How well do you know your teenager?

Courtesy of www.buycostumes.com

Every year I come across parents who have no idea who their children are outside of their home. They believe everything their children tell them and when they find out about their teenagers from their teachers, you can see the stunned and disbelieve looks on their face when you tell them what you see. Some refused to believe the teachers and even accused the teachers of victimizing their children!

This week had been no difference when I had to deal with challenging students and am so mentally and physically exhausted! Parents who believe that teachers are out to find fault in their kids are not living in the real world! We have enough and better things to do then to call home about unacceptable behaviour in our classes! We are bogged down with extra administrative work apart from classroom teaching to waste our time making up stories and trying to reach parents over the phone or by email. In New Zealand, all teachers are entitled to 5 free periods a week and it is so frustrating when we have to waste our free hour away calling home when we could be finding challenging material for talented students! Also there is paperwork or computer involved for all incidents inside and outside the classroom within the school hours.

I have a pre-teen myself and I always encouraged her from her early school years to tell me what her day in school have been like. I can only hope that I know her behaviour at home and in school into her teenage years, too.

So if you are a parent of a teenager, REMEMBER! Their teachers would not contact you unless it is really necessary because their time is limited and if you have to teach over 1oo students a day , they do not have the luxury to make up stories in their free time! Your child must have pulled the wool over your eyes all this while if you think your 'angel' cannot be the 'rat bag' the teacher is describing to you!