Throughout my teaching career, I have considered myself to be a responsive teacher. I responded quickly to phone calls, emails, and notes, often with a re-assuring explanation or suggestions for at-home intervention. After spending months replying to angry phone calls and emails this year, however, I have come to a realization. Unless I can make a positive connection - that is, offer something that will be useful - I will no longer offer a reply simply in the interest of defending myself.
I am a great teacher, and I know it. I challenge, I inspire, I teach... and my students learn. When parents have unreasonable expectations for their children, such as wanting them to come home with perfect test scores, be the most popular child in class, or to be voted onto student council, I am unable to offer them help. They are simply frustrated - or disappointed - and I suppose that they want me to alter life's reality to meet their needs. In truth, despite my best efforts, I am unable to alter reality, or to make everything easy for everyone.
With that in mind, I am going to begin protecting myself from people with unreasonable expectations, unanswerable questions, or frustrated pleas for a "better grade." I am not an adult counselor, I teach the Fourth Grade.
Feeling better having said all of that,
MWM Turns 30
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