On the fence By I_Dunno

I've been teaching for 8 years. In our district, parents are always right, no matter how outrageous their accusations or demands. I get up in the morning feeling terribly conflicted. I know my kids love me and learn from

me. At the same time, I always know that the administration is going to take the side of any complaining parent who is dysfunctional, alcoholic, abusive, etc., and who is in search of someone (besides him- or herself) to blame for his/her child's problems. For example, I was physically assaulted by a parent in my first year of teaching (her daughter failed my class, had a history of

failing, every number I had for mom was disconnected, letters I mailed home were returned as undeliverable). Of course, the mother didn't bother to come to the school to try to get help for her daugther until after the daughter had already failed the semester. Then, somehow, it was my fault. After the parent put her hands on me, I terminated the meeting by running away, getting in my car and going to the police station. Our superintendent's response? "This is not how we treat parents who are trying to stay involved in their children's lives." Verbatim. As recently as two days ago, a parent who has not returned any of my emails, letters, or phone calls called me and left a long abusive message on my voicemail, threatening my job, etc. I don't know why I've stayed. I guess I really did love many parts of it, in spite of the craziness and abuse. Now I just wake up in the morning with a sick feeling in my gut. I can't ever seem to relax and enjoy the kids. I'm always waiting for some angry, crazy parent to come storming in my classroom and abuse me in some way, and to have the administration tell me I deserve it. I can't take it anymore.

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