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Unruly children pushing teachers out of school system – Teacher

- The teacher believes if parents spend more time with their children teachers would be able to get through to them better
Elmore Stoutt High School. Teachers are reportedly leaving the profession at the high school level due to the poor salary and many children with behavioural issues. Photo: VINO/File
According to the concerned teacher, parents need to take up their responsibilities and teach their children to respect authority. Photo: VINO/File
According to the concerned teacher, parents need to take up their responsibilities and teach their children to respect authority. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – It has been brought to the attention of this news site that quite a number of teachers are now leaving the profession in search for better paid salaries and to get away from dealing with poorly parented children.

“Parents have to get a grip of their parenting responsibilities or the system will continue to go down the drain. I am considering leaving after this many years for a better salary and because I can no longer put up with the behaviour of many children in the system today. I have many colleagues in the system who have the same challenges but just leaving and not saying because they are afraid of the victimisation in entering other job markets,” said a High School teacher.

The teacher was at the time engaged in an exclusive interview with this news site as she tried to give her view as it relates to the root of most of the challenges the school system is faced with, especially when it comes to the behaviour of students.

According to the teacher, she has a passion for children and knows they can do better with a little more attention from their home circle. “So often we hear the Ministers and everyone urging the children to do more, do more but what is said less is the need for parents to pick up on their roles as parents.”

“There is a communication disconnect between the generation of children in the school of today and the older people and because of this there is a breakdown in the rearing of our children in a way that would make them understand that they have to do things in a certain way,” she added.

Lack of respect for authority

The teacher, because of her seniority in the education system, asked not to be named in this article. She said it has been her observation over the past years that one of the problems that teachers have to face with students is that of them following instructions.

“Children in this country do not follow instructions and I get the impression it is because parents generally don’t really impose on them the authority that they need to and, because children are not socialised to follow instructions and respect authority, they come into the school and do not like to be given instructions and they have a lot of resentment to figures of authority.”

“Secondly, there is this breakdown in rearing your children in a way that would make them understand that they have to do certain things.’

According to the teacher it is her view that the problems being faced in society is that it’s transforming into a ‘Modern day’ kind. “The typical grandparent, the local people they are dealing with a situation where they are dealing with children who they cannot control, and technology has a lot to do with it,” said the teacher

She is of the view parents are guilty of putting a lot of technology into the hands of their children from a very early age and they have now become acquainted with values and systems which are far removed from what the older people are comfortable with.

27 Responses to “Unruly children pushing teachers out of school system – Teacher”

  • B Real (30/09/2016, 08:44) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    Some of them say my parents never beat me so I am not going to discipline my child. You probably was just an obedient child. Some got licks bad & swear they not going to I to theirs. All you have to do is adjust the discipline to a level you accept. In the end SPARE THE ROD SPOIL THE CHILD. OR KEPP STUDYING EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT AND SOCIETY WILL WATCH YOUR CHILD FOR SURE>
    • sally (01/10/2016, 11:05) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      PARENTS OR LACK OF REAL PARENTING IS KILLING THIS COUNTRY. Parents of today are raising money hungry, undisciplined and selfish animals. They not trying to raise law abiding citizens
  • SB (30/09/2016, 08:47) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    I promise you this my daughters won't be contributing to this chit! Hopefully in the next few years a new generation of young men and women will enter. If people start saying this from now then it's a start.
    • MY TO CENTS (30/09/2016, 09:46) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
      The behavior in the HOA from the ministers and especially the minister for///// and no discipline at home from some of the parents how you expect the children to behave. Some of the young generation have no respect for GOD nor MAN .We parents and the so call leaders should show example so the young generations can follow. If you spare the rod and spoil the child what you expect to get.
  • Twiddle Thumbs (30/09/2016, 08:54) Like (22) Dislike (1) Reply
    Some parents are way to busy on social media posting about shoes, bags and other nonsense while the children are left to fend for themselves. Have you ever listened to these school children when they're talking among themselves ??? their LANGUAGE IS DIRTY. Parents need to DO BETTER.
  • No More Chalk and Talk. (30/09/2016, 09:16) Like (11) Dislike (17) Reply
    In agreement with the article, some parents do need to spend more time with their children and dialogue with them to eliminate some of the issues that teenagers face today. Believe it or not but majority of children's misbehavior today stems from lack of 'love' in the household.
    On the other hand, some teachers in the school system are stuck in 1982 or perhaps 1934; meaning, they are stuck in the long ago teaching strategy/approach "chalk and talk." Making learning fun for students by creating student centered lesson takes the same amount of time or even less as creating dull lessons. It has been proven that student centered lessons decreases misbehavior in the classrooms since the students are eagerly involved. "Chalk and Talk" simply cannot cut it in this day and age thus, it is imperative that teachers find other means of reaching out to students through technology, kinetic lessons, song, puppetry, aid and so forth, hence, this tend to improve students level of creativity when it comes to in class presentations as well..
    • Scary Mary (30/09/2016, 10:09) Like (59) Dislike (1) Reply
      The teacher in this article is talking about the behaviour of today's children.

