I have taught for the past 30 years. When I started teaching, the kids got in trouble for chewing gum and talking too much. I still had lots of problems with students, mainly because I was so young and I had no idea what I was doing. I taught an eighth grade experimental science called ISCS. The students worked at their own pace and went to "centers " to gather their lab equipment. I had to share a room with a teacher that had been working for many years and her kids were absolutely quiet. My students were very loud and obnoxious. She had a "talk" with me at least once a week about everything I was doing wrong. I also was missing the key ingredient to every "center". I asked for things like magnets, racetrack, cars, super balls and never got anywhere. After about 2 months of this- I looked in the other teachers desk after hours and everything was there. I pretty much went home crying everyday because I had no money to buy things I needed and no one would help me.
The next year got better. I started the year instead of replacing a teacher in the middle of the year. I got to order my own equipment and I taught chemistry and biology. My students were very sweet and I felt a lot better about my chosen career. I think the worst incident I had was a student that got caught with firecrackers.
Today the students often are well-mannered. About 40 - 60 % of all the students have had good home training. Some are hardcore. They are mean, rude, wear their pants sagging (if they have a Y chromosome and dress like a hooker if they have 2 X's. They are missing the guidance of a strong parent. Parents are very concerned with being their child's friend or they are too busy trying to make a living that they ignore their kids. These students do not receive proper nutrition, they stay up late on the computer and they never bring home any homework. The county mandates that no student should ever receive a zero. Retaking tests is also the norm.
As far as behavior goes- you can't write anyone up unless they hurt someone. When the students are rude and despondent- you had best grin and bare it or else you will be reprimanded for writing up too many students.
Students are different in general because they grow up much too quickly. Some are completely oblivious to the actual purpose of an education. They need their teachers to not only teach them but also provide the attention they are not receiving at home. As a teacher, computers have cut a lot of the work that we used to do. For example, I would sit for hours calculating averages. Don't worry- the administration has thought of many new little chores to keep us busy. I came home worn out when I was 22 and 30 years later and I am still exhausted on a daily basis. I really enjoy my job most of the time. I feel that I get through to a majority of my students and it is worth it being exhausted!
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