Guest,
Thank you for the response to my post. You sound like you have some good working experience, so If you look me up in ten years and you are right(as is probable), I will admit it with right free will. Please don't go thinking that I think I am "better than" anybody else-I am no better and no worse-I am the least perfect of an imperfect world.

That being said, I would like to respond.

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

I will teach in any school that offers me a contract.

"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."

I had a teacher in Junior High.
His name is Cyril Klein.
We all thought he was one line driving tough son of a bitch. He made us stay for detentions on the littlest thing, made our parents sign daily progress reports (blue cards), and it was detention if they didn't sign as told. No excuses. There was a written contract that each student and parent signed. I don't recall a single parent in any of my classes not signing.

We knew where he lived. We all had his telephone number ("No student should ever say they couldn't find me when they need me.")

I went to Mr. Klein's class in 8th grade with a chip on my shoulder and left in ninth a better man for it. Were it not for Mr. Klein I would likely be dropped out of school or in jail someplace. I owe it to all of my students to give the same gift he gave to me.

"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."

As you probably guessed by now, I am NOT "society". If someone shoots(knives, koshes, etc.) me then so be it. They'll only do it once. But damnded If I get before my maker and cop out, and say "I couldn't do my best, (fill in the name) wouldn't let me." I owe the children more than a baby-sitting. I will be paid to educate and so help me God I will earn my pay. Education does NOT stop with the A B C's. Teachers must show by example, and allow the pupils to see the proper way of dealing with life's situations. How are they to learn of the reprecussions of wrongdoing without experiencing it first hand?

Guest, in my opinion, to overlook the misdeeds without acting on them and holding the children accountable for them is "throwing the children away!" I am sure you know it is real work to find each pupil's assets and develop them into something that could be that child's salvation, but if it can be done we've got it to do. It is far less work to pass on a dicipline problem than to deal with it, and I feel that it is a cheap and shoddy way of teaching, and only multiplies the problem, when it could be nipped in the bud. Really caring is teaching the unplesant as well as the plesant. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't thank the lord that I was placed in Mr. Klein's class. If I prove half the teacher he is I will consider my career a success.

I am sorry if I tread on any toes in this post but this is how I feel.

Chaz