      REGARDLESS of what teaching methods are employed, our children must be taught to have manners, behave in class, do their work, pay attention and show some respect to their teachers and other classmates.

      I don't care if they are using chalk and talk or 3D printers! It is the job of the student to learn as best they can with what they have. It is not the school's job or the teacher's job to ENTERTAIN your child. It is their job to teach and it is your kid's job is to learn.

      The problem with both children and parents today is their sense of entitlement. I agree that some teachers could do better. That is true in every job in the world, but I pretty sure that singing and puppetry are not part of their job description!

      Sit down, be quiet, do as you are told, crack open the book or the laptop or whatever it is you have in front of you and LEARN!
      • Hmmmmm (01/10/2016, 10:37) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
        To fix this is an A to Z solution. You need a staff compliment to manage the student population. You need a management structure to deal with all areas of the school. Running like when mines and yours grand parents were there cannot work today. You need to look at the flow of the school to ensure the programs and targets and expectations are in sync and this is what you call having planners some work for the school and others outside. The ministry need to stop running the schools and focus on laws and policies. GIVE THE PRINCIPAL THE FULL AUTHORITY TO MANAGE THE SCHOOL AND BOTTOM TO TOP. THIS MEANS HIRE AND FIRE AND MAINTAIN AND WORK WITH PLANNERS ON THE PROGRAMS AND CERTIFICATIONS. Some teachers need to be remove urgently. Their mannerism towards the students is horrible. You treat them bad they respond bad. At one point I dropped my child off to Carrot Bay School. Standing by a classroom I heard a little kid just went to ask the teacher a question with something in his book. BAMN, she hit the friggin kid and said go sit down. This sent pressure to my head. I wanted to go in there and BAMN in her behind to let her know it was wrong. Minister need to know he cannot do it himself. GIVE THE PRINCIPAL THE SCHOOL TO RUN. LET THEM DO THEIR JOBS AS HEAD OF THE SCHOOL. HIRE AND FIRE AND MAINTAIN. STOP HAVING DESK OFFICERS IN THE MINISTRY RUNNING THE SCHOOLS. THE PERSON ON THE GROUND KNOWS BEST. LET THE LEADER OF THE SCHOOL GO OUT AND GET HELP FROM THE BUSINESSES. LOOKING AT HIGH SCHOOL AND HOW BAD THE BUILDINGS ARE IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO PRODUCTIVE LEARNING. THE ARTICLE IS JUST THE RESULT OF THIS. LET THE PRINCIPAL DO THEIR JOBS. LET THEM MANAGE THEIR SCHOOLS.
  • teacher john (30/09/2016, 09:36) Like (6) Dislike (9) Reply
    My run started this lack of respect
    • Teacher John 1 (01/10/2016, 10:04) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      He did not start anything the kids were like this before he reach. Parents ans students need to be accountable! Why should teachers be the only ones accountable? One sided system
  • truth be told (30/09/2016, 11:22) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    The truth is Grand parents and Parents are around the same age today so therefore they both are lack of discipline and training they drink together go to the same dance and club, simple put the blind leading the deaf
  • So glad (30/09/2016, 12:39) Like (26) Dislike (1) Reply
    As a parent, I always say my 2 kids, if you start the nonsense, I am going to teach you a lesson you will never forget. You go to school to learn, not to disrespect the teacher, you disrespect the teacher, I am coming to school with the belt. I am going to pull down your pants and whip your behind. All I have to do is look at my kids and they get the shakes. I am going to keep them in line. I'm talking at home and it does not concern them, they better go in another room. They are not going to stand there and be all up in my convo.
  • chad (30/09/2016, 15:55) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    some kids speak to adults how they are being spoken to at home.. meaning i do personally be at home and here a lady cussing her child saying her duty MS and set ah bad words etc. at the end it all start at home. parents wise up and b the adult the mother and the father in the house.
  • tretretrete (30/09/2016, 17:51) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    If the CEO has parents disrespecting teachers in front the students what do you expect.
  • too tired (01/10/2016, 00:33) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Unruly children are not the only things pushing teachers out the system. Lack of resources to teach year in and out, overworking teachers because the the department won't hire more teachers, to help carry the load, poor maintainence of classrooms and working conditions, inadequate number of teaching rooms so teachers are left wondering with their students, promising 8weeks of vacation time in summer but calling you back to work after 6 weeks when they fully well know you have your children at home to deal with, having staff meetings well beyond the allotted time for the work day to end (sometimes until after 6pm) and they know we have our children
    to and pick up. It sucks to be a teacher under the leadership of this government. The only good thing IS the kids. This was the worst decision of my life!!
