I can't really say about the elementary school books, but they sound pretty solid to me. My daughter is always the one complaining that they're either way too short or just plain boring (she especially lost it back in first grade when we got The Goosebumps—she thought it was such a baby book). And then, when she saw Coco and Ghost in fifth grade, she actually made a huge scene about how she was NOT reading it! Honestly, she watched the movie and was absolutely terrified—it took her three nights of wandering into my bed because of the nightmares... 🤣 )
Jamie Davis9 said:Exactly—it’s just like how people who struggle with math often face the brunt of the blame when their teachers failed to properly introduce them to basic intervals. Honestly, I don't understand where this obsession comes from regarding whether children "must" love reading; some kids will enjoy it, and others won't, and that's just life. Children who already possess an affinity for reading will naturally find the curriculum easier to navigate than those who don't, but you can't force that spark. The required reading list isn't to blame for a lack of interest in books. When I talk about high school reading lists, I'm referring to a curated collection of the finest literary works ever produced, organized chronologically so that any true lover of literature can always find something profound and engaging. In elementary school, the selections are age-appropriate—some might be dull and others fun—but I find it utterly baffling that people think school holds more influence over a child's interest in books than, say, their own parents do. At its core, required reading is just a monthly assignment to be completed, and there is no logical way it could serve as the primary or most decisive driver for a lifelong passion for reading; I hope it's clear to everyone just how absurd it is to expect such a thing.
p.s. I should also mention that the death of Smail aga Cengica is an exceptionally well-written epic.
Oh, come on... 😲 How can you pin the blame on educators just because some kids aren't interested or simply struggle to learn? 😁
.....
So, we're saying the required reading list is basically a perfect cross-section of everything great, based on what—exactly? Are we really claiming these specific books are the absolute best, and there isn't a single other piece of literature out there that's just as good, or even better, and actually more engaging for kids today?
And honestly, schools should be doing their part to get kids excited about reading. I mean, think about the kids who don't have parents at home who prioritize books or even have the chance to be well-educated themselves. If they don't grow up loving stories, what are we supposed to do? Just say "too bad" and leave them behind?
I absolutely loathed Proust and his damn *In Search of Lost Time*. Back when I had to read him for school, I remember thinking, "Is this guy seriously just obsessing over toast and jam?" Honestly, those little madeleines were pure torture to me. I also couldn't stand *Germinal* or *Crime and Punishment*. They were just way too dark for my taste at the time. ☕
We’re just getting started with our school year, but man, looking back at what I had to read versus the list my kid is staring at today... I can't help but feel like school reading lists are basically designed to kill any actual desire to read, even for kids who actually enjoy it.
So, I ran into this pharmacist over the weekend—her kid actually went to the same preschool as mine—and she suggested I try using coconut oil. She mentioned it’s super gentle since it’s basically what people use for baby skin care anyway, so there's no harm in it. Apparently, if you soak a cotton ball in it, it can even help with those little blemishes. I think I'll give it a shot and see how it goes...
I actually found some advice on an adult treatment over at CyberMed. Do you honestly think our doctors here in the States are going to roll out the red carpet just because someone shows up over a few little blemishes?
Look, if someone who’s seemed totally sane, normal, and level-headed on this forum for years tells me to try something from Vichy, Eucerin, or Avene... yeah, I might double-check with my pharmacist first, but call me stupid, I'd actually trust that they solved their own issue.
And sure, let's be real—this forum can be full of nonsense sometimes, but you can still stumble upon some solid advice or learn something new every now and then...
If you really look down on everyone here that much, why are you even wasting your time hanging out with us? 🙂
I’m not totally sure if this belongs here, but I honestly don't know where else to turn. Over the last month or so, I’ve noticed my eight-year-old daughter’s skin is getting a bit oily, and then just yesterday, she actually broke out with some real pimples on her nose. 😲 It really caught me off guard. Neither her dad nor I ever dealt with acne issues, so we're pretty lucky there, but goodness, she's only eight! Isn't that a little early? 🤦
I did a little digging online and apparently, it’s not as unheard of as I thought. She doesn't have any other signs of puberty—well, except for the occasional mood swing, but let's be real, she's been like that since she could talk... 😍 Most people suggest using the same kind of skincare adults use, or maybe seeing a dermatologist if things get worse. Definitely stay away from those fancy facialists unless a doctor actually tells you to go.
Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Does anyone have experience with kids getting breakouts this early, or maybe a recommendation for a good product or just some general advice? 🙂
Jessica Kelly4 said:Kids are lucky most teachers are pretty softies. I’d be tossing them out the window! 😁 Not exaggerating either—I work around educators all the time, so I know exactly what kind of losers they deal with.
I really hope you aren't being serious here. ☕
I'm not exaggerating. I'm surrounded by educators, so I see firsthand just how much disrespect they deal with.
Well, look at that—me too. And honestly, aside from maybe two or three extreme cases who are just jerks in every single part of their lives, everyone else agrees that this stuff is basically just a normal side effect of growing up. It's happened since forever. Most people in the field agree that a good teacher just needs to know how to handle it. (And I'm not talking about that tiny group of truly problematic kids where the issues usually start at home; teachers actually have the tools and the authority to manage those situations, they just seem to lack the drive to use them.) Of course, I also know those self-important teachers who act like dictators, where anything less than total obedience and worship is seen as disrespect. Luckily, there aren't many of them, and nobody takes them seriously anyway. 😁
You honestly think people working with adults don't run into way worse attitudes?
Jessica Kelly4 said:We need to hear the other side of this. It’s entirely possible that what looked "stupid" was actually something else entirely.
And teachers who fall for these little provocations get eaten alive. They're basically asking for it.
Look, whatever the case may be, there is absolutely zero excuse for an educator to call a student stupid. Period. 🤷
Teachers who fall for these kinds of kid provocations basically get eaten alive. And then they have the nerve to ask for dessert too.
Honestly, if a teacher can't handle a little bit of classroom sass, they probably picked the wrong career. It would be better for everyone—the teachers and the kids—if they just went into something else.
Plus, it’s just sad when people label every tricky question or ambiguous topic as a "provocation" just because a teacher doesn't have the answer ready. Then we act surprised when the general knowledge level in our schools hits rock bottom.☕
Jessica Kelly4 said:He tried to act tough, but he ran straight into a veteran teacher who shut him down instantly. I don't see why you're making such a big deal out of it.
Look, even if the kid was actually trying to be a rebel, a truly smart and capable teacher would have known how to turn a moment like that into a real teaching opportunity. Instead, she just showed how some people in our school system are more interested in power trips than actual education.
Charles Murphy6 said:Look, you totally misread me—it might have come across that way in my writing, but I certainly wasn't implying that you personally should be getting into physical altercations.😉
Alright then, cool! 🙂 Honestly, I was a little thrown off that you took it that way. 🙂
Charles Murphy6 said:I’m not going to dwell on the past—what’s done is done—but let me be perfectly clear: teachers simply need to understand that such behavior is strictly forbidden. My husband and I would never resort to physical confrontation with those kinds of educators, but believe me, there are plenty of other ways to make someone pay. Perhaps I’m in a slightly more advantageous position because, given my profession and how hard I work, I know exactly where to strike to make it hurt... though I certainly don't mean physically.
Actually, I’d love to talk about the past. It feels like you hear educators whining constantly about how much better things used to be, how they had more authority, more respect, and more control.
I’m not sure where you got the idea from my post that I was suggesting anything physical. 🤷 We have principals, we have the school board, and if things get really messy, there’s always the police or the local news. I’ve never laid a hand on anyone in my life and I don't condone using force, period. There are always other ways to deal with it...
