why is middle school so toxic

Also, both guys and girls have fought with whoever cheated on them. Here are 6 warning signs of toxic school culture and what can leadership do to better the situation Lack of communication from the administration A school's administrators can often be the first . My communication with my teachers would have been easier, and I am sure I would have saved my parents a couple headaches when I couldnt find my homework or left a notebook in my locker. It is also a good place to make friends and once you are graduated you can do business together (networking). It shows the school system changed in only about 20 years. I see why people become teachers. You've always seen in movies or shows about that typical high school bully or group of popular cheer leaders who bully the not-so-popular girl. Personally I believe that there should be more of a focus on what people will do after school, so that the students can see why they are learning what theyre learning and can actually find motivation. But you can help your child. Here's Why Middle School is So Hard for Most Kids In the meantime, I wish you and your middle schooler much success! But he was missing some other life factors or characteristics social and communication skills, initiative, curiosity, a full belly, or a good night`s sleep. First year was in behavior unit. In the new age of innovation, it is time to adjust it to our required circumstances. You are right school, the only thing that you learn in school is copying skills. Toxic Schools: 16 Things Teachers Have Said - TeacherToolkit If you're born rich what are you supposed to do with your Press J to jump to the feed. Because the learned skilled sometimes isnt enough to reach the grades they need for Universities to become accountants, physicians, doctors, and so on. Administrators did little to try to help restore my sense of security and this student continued to be in my room and continued to cuss me out for simple things like asking if he had a tardy pass when he showed up late. Many students can feel crushed by the workload and pressure and resort to giving up, feeling the emptiness consume them. They should inspire their pupils and educate them with enthusiasm. The following examples shared in this blog post only offer one side of the story. I had no idea where I was going. Even fictional woman cannot live up to the media's How to cope with losing friends while planning the wedding? Why notlet them question, explore and experiment with no time-constrained? See yourself in any of these signs? 11 commander_nice 4 yr. ago That's not a complete explanation since OP seems to be suggesting he and lots of his peers were not this way. The school system is really good at ensuring that students complete high school, so around 93% of Finish students graduate. Rough job. Take this time to pause and reflect on your current work. Teaching middle school is the worst because 1. . No one likes that part of middle school. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Practicing my locker comb in my head, attempting to memorize my schedule, and trying to figure out how the whole changing-classes thing was going to work. The fact that a teacher can deny someone the basic human right of going to the bathroom is appalling to me." pmusumeci85 2.. And learn about sexuality in general and give an understanding of the importance of sexual consent. That's why it is important to pay more attention to students and not teachers and schools. With simple meditation and breathing skills and get to know how to live in the moment and how to appreciate life. They're extremely immature and don't have a good enough understanding of the world. I like to call it "spitting bullshit" because whenever a kid under the age of 14 is trying to talk shit they usaully don't make any sense and you can't really even understand them but they think it's funny as fuck. Show the adult that your grades arent important instead, show them that you are more than just a statistic number and show them the remarkable things you can make. For all the people who earn so much money with standardized testing and toxic policies, I am sorry that you had to waste your time learning without knowing anything about education. School kids are involved in deciding what will be built for the school playground when architects plan new facilities. Kids are absolutely brutal. The problem is the stuff students use to cover it up. Often times, we get so lost within the day-to-day tasks that come with teaching that we don't realize we work in a toxic environment. Because they know they can get away with it. 9 Signs Your School Might Be Toxic | by TeachOn | Medium The things kids can say and do to other kids can be absolutely heartbreaking. Their bodies begin changing, their emotions feel stronger, and their thoughts get more internal and complex. Kids are absolutely brutal. Do consider visiting this and let me know what you think of it. So why not change the school system in the direction of Finlands system? For all the teachers, principals and parents, dont call someone a failure, dont demotivate and especially dont stress them, because stress is deadly not only for their health but also for the future of everybody. Who knew this pile of folders and notebooks could create so manyproblems?! New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. But usually you just peed your pants to save yourself the public humiliation you inevitably received for not knowing the semantical difference (at age 5, mind you) between the words may and can. Students dont know why they are learning or how to study properly. Bullying, panic attacks, anxiety, and traumatic experiences are common