  • With a screen name like that (01/10/2016, 01:00) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    @Scary Mary, really , you must be a teacher. Well let me tell you this , if you think it's not the job of the to sing or do puppetry in class you are sadly mistaken. You might not see those words in the job description as you say but you best know that it is their job to ensure that kids learn at all cost. On top of that if teachers up in the schools disrespecting kids and talking down on them, don't you think the tiles will turn one day. Some of these teachers need to return to the classrooms to learn child or adolescent psychology based on their field of teaching. Too my of them simply just CT like bullies in these school with no love in their hearts for the kids; forcing some of these kids to rebEl and retaliate.
    Am not saying that poor parenting does not play a part in some of these kids actions but some teachers need to learn the following :
    1. How to make the lessons entertaining yes entertaining and not dragged out, thus eliminating some of the behaviour issues.
    2. How to love kids even though they are not physically your own as some of these teachers have no love in their hearts for kids so they have little positive interactions with them which create hostile environment for themselves and their students.
    3. Know how to interact respectfully with their peers so that the kids can emulate positive behaviors. How do you expect the student to relate to you well if you can't even relate positively with your peers and or parents.
    I could continue but I will stop there. The bottom line is dome of these teachers are heartless and when kids pick up on these things they often rebel.
  • Common Sense (01/10/2016, 02:38) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank you Scary Mary, I couldn't have said it any better, this is my issue teachers do and do and do and they get no reward for what they do, they only get criticised for what they can't do, a teacher's job is to teach not entertain, and yes while they can and should try to engage their students in learning, lets be honest it's not always possible, in fact it is a difficult task sometimes, because how do you engage students that have made up their minds to be rude, disruptive, lazy and disrespectful? Yes, many people have answers and plans to help students like that but at the end of the day who is getting beat up and insulted for trying with those students? The teacher, while the ones that come up with the answers and plans stay far away and can't or won't try to even understand what the teacher goes through, but all they want to do is blame teachers. Teachers that accept pressure from students, parents, staff, administration, and the community for doing their job, for doing what some of their critics can't do. We all want a perfect world but let's face it what are you doing to help? the answer nothing, you stay far away and complain because you feel you have a right to, and that is ok but the same people you criticise do you actually know what they go through and do you even care. Most of you when you go to work everyday you know when your work will end and you get your so called you time, your time to yourself to do as you please, but a teacher's job is never ending, all pass the end of the school day a teacher can be found helping students, talking to parents, planning for the next day, and trying to figure out how to deal with some students behaviours, While many of you same critics busy creating the same student you know dawn well are going to be problems to teachers. The teachers are hurting because many of them are trying with those same problems students just to be criticised by parents and community that don't seem to care what they are going through and the good well-behaved students get less and less time and education. I don't blame teachers or parents, while its true some parents don't try with their kids others do and try their best, but even in that group the work that they have to do to survive sometimes keeps them away from their kids, and then we find kids being raised by TV, friends and strangers that sometimes lead them down the wrong path. Some would say keep the teachers accountable, other say hold parents accountable, but no one seems to want to look at the child, but what is the child accountable for? some would have you believe because your an adult you should know better, now while that is true, does that mean that the young should get a pass? think about it we all have lives, and we all have minds of our own, life, whether you are young or old, can be very stressful and while adults should be better at managing it stress is still stress, your not going to teach them how to deal with it by babying them, you can't baby a child into an adult, you can't ignore the responsibilities that a child should have and then expect them to know it. Hold the child accountable for their actions and they will learn, let the teacher be a teacher and not an entertainer or babysitter
  • Common Sense (01/10/2016, 09:42) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    @With a screen name like that: Go be a teacher cause you sound like a parent that only can criticise, I can imagine teaching must be a joke to you, do you expect teachers to work magic tricks too? All that you have said sounds good and well but have you tried it and if you have and it has worked 100% of the time, then quit your current job now and come be a teacher and show them how it is done, show them how you turn back the hands of time on damaged, unruly, respectful and willful students, that is my challenge to you right now, I will come and see the results of who's will changes or breaks first either you or the students. My bet is on you without a doubt, because you sound like someone that doesn't know what teachers go through no offense it's easy to judge from a distance or throw your responsibilities as a parent to actually teach your child manners, respect and wrong from right, and actually take care of your child and keep them as children should be. I'm