What happens when you don't suspend a student. A case study.
About 15/16 months ago. A student is chronically disruptive, and is intentionally miserable to his teacher. The teacher is at her wits end, and meetings are held to figure it all out. Here's what happened
1/
About 15/16 months ago. A student is chronically disruptive, and is intentionally miserable to his teacher. The teacher is at her wits end, and meetings are held to figure it all out. Here's what happened
1/
2/
This student was only in her class to begin with because she had a good reputation for working with difficult students. So in typical educational fashion, she is given many more difficult students until she is overwhelmed and starting to hate her job. She's burnt out.
This student was only in her class to begin with because she had a good reputation for working with difficult students. So in typical educational fashion, she is given many more difficult students until she is overwhelmed and starting to hate her job. She's burnt out.
3/
The student refuses to do any work. He typically arrives at school at the end of first block, will skip 2nd and 3rd block, and then attends 4th block while waiting for the bus home. He's passing nothing, he has no intention on passing anything.
The student refuses to do any work. He typically arrives at school at the end of first block, will skip 2nd and 3rd block, and then attends 4th block while waiting for the bus home. He's passing nothing, he has no intention on passing anything.
4/ because he is a freshman, he is at no risk of being moved for academic reasons until the end of next year. Most sophomores in his group will pass just enough classes by sophomore year to avoid being moved out of the school building so they can stick around another year or two
5/
He has no intention on behaving in the classroom either. While many students are content to play quietly on their phones all period, he doesn't use ear pods and plays music and tik toks for all to hear, he walks around the room and even out of the room as often as he wants
He has no intention on behaving in the classroom either. While many students are content to play quietly on their phones all period, he doesn't use ear pods and plays music and tik toks for all to hear, he walks around the room and even out of the room as often as he wants
6/
She's called home, shes written him up. She has assigned her own detention once a week, though he could earn one every day. And he doesnt stay after for them anyway. It takes a few weeks for a teacher detention to turn into a school detention, and he doesn't serve those either
She's called home, shes written him up. She has assigned her own detention once a week, though he could earn one every day. And he doesnt stay after for them anyway. It takes a few weeks for a teacher detention to turn into a school detention, and he doesn't serve those either
7/
So she slowed down with that since nothing happens anyway. This is the first thing admin bring up "we need more documentation. We just started the third quarter, so everything starts over, your last documentation was a month ago."
So she slowed down with that since nothing happens anyway. This is the first thing admin bring up "we need more documentation. We just started the third quarter, so everything starts over, your last documentation was a month ago."
8/
None of his other teachers are writing him up or documenting him for hardly going to any of their classes. And they are probably glad he is skipping their classes. But now more burden is on her because "nobody else seems to have a problem with him"
None of his other teachers are writing him up or documenting him for hardly going to any of their classes. And they are probably glad he is skipping their classes. But now more burden is on her because "nobody else seems to have a problem with him"
9/
So they won't switch him to another class because then "teachers will just start complaining about students non stop to get their classes changed" He doesn't qualify for a new academic placement because he's a freshman. And the alternative high school is already full.
So they won't switch him to another class because then "teachers will just start complaining about students non stop to get their classes changed" He doesn't qualify for a new academic placement because he's a freshman. And the alternative high school is already full.
10/
Suspension also isn't an option. He already had one suspension for his part in a brawl in the hallway earlier in the fall, and that did not change his behavior "he needs to be in school" plus, our suspension data is under a microscope. This would be seem as an "elective oss"
Suspension also isn't an option. He already had one suspension for his part in a brawl in the hallway earlier in the fall, and that did not change his behavior "he needs to be in school" plus, our suspension data is under a microscope. This would be seem as an "elective oss"
11/
Defiance and disruption as the reason for a suspension is not looked upon well by district and state higher ups. It's seen as a failure by the teacher and building leadership. She is encouraged to just try harder to work with him.
Defiance and disruption as the reason for a suspension is not looked upon well by district and state higher ups. It's seen as a failure by the teacher and building leadership. She is encouraged to just try harder to work with him.
12/
The teacher is mad, starts openly talking about looking for another job. The AP in charge of all this tells her to focus on "finding her why" The Department chair and queen bee is mad that she's talking about leaving, and suggests maybe she should leave if she hates it here
The teacher is mad, starts openly talking about looking for another job. The AP in charge of all this tells her to focus on "finding her why" The Department chair and queen bee is mad that she's talking about leaving, and suggests maybe she should leave if she hates it here
13/
So, she bails. Switches to a different school and grade level. DC is mad at her for leaving, and in more of a bad mood when we can't find anyone to fill the position. So the rest of us lose electives and have larger class sizes this year. I essentially get her course load
So, she bails. Switches to a different school and grade level. DC is mad at her for leaving, and in more of a bad mood when we can't find anyone to fill the position. So the rest of us lose electives and have larger class sizes this year. I essentially get her course load
14/
They also have a few teachers from outside our content area teach some of the sections. A few manage it well, a few don't know the content at all and don't do much besides rolling out our lessons and telling their class to "try their best"
They also have a few teachers from outside our content area teach some of the sections. A few manage it well, a few don't know the content at all and don't do much besides rolling out our lessons and telling their class to "try their best"
15/
The least competent of these teachers is given the more advanced classes because " those are the only classes she can handle" So now I have no advanced kids and the advanced kids gets a teacher who can't really teach, and doesn't know the subject matter at all
The least competent of these teachers is given the more advanced classes because " those are the only classes she can handle" So now I have no advanced kids and the advanced kids gets a teacher who can't really teach, and doesn't know the subject matter at all
16/
Shortly after, the AP announced she's moving to an AP position at another school. The DC openly talks about leaving but ultimately won't because she enjoys her queen bee status too much. But her attitude has changed, as has everyone's attitude towards her
Shortly after, the AP announced she's moving to an AP position at another school. The DC openly talks about leaving but ultimately won't because she enjoys her queen bee status too much. But her attitude has changed, as has everyone's attitude towards her
17/
Other department members start openly applying for other jobs. Two more leave during the next year. Two more still looking, including the original teachers "work husband" who has now reached levels of burn out seldom seen in nature.
Other department members start openly applying for other jobs. Two more leave during the next year. Two more still looking, including the original teachers "work husband" who has now reached levels of burn out seldom seen in nature.
18/
Oh, and she had a good personality and was our content groups best lesson writer. She always did the final touch ups on lessons other people wrote and put in a lot of time into this. Not easily replaced, nor could we fill her position at all
Oh, and she had a good personality and was our content groups best lesson writer. She always did the final touch ups on lessons other people wrote and put in a lot of time into this. Not easily replaced, nor could we fill her position at all
19/19
The student returns this year and is in my class. Because I have him first period, I rarely see him. But when I do he comes in late, doesn't do any work and his behavior is miserable. By October, mom pulls him from the school and we never see him again.
THE END
The student returns this year and is in my class. Because I have him first period, I rarely see him. But when I do he comes in late, doesn't do any work and his behavior is miserable. By October, mom pulls him from the school and we never see him again.
THE END
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