issues in schools. My first 3 weeks into this role I was fine. As stated above, the lack of security in my school environment really took a toll on my body. The word Education came from a Latin word called Educe which means to bring out or develop, and ironically that too Ive learned from the internet, not from school. Btw adults still verbally and physically abuse people but then it's considered assault and victims would press charges. How to Organize & Motivate Students for Success. I find my locker number and attempt to get it open. SOAR makes curriculum for schools that teaches students how to deal with the issues that made middle school suck for me! In kindergarten, there is only experimentation through play and movement. I personally wouldnt call them terrible, since its not all bad, but there are fundamental shortcomings. There was no teacher like my 5th grade one to help me and to realize I was missing. But, I do think middle school is worst. Before I knew it, summer was over, and it was time for my first day of middle school. Like this post? But change is a part of life. I became so curious that I posted and asked who else has had these experiences and I woke up the next morning to 70+ responses of teachers saying I thought I was the only one! Its not so much a suicidal mission, but more of one to injure yourself just enough so you can avoid being at work a prolonged period of time to rest or even catch up on lesson planning. 7 Creative (and Free) Ways to Spend Your Time During the Quarantine, N/Core selects 10 nonprofit startups to incubate, A Young Inspiring Man Creates An Educational Life-Changing Programme Called Global Vibe, 4 Useful Tips to Conventional Business Management Academics to Transform into Business Analytics, Everyone in my country, South Korea, should learn English in order to attend a school or get a job, Facebook LIVE Recap and Bonus Questions: What Juniors Should Do Right Now to Prep for College. You will often see teachers organizing fall festivals, leading PD, and mentoring younger teachers. Brain development. Everyday they confront issues that shape their morality and future place in society. Hundreds, until this date, poor children couldnt afford education because it wasnt free. 25 Reasons Middle School Sucked | Thought Catalog In one study, Dr. Janna Jovonen, a UCLA psychologist, followed 6,000 students from 26 schools and found that most friendships shift during middle school. I needed one binder to hold all my work for all of my classes. 1. This drives kids to be dicks, as they try to bully their way to a higher social standing. This can restrict job opportunities for some students later as many that are only in Hauptschule (easiest and for pupils with bad grades) have it much harder to get to Universities. But at the time of the Industrial Revolution, there was a change in how we work, which created the need for universal schooling. Usually, Im diligent about exercise and reading for pleasure, but I couldnt focus on either of those tasks long enough to get through an entire workout or finish a page of a book. Follow the money, and you know it doesnt go directly to schools and teachers, but to lobbying and private companies and nonprofit organization that make the rules for materials, training resources the policies support that. So only the best teacher can educate in schools which makes teaching a highly-respected profession. It is helpful to know how to spot manipulative and abusive behavior. The schooling is doing just the opposite of it, they dont bring out much, instead, they are filling your brain with kinds of stuff and existing knowledge, Previously I too have written something about it, sharing my experience. Thankyou so much. But the only thing that happened was that it was made better by doing more of it intensely, and lets test and measure more carefully, not thinking about how irrelevant it is to live. Go out there and be the change you want to see! Why middle school is so toxic part 3 - YouTube It is true you have written an interesting article with great ideas and additions to my article. In some parts of Germany, students have to go to one of three different school forms after the first four years in school. The Finnish school system is not about business and making money; it is a student-centered School system because it is 100% state-funded. 5 Scary Fears about Middle School and how to Squash Them No one knew who I was. Often times, we begin at a school excited to learn and work with new colleagues and leaders. I cant tell you how many times Ive been at a dinner with friends and instead of being present Im constantly thinking Man, I want to get this over with so I can go home, finish grading those quizzes and relax! I once had a colleague who dropped her daughter off at college for the first time and came back feeling relieved that she was out of the picture so she could focus on work. People are uncomfortable with change; no teacher, no principal, no school, and no government wants to try it first. 2. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In my opinion, I think there so many things wrong with our education system. Teachers and principals make most curricula locally both teachers and students are evaluated by their peers and principals. It happens to the best of us! