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Second Grade Terrorists

~~~Second Grade Terrorists~~~ Chicago Public Schools I graduated in January, happy as a lark! I was able to enlighten young ones, no longer would they have to live in the dark! With my little blue Fiat, as sweet as candy, I drove to a Chicago hood, to launch my life as a teacher, I knew it would be just dandy. Fate had other plans for me though! These second graders had seven teachers prior to me. whom they turned into playdough. Such cute little boys and girls, I mistakemly thought! But once the principal left, all manner of mischief they sought. Their favorite habit, if I recall, was sneaking out of their chairs. To show off their talents extraordinaire, writing pornographic words on the blackboards with a flair! Another was causing fights in a totally quiet class, By mumbling to another~"Yo Momma, got a big _ss!" Stealing another's pencil turned the room upside down, Desks turned over, flying debris, I remember that class With intense perfidy. I was able to get assigned in two months to another school. Yes, in the hood but in this school the principal was tough as nails, and never allowed any teacher to be made a fool. My days at the new school were fun and very pleasant, I loved and cherished my years there. Teaching was fulfilling now and cuddly as a bear! 6/28/2024

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Paula Goldsmith

Date: 7/1/2024 11:43:00 AM

I enjoyed reading your wonderful story/write. Sounds like the first school was a baby-sitting job. Bet they learned nothing. So Sad/So Bad. Kids need boundaries in school/at home. It all starts at home. Have a great day writing away..............

Panagiota Romios
Date: 7/1/2024 12:16:00 PM

As a TEACHER, I guess, I am a poor communicator with poets!I had to have then reach levels despite their zaninees. Baby sitting is playing and doing fun things. These were young hoodlums who thought nothing of hurting anyone! I was responsible to see this did not happen. I think every adult should have to spend a week in that hellish situation.**I started in January, they wore out 7 teachers before me, dont you get tiredit? Despite the hassles, all reached grade level! My job to raise them to that and I had a good effect on them! Principal? A Monster.. non teachers will never understand this.Nor will private school teachers, glad that in June .. I was tranferred to a school with a great principal PR

Elena Eagle

Date: 6/30/2024 9:23:00 PM

A wonderful poem. So well done.

Panagiota Romios
Date: 7/1/2024 2:44:00 AM

Like a steak, I was well done from the horrors of some schools, you know all the schoos I taught in.some were awesome. Some nightmares. Some fun, You know which ones I liked, one in Chicago and one in SF!

Gershon Wolf

Date: 6/30/2024 9:02:00 PM

Heh-heh. Great intro to the baby-sitting --- oops -- to the teaching 'profession.' Glad you were able to get reassigned. Never taught in a public school myself. After 'practice teaching' in two of them, never wanted to deal with snotty kids who would have rather been anywhere than cooped up in school... ~ Just sayin'

Panagiota Romios
Date: 7/1/2024 2:24:00 AM

It is .insulting to call it baby sitting, but thanks Gershon! Practice teaching did take place when I was in teachers college, I wish people with profound intelligence get in my position, they wer enot snotty, worse,uncontrollable and uncivilized. Professional baby sitting, I have done for an agency, these kids pzarents’ taught them behavior and that was a great experience. These kids respected me and had a set of morals and self worth, in LA I was a l nanny in Beverly Hills, awesome!

Gershon Wolf

Date: 6/30/2024 9:02:00 PM

Heh-heh. Great intro to the baby-sitting --- oops -- to the teaching 'profession.' Glad you were able to get reassigned. Never taught in a public school myself. After 'practice teaching' in two of them, never wanted to deal again with snot-nosed kids who would have rather been anywhere than cooped up in school... ~ Just sayin'

Panagiota Romios
Date: 7/1/2024 2:13:00 AM

Well, it was hard for many of us, not only me, thesse kids had no condtioning to be in a school. These were not sbot nosed kids, I forgot to mention, when I got there in January, this class had seven teachers before me who quit. And they were only second grade! I had writtn you at length about the one principal I found to be of sane mind,A pricipal who controlled all students and respeted all teachers. He also respected the Torah, he and his Da had a camp for school, children and Wisconsin also. May he rest in peace.! Pangie

Hilda Greenhough

Date: 6/29/2024 10:15:00 PM

The children need boundaries in school and at home. These children are being damaged by their own parents.

Panagiota Romios
Date: 6/30/2024 11:47:00 AM

I so agree! No teacher should be in the position to be a parent.i got hit twice by 8th graders, sworn at, etc, in chicago, it is a crimebecause a teacher is considered almost like an electedofficial. TheChicago Detectives suggested I have them put in Jevenile Hall. I did not do that..At the same school, they broke ateacher nose, stole her car and money!. Days ot horror! Pangie

Karen Jones

Date: 6/29/2024 1:48:00 PM

Wow I admire you for teaching. I did only one year in pre k exceptional children class and it was enough! I then drove the bus and only did teacher assisting summers or occasionally if needed! They act worse in middle school. But sure they are better if the principal and staff are supportive of you as a teacher! I enjoyed your poem Pangie!

Panagiota Romios
Date: 6/29/2024 2:04:00 PM

Hi Karen…years later at another school, i got hit twicein the same year by 7/ 8th graders,. Plus other horrors. Why I stayed there is beyond me ! I am only 5’ 2. My attackerss were six feet tall they were repeating eighth grade. The principal supported the children who hit me.. go figure. The buses are wild places in San Francisco.. were they ugly. Sorry for the bus driver., but you have an OK time. What it’s like to be in a rough neighborhood and try to. These are neighborhood would go into the right mind.. I guess I was not in my right mind. I eventually left years and years later.. I was in San Francisco had no problems there.. what a piem, I have better ones than that one. Films are online if I find them, I’ll let you know. , Not all my teaching was like that? Please read my reply to Regina’s comment..Pangie

Regina Elliott

Date: 6/29/2024 11:48:00 AM

Gosh, good friend, teaching is not for sissies, that's for sure. Teachers have their work cut out for them. A gold star in your crown for your years of teaching. Hugs and xoxx.

Panagiota Romios
Date: 6/29/2024 12:31:00 PM

Regina, thank you for acknowledging me. Things improved later. Better principals, schools and fantastic classes. I like classes who are outrageously comedians, loved life and disliked school …how can anyone like school? You cannot imagine me in a class because you dont know that side of me. I was far from serious but they knew when I had a line they better not cross.. I never called another parent after a father, slapped his son across the face. He didn’t deserve that, it was a small rule fraction.. I also was friends with parents. I did free tutoring., and my favorite ethnic group were Cubans. They called me a name, teachers in Cuba are called, “La Maestra! “They wrote about me in the Cuban papers, these were conservative, Cubans who came here long ago..iN the end ,Regina,it’s forty years ago and they gave more to me than I ever did to them. True!! Pangie

Eve Roper

Date: 6/28/2024 9:18:00 PM

PTSD with Cute little boys and girls, but they turned into playdough. They learn early writing pornographic words. Teaching was fulfilling now and cuddly as a bear! I remember those days. Love your write. my friend.

Panagiota Romios
Date: 6/28/2024 9:54:00 PM

The Board of Ed destroyed that school years later to support a prison? That is typical Chicago board of education tactics! I met one of my kids years and years later, and I was glad to see she became in registered nurse. I was wreck in the beginning really! It was a shock to me here a child talk truck drivers.))) But I hope that God care of all of them. I had fun at school.. to come after that Chicago San Francisco. I loved being with kids. They don’t have to be perfect. I don’t expect it.. I sure had a lot of laughs with my classes, seems like yesterday ,Eve! Thank you …Pangie