# Dear Parents of my Students: It's Your Fault. (F that 'sensitivy training'!) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 11, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253 "2011-10-11T03:57:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/21 "2011-10-11T13:47:47Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’ve never been a teacher and don’t have any plans to do it. But I’ve always thought that if I ever _was_ a teacher, and I encountered kids who acted aggressive, disdainful, and disrespectful to the other kids and to the teachers, I would simply and straightforwardly ask them: “_Why_ are you being this way? Do you realize that you are behaving in an antisocial fashion? What do you get out of this? Don’t you understand that this is not how civilized people behave?” > > What would these kids even say to that? I asked my brother, who taught in a poor neighborhood in Washington DC for a while. His opinion, based on when he asked a lowbrow version of the same question, is that their response would be something to the effect of “I dunno, why you a pussy bitch? Fuckin’ bitch.” ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/22 "2011-10-11T13:48:17Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Good luck with that. If they weren’t already, the bathroom walls would quickly be covered with crude representations of the alleged sexual practices of **Mr. Towers**. ---
**Author:** ![stolatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@stolatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolatt)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/23 "2011-10-11T14:08:12Z")
Thank you for teaching. Through all the bitching, it’s obvious that you really do care about your kids. Out of my whole lame high school experience, there’s only one teacher I remember. At the beginning of a semester, she said, “I know you can do better. I see it in you”. In my stupid teenage fragile state, I was happy that someone knew I was alive. Saw something good in me and didn’t want it to get away. That’s all it took for me to make the honor roll that semester. Now I’m all sniffly, damn it. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/24 "2011-10-11T14:52:36Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’ve never been a teacher and don’t have any plans to do it. But I’ve always thought that if I ever _was_ a teacher, and I encountered kids who acted aggressive, disdainful, and disrespectful to the other kids and to the teachers, I would simply and straightforwardly ask them: “_Why_ are you being this way? Do you realize that you are behaving in an antisocial fashion? What do you get out of this? Don’t you understand that this is not how civilized people behave?” > > What would these kids even say to that? “Shut the fuck up, faggot!” /smack ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/25 "2011-10-11T15:23:21Z")
Keep fighting the good fight. You can’t save them all but you’ve apparently reached at least one kid who knows that somebody cares what happens to him. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/26 "2011-10-11T15:42:32Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’ve never been a teacher and don’t have any plans to do it. But I’ve always thought that if I ever _was_ a teacher, and I encountered kids who acted aggressive, disdainful, and disrespectful to the other kids and to the teachers, I would simply and straightforwardly ask them: “_Why_ are you being this way? Do you realize that you are behaving in an antisocial fashion? What do you get out of this? Don’t you understand that this is not how civilized people behave?” > > What would these kids even say to that? Cool story bro. ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/27 "2011-10-11T16:07:27Z")
It’s not easy on the parents who do care, and would prefer their children not have to deal with the thugs either. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/28 "2011-10-11T16:24:13Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’ve never been a teacher and don’t have any plans to do it. But I’ve always thought that if I ever _was_ a teacher, and I encountered kids who acted aggressive, disdainful, and disrespectful to the other kids and to the teachers, I would simply and straightforwardly ask them: “_Why_ are you being this way? Do you realize that you are behaving in an antisocial fashion? What do you get out of this? Don’t you understand that this is not how civilized people behave?” If only anyone had ever thought of it. And that teacher got an A!!!1!!111!! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/29 "2011-10-11T16:31:16Z")
**Argent Towers** is Professor Phineas Q. Fussbudget in _Blackboard Jungle 2: Black Midnight_ ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/30 "2011-10-11T16:35:28Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’ve never been a teacher and don’t have any plans to do it. But I’ve always thought that if I ever _was_ a teacher, and I encountered kids who acted aggressive, disdainful, and disrespectful to the other kids and to the teachers, I would simply and straightforwardly ask them: “_Why_ are you being this way? Do you realize that you are behaving in an antisocial fashion? What do you get out of this? Don’t you understand that this is not how civilized people behave?” > > What would these kids even say to that? They would say “Goodness me, sir, that thought never occurred to me! I shall mend my ways forthwith - more, I shall bring all possible pressure to bear on my peers, so that they too will fall into line!”. And they’d do it, too. Or so says the horde of winged monkeys that just flew out of my butt. ---
**Author:** ![Inthewater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Inthewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inthewater)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/31 "2011-10-11T16:37:12Z")
As the spouse of a teacher, I totally understand the OP’s rant. Not many issues like that in her school, and the parents still act the same way. I can only imagine how frustrating this must be. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/32 "2011-10-11T16:42:51Z")
I’m wondering if those parents had parents like them. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/33 "2011-10-11T16:49:26Z")
I gotta say, as annoyed as I get with my administrators at times, they’ve never been apologists for crappy parents. That said, I just spent four years dealing with a parent with what had to be a severe personality disorder–literally the most batshit crazy person I, and everyone who dealt with her, have ever met–and I have grown almost fond of the ones that are merely stupid and low-grade evil. One year, putting a new IEP in place required a total 40+ hours of meetings, each of which involved fifteen or more people. She was calling IEP meetings on a regular basis up until literally the week her child graduated. After the sheer sureality of that, I’ve learned to roll with everything else. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/34 "2011-10-11T16:57:17Z")
> [@Bloodless\_Turnip](#): > > I’m wondering if those parents had parents like them. Is there any doubt? The whole scenario is beyond sad, it’s really just pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/35 "2011-10-11T17:14:17Z")
I’ve had some harsh words for you in other posts, **CP** , but I really appreciate what you do. I’ve tutored inner city kids, and my admiration for their teachers is unbounded. It must take superhuman patience and an incredibly thick skin. Guard your mental health and do what you have to to reduce stress, including venting on message boards if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/36 "2011-10-11T17:15:40Z")
I don’t know how you do it CP. Honestly, I don’t understand it. I was a teacher for 2 years in a high paying, well behaved, non-gang/drug infested school district, and it drove me NUTS. I would tell you to keep at it, and that you are providing a wonderful service (which you are), but frankly, your district does not DESERVE you. But I respect you immensely. I saw a great toothpaste for dinner that went like this: Kids in 1981: I can do anything I want if I work hard enough! Kids in 2011: My mamma says I can do anything I want!!! Pretty much sums it up. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/37 "2011-10-11T17:51:49Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I don’t know how you do it CP. Honestly, I don’t understand it. I was a teacher for 2 years in a high paying, well behaved, non-gang/drug infested school district, and it drove me NUTS. I would tell you to keep at it, and that you are providing a wonderful service (which you are), but frankly, your district does not DESERVE you. But I respect you immensely. > > I saw a great toothpaste for dinner that went like this: > > Kids in 1981: I can do anything I want if I work hard enough! > > Kids in 2011: My mamma says I can do anything I want!!! > > Pretty much sums it up. You have toothpaste for dinner? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/38 "2011-10-11T17:53:36Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > You have toothpaste for dinner? :eek: It’s a webcomic ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/39 "2011-10-11T17:59:33Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Is there any doubt? > > The whole scenario is beyond sad, it’s really just pathetic. It had to begin somewhere though. I can’t help thinking that we, as a whole, allow this crap to continue also. I’m not saying I have any answers. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253/40 "2011-10-11T18:01:19Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > You have toothpaste for dinner? :eek: I had to look that up 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parents-of-my-students-its-your-fault-f-that-sensitivy-training/599253.md?page=3)