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. But whatif they can research a topic they want to learn about in school? But middle school is where kids really hit puberty and try to find where they fit in, and they'll do anything it takes to put others down. It was the first time; that education was provided by the state with regulations for learning. Once your body has begun to show these fight or flight responses, you REALLY need to listen and make the adjustments to improve your quality of life. And I believe itll be a good addition to your blog as well. Teachers should teach how to learn and think critically and how to innovate, not how to take tests. My weeks of practice on a combination lock at home did me no good; I couldnt get my locker open. "The use of bathroom passes in school is so toxic. Many struggle to find help. If youre bad at science or math, people say youre not trying hard enough, but if youre bad at things like art, theyll just say, Dont worry, its just not your thing.. Why countries should adopt Finlands school system. 7 You probably don't have enough money to support them. Psychologically the reason why a middle school might be seen as terrible is because of the mental effect that it can have. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The most critical learning, organizing, and communication skills needed for school. Long before covid-19 exacerbated the current mental health crisis among children and teens, studies consistently found that a toxic culture of pressure and measurement. This change stopped educating for life and started teaching for tests. Some kids are cruel. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Thank you for your comment. And self-defense and know-how to handle dangerous situations and how solve conflict situations. In the 1900s, the school system was changed over 20 years, today, in the technology age, a new revolution should be possible a lot faster. Unless children show interest and willingness, they dont have to learn reading in kindergarten. Why School is Bad and Toxic? And What needs to Change? - RiskFail 26 Ways School Systems Are Toxic - BuzzFeed The stress of all the changes from elementary to middle school almost made me forget that I was actually supposed to be retaining knowledge. Seriously. Because without testing non-cognitive factors of true success like character and integrity, tests are a complete waste of time. Students often dont discover their hidden talents and what they want to do after school. But change is hard like you said but I still have hopes . Eager for knowledge writes motivational and inspiring articles with useful insights. Finally a janitor noticed me and came to my rescue with a key to open my locker. When teachers are happy, students are happy (and learning)! Yes, the Finnish (the nationality has two ns, the country one) system is often held up as excellent but teaching in this country has moved on a great deal, even in the last twenty years and, while schools struggle to afford new technology, most schools are very much focussed on student welfare. Why Is Middle School So Hard; What Are Some Problems - LinkedIn He also recognized his bitterness and left that district at the end of the school year. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. How could I keep all this stuff together? 2. They detach themselves more and more from school, the teachers, everything, impairing their mental . A teacher only spends around 600 hours in 180 days teaching, which gives them extra time to develop new innovative teaching strategies to individually assess and respond to the learning needs of their students. A teacher in the hallway notices the lost puppy dog look on my face and directs me to the 6th grade locker pod. Complacency can often lead to bitterness. Heres the link to that-https://theblogera.com/does-schooling-interfere-with-your-education/. Middle school is a bizarre place where I feel like almost every day I could look at some kid (mostly boys) and say what the fuck were you thinking? They typically are NOT thinking. If a student is curious about the topic he learned in school that he wants to do more research at home, then the teacher is on the right track. I knew I could not tolerate seeing a child suffer in that hell hole called school. At least how I see it. 3 Toxic leadership The administration sets the tone for the health of the work environment. I know, I know the perfect school doesnt exist. I was the child labelled "ugly" and "stupid." I took rejection from both adults and peers. If I knew where everything was, my transition between classes would have been smoother. Creating resources and connecting educators, in order to combat burn-out and provide support in the areas of personal well-being and professional growth. And where knowledge about depression, addiction, and anxiety is beneficial. The real measures and predictors of student achievement are personal habits and personal values. In this economy, mental health is a topic that should definitely get more attention, especially at the young age of students when stress management skills matter. No wonder this child hates school even more and doesnt want to learn anymore. Like you said, schools lack in the purpose department. Why notlet them acquire skills and knowledge with meaning that they can use in other places? That is the reason why children are often bored playing with their smartphones and dont listen because they have to follow instructions all day. Shes a wonderful mother and later felt guilty about allowing work to take priority over family. I dont say there dont need to be any exams, but lesser where also non-cognitive factors of true success like character and integrity are tested. For example, you may not trust that your principal has the skills necessary to turn your struggling school around or run an effective meeting. If the children dont benefit from this school system, who does? Insecurities and problems at home. Thats when truly amazing and remarkable things happen. The factory owners required people to have a routine to do the same task over and over