Back in my elementary school days, I used to get my hair pulled or my pencil case snatched all the time during those first four grades. It didn't even matter who was actually guilty; the kids standing closest to the classroom door always took the fall. My teacher would just charge down the hallway and start handing out discipline to whoever was within arm's reach. Honestly, I never took it personally. It was pretty obvious she just found it way easier to lash out at random than to actually play detective while she was busy chatting in the hall. Those were some wild old-school days of absolute teacher authority—in the lower grades, we’d have three classes spilling out into the hallway, and a lesson would effectively last maybe twenty minutes before the teachers spent the rest of the hour standing out there, smoking and gossiping. It felt totally normal back then. Nobody questioned it, and my teacher was actually really well-regarded by everyone. Parents stayed quiet because they probably figured that’s just how things worked and that teachers were untouchable figures. To be honest, I don't even remember ever mentioning it to my mom; it just wasn't worth bringing up.
If I heard today that someone laid a hand on my kid, mocked them, or bullied them mentally, I’d pull every lever I had to make sure that person never works in education or with children again. Period. End of story. Though, I do wonder how much headway I'd actually make in a society that still looks back on teacher's discipline with such weird nostalgia.
Noah Brown32 said:Honestly, the parents are the biggest culprits. They go in there looking for a fight with the teachers, and it’s just pathetic...
Exactly. I mean, seriously, what is wrong with them? Why do they think that's okay? 😲
Though, is there any chance—even a tiny one—that some parents aren't actually looking for a fight? Like, maybe they just wanted to ask a quick question or get a little clarification? And then they run right into that "who do you think you are questioning my methods/decisions?" attitude? Because let's be real, if someone hits you with that vibe, it’s frustrating. You might raise your voice a bit or just insist on getting a polite, reasonable answer instead of being told "because I said so." And then suddenly, that gets labeled as an attack? 🤔
Speaking of upbringing, I know plenty of educators out there whose own kids are pretty poorly behaved. I don't even have to look far; I can see it in my own family. ☕ So, that whole idea that teachers always serve as this perfect moral compass for their students doesn't really hold water. Who knows, maybe it's just because teachers are human beings too, just like everyone else... 🤷
It’s absolutely absurd! This whole situation is like trying to drive a semi-truck through a narrow alleyway—completely impossible and utterly chaotic. kaže: I couldn't agree more. It’s exactly as I've stated before. Once again, we are witnessing nothing more than a pathetic attempt to dodge accountability and hunt for scapegoats. And there is a child waiting for us in the future.
I cannot agree with you. Every educator who has contributed to this thread has reached the same conclusion: the system is fundamentally broken, and we have provided plenty of concrete, real-world examples to prove exactly where it's failing.
The rest of the squad basically has their spotlights aimed directly at the instructors. 🙂
I know I’m going to get crucified by every teacher on this forum for saying this, but I honestly have more respect for the students who act out externally than those who suffer in silence. One group is practically screaming "help me" through their behavior, while the other just shuts down entirely. It’s a tragedy when that plea for help goes unnoticed.
I am convinced there are effective ways to ensure even those who refuse to raise their voices are finally noticed. 🤔 As for those who manifest their disorders through outward aggression, there is such a staggering level of incompetence that one is left speechless. When you have a student who sets fire to a trash can in class one day, throws tear gas the next, and spits in another kid's sandwich the third, you are simply paralyzed—especially if you are just starting out in this profession. It is my firm belief that someone should have intervened with kids like that long before they even reached middle school.
The second breed of parent I’ve encountered is the "pseudo-expert" who thinks they’re a licensed pediatrician. No offense to anyone who actually earned their credentials—there are exceptions—but from what I’ve seen, these self-proclaimed gurus are absolutely exhausting. The pressure placed on a child to be "above average" simply because their parents claim to be "above average" is nothing short of psychological tyranny. It is an absurd standard that treats children like corporate assets rather than human beings. It’s absolutely infuriating what is happening. These kids are being systematically bullied at home with all sorts of toxic influences, and then they burst into school like a powder keg ready to explode.
I have to admit, I’ve never encountered anything quite like this. It’s pathetic, honestly—those poor kids.
No offense intended, but I’m having a hard time buying this. Honestly? I think you might have just missed them because they don't stand out. Like Rhino said, they aren't the type to cause trouble or stick out in a crowd.
