Neighmond, if you are going to be teaching in an inner city school, I can tell you, you are in for quite a shock.

All fine in theory. But the administration won't back you up in the "I demand respect, and settle for nothing less" attitude. Because they can't. The parents are the problem, but not much will be done to them, I assure you.

And BTW, the line at the principal's office of kids who have been thrown out of class for "disrespect" is very long. Every day. Same kids over and over. They get passed along from one room to another, until the final bell rings, and the next day it starts all over again.

But despite all that, even the kids who are really disrespectful in their outbursts, I don't have a huge problem with, because of the deficit in life they are coming from with their home situations. Not because their parents are bad, but because their parents are broken human beings. I can't tell you how sad this is. I often find that those kids who act out the most, are some of the brightest, most sensitive kids in the room. But they have medical problems,psychological problems, etc all exacerbated by poverty.

It isn't going to be black and white at all when you get into the trenches, Neighmond. And these kids that society just wants to throw away, will break your heart with their beauty, their intelligence, their creativity, and their sensitivity. I swear to god.