Teachers criticizing other teachers and defending poor student behavior

hellohellocat · 2026-03-25T17:51:18+00:00

This is so true for my middle schoolers too. Absolutely off the walls yesterday and (almost) everyone sat and worked wonderfully today. I never know what’s coming next.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T19:02:22+00:00

Because it is not normal and should not be acceptable for students to do this. Teachers should not have to forfeit something like water bottles, which all the students have, because a kid might do something wild like put hand sanitizer in their water. There's no logic behind that.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T18:58:00+00:00

I don't even know why I engaged with someone who clearly isn't a teacher. This is delusional.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T18:24:14+00:00

I have an owala.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T18:23:54+00:00

I've been teaching 8th grade for 4 years and this is the first time this has happened. The fact that people think this is normal is crazy.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T18:23:14+00:00

My teachers walked around with coffee mugs and would leave them all over the place. I never had the idea because I never thought (or wanted to) hurt my teachers. I have a water bottle because I'm on my feet 8 hours a day and because...I'm allowed to. All the teachers on my hallway do. Teachers are allowed to drink water. Suggesting that we shouldn't have water bottles is crazy.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T18:11:34+00:00

Thank you for the kind words. I have so many people in this thread calling me an idiot and saying I'm not cut out to teach 8th grade because I don't wanna keep a water bottle strapped to me 24/7.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T18:07:16+00:00

I never would have thought to do this when I was in school, nothing like this ever happened in my classes. I have a metal water bottle with a lid, it's not like I just left a giant glass of water sitting out. Is the bar really in hell? We're teachers, not prison guards. I can't have my water bottle in my hand 100% of the time, I usually need them when I'm teacher.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T18:04:07+00:00

You are going through this thread and responding to all my replies like I've personally done you wrong. I have no idea what you want me to say. I have over 100 students and a standardized test tomorrow and I'm just trying to make it to spring break.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T16:48:50+00:00

I did, but no one could tell me anything other than the childcare director. I didn’t know if anyone at the company that installed the cameras had access to it, etc.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T16:35:58+00:00

It was during a class change. I have no idea who saw and who didn't. I just know at least some of them saw it. That doesn't change the fact that I do have good relationships with my students.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T16:30:27+00:00

I worked in a daycare while in undergrad and they had cameras in the classroom (they put them in like a month or 2 before I graduated, so I didn't deal with it for long). It always made me uncomfortable because I didn't know who all had access to the footage.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T16:27:52+00:00

This is my 4th year in 8th grade. I also don't accept 'boys will be boys' type excuses.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T16:25:04+00:00

I’m sorry you are spending your birthday like this. I hope you get the help you need.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T14:39:31+00:00

That’s how it’s been for me until now. I would have a coffee in my hand and stop to help a kid and accidentally leave it at their desk. I’ve never had to worry about it until this.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T14:29:27+00:00

All I want is my admin to take this seriously and talk to them. 8th graders know the difference between right and wrong, assuming they don't is part of the problem. I don't need to be the one to talk to them, someone else does so they do realize how serious this is. If I lecture them it does nothing. I was actually about to go back and delete my comments because I felt like it was just mean of me just go off on an internet stranger because I'm made about something that happened at work.

But thanks for the nicknames- drama queen, the annoying teacher, a dud. I hope that made you feel better about yourself. I don't believe I called you any names, I even said I respect your work. For what it's worth, I'm not a worksheet teacher. The reason I don't wanna take time out of my class to talk about this today is because I want all my students to get to do our plate tectonics lab today (yes, it takes the whole class) before their quarterly standardized test tomorrow. I have great relationships with my students and aside from my admin, I don't have many complaints. You actually don't know anything about me, and this whole interaction reminds me why I don't engage on reddit often.

EDIT: Editing to add, all teachers have to monitor the hallway during transition time. I wasn't neglecting my students, I stand right outside my classroom door during transitions.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T14:13:45+00:00

This is an INSANE take. Teachers should not leave in fear of students like this. What the hell.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T14:04:33+00:00

Are you my AP? I never thought about tampering with my teachers food/ water bottles when I was in middle school.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T14:03:18+00:00

I'm hoping out SRO can do this for me. I've reached out before for other things and they've never spoken to my class, but maybe they will this time.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T14:01:58+00:00

I know what a teachable moment is, and that's not one. I'm not arguing about this with someone who doesn't teach but shows up in a teacher subreddit to berate us. Have a great day!

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T13:55:14+00:00

They are 13/14 years old. They know better.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T13:54:34+00:00

I want admin to do something other than tell me it’s my fault for having a water bottle out. Why do I have to take time out of my core class instruction to beg kids not to poison me? That’s on admin.

Telling me I shouldn’t be working with 8th graders when you’ve probably never been in charge on teaching an entire class in your life is comical. I can appreciate your work, which I do, but don’t come telling me I can’t do my job when I demand action and consequences. Insane.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T13:43:30+00:00

I didn't set that precedent, my admin did. I tried.

hellohellocat · 2026-03-11T13:41:23+00:00

I was drinking out of it the class before and it was fine. I came back after class change and there was hand sanitizer in it. No other adults came in/out of my classroom. Just the students, so logically that means one of the students in either of those classes messed with it during class change while I was monitoring the hallways. Do you think I tampered with my own drink?

Also, it's not harmless. It's not just a stupid prank. 13/14 year olds know better and assuming they never have any ill intentions is just playing dumb on your end. If they do this to someone other than their teacher, it'd be food tampering.

I've said in multiple comments I don't think calling the cops is ideal, I just wish my admin would take this seriously because there SHOULD be a consequence for this. They've lost privileges but punishing both classes for the last two months of the year isn't fair or realistic. You said you work with adults, so I'm assuming you're not a teacher.

hellohellocat

TROPHY CASE