And speaking of favorites: looking back at my school days, it was a total mixed bag. 😍 You had those brilliant, no-nonsense professors who only cared about the material. Then you had the sweet, soft-hearted ones who would give out passing grades just because they knew a kid was dealing with some heavy stuff at home. And then, of course, there were the ones who openly played favorites with the kids who sucked up to them or whose parents sent in "thank you" gifts. We even had one teacher who was blatantly biased toward the boys. For a guy, it was all, "Oh, you really didn't learn that, did you? Try harder next time. Sit down, minus five..." But for the girls? "Aww, lovely, lovely! Sit down, plus three..." 🤣 That woman was a local legend in Indianapolis—completely unhinged, actually. We didn't take her too seriously; she was mostly just our favorite person to make fun of.🙂
Paul Wilson72 said:This is a really solid piece... I’d just highlight one specific part: "... Furthermore, we cannot expect a high-quality school system that produces happy, fulfilled students if we don't have good, satisfied, well-paid, and respected teachers..." I think that pretty much sums up the core issue.
Off-topic for a sec. Educators really need to realize they aren't living in some little bubble. Everything being put off at the national level eventually trickles down to them too. 🤷 Until things stabilize in the private sector, those working on the government payroll won't see any real prosperity either. There just isn't any money to go around.
Then again, plenty of other professions aren't getting decent pay or much respect either, which makes it hard to feel satisfied. But they just have to swallow that frustration and do their absolute best because, well, they have bills to pay. Teachers are just one piece of the puzzle—an important one, sure, but still tied to everyone else.
And honestly, respect is a two-way street. It shouldn't just be handed out automatically because of a job title; you have to earn it. I’ll be real, though—I have a hard time respecting people who tie their self-worth (or anyone else's) to a paycheck (which, in this country, rarely reflects actual professional skill anyway). Wouldn't it be a total disaster if professors only showed respect to parents with deep pockets and looked down on everyone else?
I just wanted to chime in here as a parent. Since I’m the one who is legally and morally on the hook for my kid in every possible way, it honestly scares me a bit. It feels like there are people involved in our kids' education who are actually terrified of being held accountable. They push back against any kind of oversight and act like their work is perfect by default, no questions asked.
These folks basically expect parents to hand over their most precious thing—their children—with zero hesitation. But then, if those same parents try to ask a question or offer an opinion, suddenly they're the problem. It's like you aren't even allowed to doubt a teacher's word; you have to treat everything they say as this absolute, unbiased truth. And God forbid you actually have a concern or question about how someone is teaching. If you do, you're immediately labeled as "uncooperative," or worse—called incompetent, unprofessional, arrogant, or even aggressive.
Emily Gonzalez51 said:Well, I think you've completely missed the point. We're talking about the parents who fail to teach their children basic manners and raise them as if they have zero responsibilities toward society.
Emily Gonzalez51 said:Fair enough, I agree, but what is the absolute biggest priority?
From a parent's perspective, my primary concern would be ensuring my child isn't a victim of violence at school.
I mean, when they head off to class, I need to know they are safe, not out on the streets. If my kid comes home with a broken arm, a bruised face, or ends up in a coma because someone was bullying them, that is a massive problem. I don't think they'll have any trouble with the actual academics. 😁
Didn't some of the educators in this thread mention those nightmare parents who basically expect schools to act like free daycare while they're at work? They were saying you can't even work with people like that—it's like, what do they actually think is happening? 🤔
Do you ever feel like parents and everyone else in the community find it just as fascinating as I do? It’s wild how teachers tend to view themselves as the ultimate victims of "the system." They push back against any kind of oversight—like, heaven forbid we offer a little constructive feedback!—and then they immediately band together to protect their own interests. They place this massive emphasis on the "dignity" of their profession, which often feels like an excuse to look down on parents, students, and other specialists who are actually supposed to be working right alongside them. It’s like they’ve cast themselves in this permanent role of the misunderstood martyr... 🤷