efficiently and without error. The degree to which the word trust is used in this statement can vary. 8 Your life shouldn't peak in middle school. Middle school is the shittiest time of life, unfortunately. Everything from meetings, tracking data, new state roll outs of standards, not having curriculum, having crappy curriculum, discipline systems (or lack there of), parents not being involved enough, politics in education. Its not like elementary school where the teacher would constantly remind everyone of the few homework assignments. They arent taught any of that in school, even though that should come first. I am happy to hear that in the UK the school system situation it better. Yeah, when the focus is more on how the students discover their strength, it will help them to find the right direction for what they do after school. Why notencourage them to be creative and think outside of the box? Students should get an idea of how to save money and obtain interest rates. I still have deep insecurities and low self esteem because of it. I would have nightmares of students being violent and I could not focus on anything (not even on Netflix). The standardized exams test a students memory and willingness to learn a subject. The Smells The problem is not just standard BO, like you'd expect. I am glad your share similar thinking about the education system. My teacher cared about me, I had known my friends for years, and I had been sitting at the same lunch table since I . Top 10 Worst Things About Middle School The Top Ten 1 Homework Don't even get me start on this. There is no room for different passions and interests because everybody gets filled with similar useless information. Everything was smooth sailing. And of course, this motivates them to learn and improve their skills to become better. So they do better by going to school less. My name is Kylie, Im an intern at SOAR Learning. When in reality the characters are just terrible people. To get from my desk to the door, I have to wade through a miasma of teen-product vapors that make me want to shower in bleach. They should learn how to openly talk about their mental state, their feelings, and their concerns. And she sent me off with a goodbye and a good luck. While this point doesnt sound as dramatic as the others, it is still just as important. In school, you have information overload with a lot of useless facts, but you dont learn for life after school. Ive met people who work 70+ hours a week and love it whatever floats their boat (although thats an issue for an entire different blog post!). Why notgive them Real World problems to solve which have relevance to their lives? Instead I was focused on where I was going next and how I was going to continue to do this all day. Exactly If you only learn one way to get the desired result, it wont help you later on jobs as you also need problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and other important abilities. Eventually, I could feel myself getting frustrated with working 14-hour days plus another 8 on the weekend. I heard kids scream profanities at the top of their lungs during passing periods, I broke up fights or escalating arguments at least once per day, kids were terrified of using the bathroom for fear of getting jumped, and teachers were verbally (and sometimes physically) assaulted. The worst rejections we. Middle schoolers are a bizarre lot. The children are not really living they just exist, but what is the point of knowing how to write a perfect essay when you are dead? I had loaded my backpack with all my supplies and my mom attached it to the back of my awkward, growing body. Why toxic school environments must change - Washington Post Middle school is where groups of kids that use to be friends in elementary school break a part and out grow each other and form new groups of friends they make. There are only mandated standardized tests for Finish students who are at the end of their senior years of high school. In Finland, all teachers have to pass a five-year masters degree fully paid for by the government and a two-step application system: an exam (about research articles) and interviews. My final straw was when I had my first anxiety attack ever in my classroom during lunch. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. I also hope there will be some major changes in countries like the Us or Germany in the direction of the Finish school system. 4 Depression. As in: can you quit being an asshole and just let me go pee? All Rights Reserved. I got bullied simply because Im Irish with red hair and freckles. Likewise, I had a friend who once complained to the head of a department in our district about an entire program being ridiculous and simply not beneficial to the students it supported. Everything about working in K-12 education made.me.so.annoyed and (for better, or for worse) I became much more vocal about these annoyances than I ever had been before with my administrators. This is one of the first indicators that work is consuming your life. Help your new middle schooler succeed! The approach to teaching was industrialized; it was impersonal, efficient, and standardized. School should be of possibility and hope instead of placement and percentile measurement on standardized tests. 1. Check out the teacher sub-reddit page on Reddit. Many children have scary thoughts about middle school. Of course, students should gain knowledge about climate change causes and the relevance of renewable energy use. I think its in between elementary school where kids are normally too young to even come up with mean things but before high school where kids are (more) emotionally mature to not be toxic as much as in middle school.