Watchful Waiting

I feel like I'm in a state of watchful anticipation... waiting for the storm, waiting for the bad news, waiting for something, and not anything good.

The reason? Report cards went home last week. So what does this mean for teachers?

Parents who didn't do anything at the halfway point, when their kid came home with an F on their progress report, are going to start yelling and demanding my head.

It gets really, really old.

The first time it happened, my first year of teaching, it really scared me. Of course, I had been already subjected to this type of thing my first month of teaching, so it wasn't completely unexpected, but still shocking.

The second time it happened, I felt suspicious. Now I just feel sad.

No matter how many tests I send home to get signed and then get back, indicated their child got 10/175, or got a 23%, they don't connect that with the fact their child is not doing everything perfectly, because their child doesn't tell them, and they don't ask.

So now I'm just waiting for someone to not be happy, and call or email me, and tell me I am terrible person.

I really did used to be very concerned, and willing to work with the parents who contact me when they're upset about how their child did. But I can't just care automatically anymore, because I have been screamed at, cursed out, told that I was stupid, threatened, and informed that I would be fired come the following week. So I wait, and see what their attitude is before I let down my guard with the parents.

It's a real shame. It makes me sad. But it also does make me mad.

On a much happier note, my students this year are awesome. I love them! I mentioned that I don't get to go trick-or-treating (because of my advanced age, which they sympathised with, since they (on their own, since I won't tell them the truth) have decided that I am 35, and that's apparently ancient to them...) so they could bring me candy they don't want.

They brought me TONS. It was amazing, and such a sign of their giving hearts and sweet natures.

It made me happy this week. I love my students. And not just because they give me stuff, honestly, but because they are such wonderful little people who I am blessed to be able to work with.

I love them!

Now if only their parents can remain calm when inquiring about their child's grades...