not saying all teachers are good but you're lumping them all together is wrong, blaming all of the actions of a few or in some cases the actions of none on a whole group of people that really are trying their best with the children with what they have, while not all but many parents shirk their responsibilities and duties off to the teachers, like a teacher shouldn't have a life? that is wrong teachers are human too and they feel and have lives too. When I say the actions of none I mean sometimes your kids make up stuff about their teachers when they don't like them, especial when they don't let them have their way and do as they please and parents eat it up even when they know their son or daughter is no angel. In other cases sometimes parents hear what they want to hear react without asking a question, and other parents try to take out their anger for anything on the teacher because they know they can get them in trouble. Some parents know dawn well their kids are lying and still they entertain it without asking a question, they just show up and make as*es of themselves and even in the present of the child so they grow up thinking it is cool to do and the cycle continues. A teacher has many students to look after and teach, and you think it's right then when a teacher is trying their best, for your son or daughter to waste time, disrupt the class and stop the lesson because they don't want to do the work everyone else is doing, because they spent most of the class not trying to listen or pay attention so now they don't know what to do. So even if the teacher reaches 99% of the class it might as well be 0% because they couldn't reach your child because they wasn't even trying to listen or pay attention while the teacher was teaching. Let's be realistic in a room of 25 or 30 students even if all are watching and they seem to be listening at the end of the day, sometime you ask them question right after you have told them the answer and they still don't know.....smh that is sad, then you will say maybe the lesson wasn't interesting enough and that might be true but not all lessons are going to be fun or interesting but they still have to learn it, and lets be honest if you as a person with your own mind, if you are not interested in learning or what is being taught then it's not going to matter to you how the teacher teaches it you're just not going to pay attention, so even if 99% get it you won't no matter how much or which way the teachers try to teach it to you. No teacher alive has the ability to physically cut open your child's head and implant the information they need to learn, then sow it back up, but sometimes it seems like a witch hunt for teachers when your child doesn't earn something, parents don't want to look at their children and tell them it is their responsibility to try and learn, remember and use the information learnt in class, but they will hand them new technologies that should be used to help them and watch them play with it and use it for crap instead of doing their work or learning. Is that right?
  • High School Student (01/10/2016, 10:01) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr Walwyn did not start this lack of respect...because as I learned from my teacher's in primary school charity begins at home. In primary school we dear not misbehave or we get punished but in high school some of the students are so aggressive I fear for my teachers...yes there are teachers who can do better attitude wise and teaching too...But the ones who put their all into their jobs don't deserve the treatment and poor pay...Stricker discipline needs to be implemented. The idea of students having more rights than teachers is ridiculous we are children...what rights do we need when we are too young to vote or hold down a job..wow!!! Adults have this thing backwards...I am one that do not give trouble and I suffer when the others do because of waisted teaching time. It is just not fair...I love my teachers and they love me...teachers are as important as politicians...lawyers doctors anyone else. (My father helped me write it)
  • Let's Be Honest (01/10/2016, 10:12) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Over the past 25 years, education has not been at the top of the 'priority list' in the B.V.I. I have not been around long enough to speak of times before but I would think that it probably never was at the top and if it ever was it did not remain there for long. There was a time when funds were readily available, when state of the art schools could have been erected and well-equipped so that now that the world economy is in distress and so naturally the B.V.I's economy is adversely affected, we would be in a position where we could maintain and upgrade our schools and not be struggling as we are.
    The conditions that exist in our schools and educational system did not just begin under the present government. The negative attitudes displayed by students did not just begin under the present government. There is plenty of blame to be shared by all (and not only politicians). My question is, what will we as a country do about it? Will we continue to blame politicians and political parties or are we going to have discussions with the teachers, who are constantly under fire (from students, parents, to their administrators etc.) but somehow manage to consistently produce students who excel both regionally and internationally, to find out what their needs and how they can be helped?
    A government cannot do everything and if we believe that educating our people is the key to the continued success of these islands then we have to stop criticizing without knowing the facts and put our money and resources where they will make a difference. Maybe if the students were experiencing life in a country that by its words and actions showed that education was of the utmost importance and vital to our survival and success, they would be eager to learn and many of the negative attitudes that they display would be lessened.
