And there it comes - ranting and venting as students call it. Do I call parents to complain? Yes, when the student is going astray. When you are not in school or late, yes I am upset because you are telling me that my advice or lessons are not important. You are sending a message that you don't care. It doesn't matter if you don't think it. The image you portray through your actions and behaviour is what counts. It is because as an adult and as a teacher its my job to make sure my students perform their best not only in their academic work but also that they learn the right vaules. It is my job to make sure they are prepared for their next step. It is my job to be the adult in the situation. So hate me if you must - Somebody has to pull you from the dream world you are living in. Passion and talent is one thing. Priorities is another. If you get your balance right, you don't need to give up anything.
I took music for 15 years of my life. So don't tell me I understand nothing about passion. My schoolwork suffered a lot coz of my so called passion for the art. Though I have been enriched a great deal by the experience, if I had set my priorities right, I would have done better in my studies. I realise it now and it would have helped if someone had taken the time to tell me to then.
When we adults scold it is with the hindsight we have. But I guess students these days want to make their own mistakes and learn from their mistakes. So I am wrong - point noted. Students want to jump into the river and struggle. Teachers are not allowed to pull them out even if they see them struggling. Even when they are gasping for breath, we should stand and do nothing. Point definitely noted.
Why do I get so upset and call parents? Because at some point when the kid does badly and I don't inform them, the parents may ask why they were the last to find out. And if I was a parent, I would ask the same thing. So the kids may hate me for calling their parents, but they don't know what went on in that conversation. Sometimes I think they don't realise that we used to be teenagers too who used to feel inadequate and went through a lot in our teens. I don't need to reveal my whole teenage life to show I understand.
I am upset that my intentions have been misconstrued. But a job needs to be done, and just because it is misunderstood, it doesn' t mean that I will stop doing it.