The Chronicles Of Nay

Happy Monday! I hope that everyone had a great weekend! I Had a pretty good weekend! I didn’t do much! haha I spent time with friends, I read a book, I did some grocer shopping, I did a load of laundry and I mopped the kitchen floor… you know, important stuff! I am so ready for the break! I have a few more books I want to read, I have to read the book club book for sure. I have a few others on the list.

There were only 3 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas but it has felt like 3 months! I am exhausted. Work has been a little more stressful than usual because there are a few different things working against us. There is the language center, kids that have been in the states less than two years and know little to know english. No training, no warning… Just bam! make them successful! haha there is the 2 months we haven’t had working copiers on campus. The higher ups didn’t renew the contract and didn’t tell anyone until we didn’t have working copy machines. Our campus started out down an administrator so there were for sure some kids getting away with more than they should have! Our new assistant principal started in October and he is working to clean it up but it will take time! On top of all of that my dog has stopped using the doggy door to go outside. I don’t know what is wrong. she uses it to come in. my goal over Christmas break is to figure out why!? I wonder if it is the inability to see the step down because it is higher on the outside and my baby is getting old. I don’t know what her problem is but it is frustrating!

So I have been teaching for a while. This is year 16. When I started teaching we didn’t have smart phones, or not everyone at least. When I came to Fort Worth to do my interviews I would walk out of one interview and they would hand me a map-quest to the next school. I say that to say, I am so over phones! I know I sound old, and this might be an unpopular opinion among the parents but there is no reason for anyone under about 16 years old to have a smart phone. I mean maybe MAYBE a phone that they can call an adult or text someone (like using T9 or something) but no reason for a phone.

I will tell you why. Parents, your kids aren’t doing what you think they are doing on them. I don’t care how good your kid is, it isn’t always your kid. Kids have access to everything in the world from their phones. Imagine all the things you see on your phone, your kids have the same access. Most of the crazy things you get on your phone you didn’t even search for it is just a pop add or something. Kids have ways of hiding apps and messages and pictures, they use apps that are designed to look like it is doing one thing but it does something else. It is not all kids being sketchy but it is all kids having access to more than they should!

I know what you are going to say: I need to be able to get a hold of them. They have extracurriculars, They walk home. To which I would reply, No you don’t, if they are at school or at basketball practice let them be there! The walking home one I mean I understand the concern, but also Latchkey kids have been a thing for many years. For every message you send your kids or your kid sends you checking in I would guess that they send exponentially more to their friends.

I tell people all the time, as a teacher I am no longer the keeper of the knowledge, they have access to all the knowledge. My job is to help them figure out how to access and sift through and navigate that knowledge. I have to help them facilitate where and how to find the knowledge.

The problem that we have is that this technology boomed real quick and we didn’t really have need for some rules until we had some issues. The problem is that kids don’t understand the repercussions of some of the choices they make online. Choices like posting pictures (or even sending them to “friends”). Talking to people that might or might not be why they say they are. They cause more problems then they are worth in school!

Ok I will get off my soap box with these final words: Parents please don’t let your kids talk you in to getting them a phone “because everyone has one”! I am curious how you feel about this. Parents? Teachers? Teachers that are parents?

Sorry for that minor detour in our regularly scheduled content! haha I have a few stories coming up, a year in review and a book run down! Don’t give up on me! haha So I hope that everyone has a great week! 3 more days with kids my Fort Worth people!!!