    Here's an idea - Let us support our teachers and our schools. Let us help those parents who are not managing well. Let us help our young people to understand that not being well-educated will put them at a distinct disadvantage in this world. Let us stop pointing fingers and look to ourselves and see what we can do. We cannot change the past but we can certainly make a difference now and impact positively on our future.
  • With a screen name like that (01/10/2016, 17:32) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    @ common sense. You are talking to a teacher my dear who has been around teachers for quite a bit of years to know that we often mask out incompetence by blaming the students. Like it or not that is what some of us do.
  • nonsense (01/10/2016, 18:58) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    I haven't even taken the time out to read the article. But I'm going to say, if you're a teacher you are supposed to know how to control children and conduct a classroom. Some teachers at the Elmore Stoutt High School are WEAK! Some aren't fit for the jobs. Whoever is hiring these teachers is doing a poor job. You can't just hire any teacher with a degree and expect them to know the best way or great ways to facilitate learning.
  • Common Sense (02/10/2016, 03:05) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    @With a screen name like that: Good so you say you're a teacher, then did you even read all I said? I'm not trying to blame the students, parents or teachers, it takes a community to raise a child, and as I said before "you can't baby a child into an adult", our mistake is that we forget the element being affected the child, some don't think that the child should be responsible for their actions, so when they do bad or wrong things they blame the teacher or the parent, totally neglecting the fact that the child has their own mind, which can also be affected by elements outside of school and home, like tv, friends, and strangers. Humans in general, have the ability to learn a great many things on all kinds of topics and from all kinds of sources, so why do most people seem to think that kids only learn from their teacher or parents? Despite popular belief, kids are not only influenced by teachers and parents. Yes teachers and parents have their roles to play but just like some adults minds are hard to change so are kids but not much people believe that, so they give them pass after pass on their bad behaviour and blame the teachers and parents, even when it's seen that both are working hard with the child and teaching the child what is right, then the child becomes an adult and you lock them up for the same crap you been giving them pass after pass for all their childhood life. What I keep saying not all teachers are bad, not all parents are bad, sometimes it's just the child choosing to be bad, and instead of addressing the child we take it out on the teachers or parents. Now you say you are a teacher, and "you have been around teachers for quite a bit of years to know that we often mask out incompetence by blaming the students" did you even notice that you used WE in that statement, which includes yourself, but lets look at it another way, so you know that but what have you done about it? and should all teachers take the blame for some that are incompetent? because the are plenty of incompetent people in the world, some students, parents, fireman, police, government officials, and etc, so should we just say everyone is incompetent just because a few are? should we blame and punish the innocent for the guilty? if a child disrupts a class full of hard working learning students should a teacher just do nothing?, then what about the other students in the class why should they suffer for the actions of a few? if the child that disrupts the class is not to be blamed for their actions then who should be responsible? maybe the students trying to learn should be responsible, or maybe it's the teacher trying to teach the class, or maybe it's the parent working else where doing what they have to do to take care of the child. You know the funny part, do you imagine that when they get out of school that their work is going to be entertaining or maybe you believe that the colleges and universities are going to entertain them too, because I know not everything in life is going to be fun, easy or entertaining but you still have to do it. @Nonsense, everyone has a mind to think for themselves, no human is a robot.so it's impossible to have full control over a class when it has 1 teacher to 25 or 30 students that 1 mind to 25 or 30 other minds in one room, and when teachers have to deal with one or more students disrupting the class it takes away from the class time, on less you can predict the future or read minds there will always be those that misbehave and try to make the class chaotic. Its not weak to keep trying what would be weak is if the teacher quits or just stays home instead of coming to deal with some rude kids all the time, but you know why they don't give up because one they come for the other well behaved students and two they believe no matter how rude a child is there is always time to change
  • think outside the box (02/10/2016, 09:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Believe it or not, students care what their peers think and say about them. Try instituting a student disciplinary council. Choose the well-behaved, well-mannered students to sit on the council.

