing.

Unfortunately, I have to teach to pay the bills that that one things costs! 

[Razgovory]

He's hiring prostitutes.

[Neil]

Allowing teachers to physically discipline children isn't the answer (except to lawyers' dreams).

Savage beatings worked just fine back in the day.

Obviously, the first step would be to dismantle the legal system.  That would make everyone happy, at least everyone who wasn't purged.

[HisMajestyBOB]

pt. 2

When I asked other teachers to come help me stop a fight, they shook their heads and reminded me that D.C. Public Schools banned teachers from laying hands on students for any reason, even to protect other children.

That's crazy and certainly not the case in Rhode Island.

Sadly, I think it's also the case in Virginia, or at least in some counties. I remember my mother, a teacher, telling me something along those lines.

It sounds like this dude was way underprepared for teaching, especially in the inner city.

That's true. As soon as he started going on about "sparking young minds" I could see the trainwreck coming.

You get my PM Bob?

Yep.

And is there gonna be a response?

NEVER! 

[CountDeMoney]

Being a white teacher in a mostly black school unquestionably hindered my ability to teach.

No kidding.

[CountDeMoney]

pt. 2

When I asked other teachers to come help me stop a fight, they shook their heads and reminded me that D.C. Public Schools banned teachers from laying hands on students for any reason, even to protect other children.

That's crazy and certainly not the case in Rhode Island.

By all means, when you become a teacher, please oh please oh please put your hands on someone else's child.

[CountDeMoney]

If anybody wants to watch a really good show on this sort of thing, watch HBO's Hard Times at Douglass High, filmed right here in Bantumore.

http://www.hbo.com/docs/docuseries/hardtimes/

Staggeringly depressing.

[jimmy olsen]

pt. 2

When I asked other teachers to come help me stop a fight, they shook their heads and reminded me that D.C. Public Schools banned teachers from laying hands on students for any reason, even to protect other children.

That's crazy and certainly not the case in Rhode Island.

By all means, when you become a teacher, please oh please oh please put your hands on someone else's child.

We're directed specifically that it's our responsibility to break up fights if they occur.

[Neil]

pt. 2

When I asked other teachers to come help me stop a fight, they shook their heads and reminded me that D.C. Public Schools banned teachers from laying hands on students for any reason, even to protect other children.

That's crazy and certainly not the case in Rhode Island.

By all means, when you become a teacher, please oh please oh please put your hands on someone else's child.

We're directed specifically that it's our responsibility to break up fights if they occur.

I'm sure someone will still sue you.  Remember, you're in America, which is pretty much the worst place that there is when it comes to litigious assholes.  Moreover, parents are the single worst group of people on Earth, as they aren't very good at it.  Moreover, they forget the cardinal rule:  Everyone under 25 is subhuman scum.

[Ed Anger]

pt. 2

When I asked other teachers to come help me stop a fight, they shook their heads and reminded me that D.C. Public Schools banned teachers from laying hands on students for any reason, even to protect other children.

That's crazy and certainly not the case in Rhode Island.

By all means, when you become a teacher, please oh please oh please put your hands on someone else's child.

We're directed specifically that it's our responsibility to break up fights if they occur.

It is going to be like that Joe Clark film where some kid will beat your Spic ass in the cafeteria.

[CountDeMoney]

pt. 2

When I asked other teachers to come help me stop a fight, they shook their heads and reminded me that D.C. Public Schools banned teachers from laying hands on students for any reason, even to protect other children.

That's crazy and certainly not the case in Rhode Island.

By all means, when you become a teacher, please oh please oh please put your hands on someone else's child.

We're directed specifically that it's our responsibility to break up fights if they occur.

Go ahead and knock yourself out then, Stand and Delivertard.