Warnings from a supply teacher Students know they can’t fail in school, but how will they fare afterward?
I am a supply teacher. I have over 35 years experience in the classroom. I am very worried about kids today. Everybody should be.
This is a description of one typical class I took a week ago in a Southern Ontario high school. Just before exams.
The first thing I noticed in the room was a poster stating that personal electronic devices were not to be used in class. I noticed the shift to computers and electronic devices: the computer on the teacher’s desk, the box of mini-Pads in the corner, the PowerPoint projector hanging from the ceiling, the screen covering the blackboard, the video machine on the shelf, the TV shoved into a corner. The blackboards were covered with posters and large sheets of paper with basic subject information. There was very little blackboard left. I used to use a lot of blackboard.
As I set my stuff out on the teacher’s desk and took a look at what the students were supposed to do today, two kids sauntered in. I said hello, but there was no response: their ears were plugged with ear buds connected to their cellphones. School started at 8:35. At 8:30 two more came. One of them asked me if I was the supply. His face became a big smile as he cheerfully told the others that “Miss” was away. They helpfully assured me everyone always arrived late.
I introduced myself and told those present what their teacher expected them to do this period and got ready to do the attendance. I went around with a list asking their names and checking them off. I have learned to do it this way because if I stand at the front and call their names, they can’t be quiet long enough for me to get through the list, and it takes forever. Or they don’t hear it because of their ear buds. The bottom line is, the kids don’t care if I get the attendance done correctly or not. No matter what I’m doing, kids interrupt me, chatting, or asking to go to the washroom, to their lockers, the library or another classroom.
By nine o’clock half the class was present. Half an hour late. I had announced what the work was four times already and had also shown them the helpful examples that their teacher had taped on the blackboard. After that, every five minutes someone else sauntered in and I had to explain the work again.
Once the attendance was complete as far as possible, and I had done it on the computer, I waited even longer in case more kids arrived. Some did. I told them what the work was, marked them late on the computer and submitted it. If anyone arrived later I would resubmit the attendance.
I continued walking around offering help. Many cold-shouldered me. They said they had done it already. (They had already done brand new handouts I had found on the desk?) Some said they hadn’t learned the material for the exercise. They were watching football videos and basketball videos on their cellphones. An argument broke out between two boys watching the football videos. Supply teachers have been warned by principals not to touch kids’ cellphones, and when I suggested politely to the students that they put them away, they did — for about two seconds — then took them out again. Meanwhile more kids were sauntering in and I had to explain the work to them and mark them late as well.
Twenty-five minutes before the end of the 75-minute period a student was called to the office. She wanted her cellphone charger. Her friend didn’t want to give it up, but she insisted loudly that she had no intention of returning to class and wanted all her stuff back.
As I walked around the classroom trying to help kids to do the required work, three needed pencils. Others needed paper. Some needed both. That at least meant that they intended to do the work. They are Grade 9 students and didn’t know enough to come to school prepared.
Even that doesn’t matter anymore. The system won’t let them fail and they know it.
At the end of the class, six class members had done half the required work, and handed it in. The second half was only started by two or three, and not handed in. As I scanned the class, again, most of them were again watching Netflix on their cellphones or playing games on their mini-pads. They were in their own little worlds.
When the bell rang they got a 10minute break.
What worries me is even if they can’t fail in school, they can fail in life. How sad!