    Choose Student Patrols if there are no police or monitors on campus. The patrols will report students to the council. The patrols will wear a bright orange vest for example so they are easily recognized. During lunchtime especially.

    Teachers should have a system among themselves wherein they can send an unruly child with a note to another classroom for a timeout; it's more embarrassing than sending them to the office, again, because their peers in the room next door now know they have been kicked out. The Student Disiplinary Council will make recommendations.

    Also, teachers must get to know each student individually. Have the students write an autobiography of their lives from birth to now outlining all their experiences. You will be surprised at what they will write especially if you have them email it to you and assure them no one else will read it.

    This will help you to understand why some of them are the way they are.....trust me.

  • With a screen name like that (02/10/2016, 15:36) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ common sense, I am really not interested in arguing. I said we because I am a teache, plus am not perfect. Being in the profession for over 20 years, I have seen things like teachers who display bad behavior before kids try to tell students that they are disrespectful for doing the very same. There are too many teachers who are always in defense mode and always trying to blame their incompetence on students. You can't control your class because you aren't making your lessons engaging or you do not give students enuigh to challenge them, but when the students get restless as a result, you are quick to say that the students are
    unruly. I know there are great teachers out there but there are others parading as teachers when it's just a job to collect a salary for them. That's all am saying.
  • ... (06/10/2016, 10:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    D@mn. I am stealing one of these comments for my essay assignment in school!


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