Hi everyone, throwaway account
I (50F) am a substitute teacher. Today I was subbing for a class of fourth-graders on their first day back from break as their teacher was out.
To preface, I believe that everyone in the world needs to work hard for what they want. It is my belief that good things come to those who work for them and that this is a principle that should be taught to anyone no matter their age.
On the lesson plan the teacher left us for today, it said the student were to be doing some 3-digit by 1 digit multiplication problems. I passed out the worksheet at the beginning of class and sat down, expecting it to take them 20 minutes or so.
So after about ten minutes one of the girls, Ellen, comes up to me and hands in her worksheet. I took it a look at it and saw that the last question, a word problem, along with one of the practice problems assigned, had been left blank.
I looked up at her and told her to listen, and that she probably wouldn’t understand this, but people like her didn’t succeed in life, because they don’t even try to finish their work. I handed the paper back to her, and pointed to her desk, where she sat and pouted. I didn’t really feel bad for her because the expectation is that she completes ALL the work, and not just some of it and she knew that.
But now I’m kinda looking back on the event and think maybe I could have used clearer words to her. I just want her to understand that she needs to actually complete what’s assigned to her, a principle it seems her teacher hasn’t really taught her.
AITA?
Yes, YTA. She is a CHILD and you’re supposed to be teaching her, not being condescending.
Maybe find a new career.
YTA. You’re a teacher. You’re supposed to teach her. Not tell her she’s never going to succeed and to fuck off. She’s 9 years old. Jesus christ.
I’d argue that OP isn’t a teacher. They’re someone that works a part time/per diem job as a substitute. A real teacher with an ounce of self control and respect for humans wouldn’t ever do that.
YTA… shes either 8 or 9? That’s way to young to be sharing something so dark and demeaning. I understand where your coming from as I also work in education, but theres a professional way to handle this. Even a simple “Hey sweetie, i appreciate all the work you’ve done so far, but it’s really important to complete the whole task.” And then redirect her to her desk.
YTA. You shouldn’t be a teacher if you talk to literal children that way
YTA that was extremely harsh to say to what… a 10yr old?? She is a CHILD and clearly you are too if you cant even take the time to ask her why its blank…. maybe she struggled with the question and was too embarrassed to ask a stranger for help JFC.
You should retire.
YTA having a teacher say this to me would demotivate me for the rest of school. thats a child. maybe treat her with the respect you would’ve wanted as a child
YTA as the trained adult in this situation I would think you would have found a better way to explain to the child that some problems had not been completed on the assignment. I think would not have taken much effort to ask if they needed extra help on those few that they missed. Geez, you’re a substitute and only there for a short time. Try harder. Use your limited time with the students wisely.
This has to be ragebait. If it’s not, YTA majorly.
If she has ADHD or is even just a typical 9 year old, it’s very easy to miss seeing that you didn’t complete all the problems. As a teacher, you teach and help her correct her mistakes and don’t belittle her. You may have just created a child now that is afraid of school or math because you gave her a bad experience at such a young age.
If I were her parent, I would be asking for a strong reprimand and questioning whether you should be working with kids at all.
She’s a fourth grader, that’s a 10 year old. She’s new to life and still learning. YTA. If you can’t handle kids not finishing their work, you shouldn’t be a teacher ffs
We all have stories about teachers like you, who shoot down a young kid for behaving like a young kid and “sentencing” them to lifelong failure. Yes, YTA. And you’re a sub, you don’t know anything about this child. Does she have learning difficulties? Is she neuro-divergent? Is her living situation stable? Is her family stable? You didn’t even try to find out, you just wrote her off. That’s despicable.
YTA. You know her for one class period, and you – a teacher – tell her that “people like her won’t go far in life”. Who are you to say that to her?
You don’t know if she has reading comprehension issues, or learning differences, or anything. You’re a sub. And this is a child – 9 or 10 years old. You should never say this to a child. Children can live up to the labels they are given -call them smart and capable, and they can live up to that. Call them lazy, and tell them they aren’t going anywhere, and oh, they’ll believe that, too.
Find a new job.
YTA you shouldn’t even be allowed back in a classroom. That is NOT how you handle that situation and I wouldn’t be surprised if she went home and told her parents and you get in trouble. She is in 4th grade not in high school, when you go into that classroom your only job is to help them not break them down and tell them they’ll never succeed in life. I’ve been in several classrooms and I’ve never met a shittier teacher than you, ask any teacher who’s been in the field for a decade or more they’ll tell you just how out of line you are. You need to find a new job bc this isn’t the right fit for you. You wouldn’t like it if we told you that you’re obviously the same way bc you can’t even get a full time teaching job you can only get a substitute job bc nobody wants to hire a incompetent and inconsiderate person like you.
YTA. Pick a different job that doesnt involve children. This is clearly not the field for you if thats how you speak to a 4th grader that you havent even known for more than a day.