Teacher Strikes Back
 

DIANE MONTELIUS was stressed.
The 31-year-old rookie teacher was so upset after a run-in with some rowdy students at Philadelphia High School for Girls in March that she left the school crying and didn't return for two weeks, students said. On Wednesday, she warned students in her freshman world-history class that if she caught them doing assignments other than hers, she would burn them up.
She kept her word.

Shortly after 9 a.m. yesterday, Montelius snatched a Metro newspaper from the hands of one of her students, dropped it in her empty metal trash can and set it on fire in front of 25 stunned students, police said. Once Montelius saw the flames reaching out over the rim of the trash can and smoke filling the room, she threw water from a flower pot onto the flames, said Lt. Winton Singletary of Northwest Detectives.:eek: By the time firefighters and members of the city fire marshal's office
arrived a few minutes later, the blaze was out and a smoky odor filled the room. One student complained of smoke inhalation and was going to be taken to a family doctor, police said.

The fire was ruled an arson, and Montelius was awaiting arraignment last night on charges of arson and causing or risking a catastrophe. "She seemed very stressed," said Cassandra Suarez, 18, a senior at the school, on Broad Street near Olney Avenue. "It's not that she's not a nice person; it's just she's not equipped to handle us. These girls can be rowdy."

Authorities were horrified by what could have happened. "You've got kids in a crowded school, and you can cause all kinds of injury
and panic," Singletary said. "If something in that trash can had ignited or exploded, we would have had a serious situation here."
Capt. Armand Gershbach, of the fire marshal's office, said that situation easily could have occurred because several cardboard boxes were right above the trash can, which was in front of a radiator. "There was potential risk for an extension of the fire from the waste can," he said. "This could have easily gotten out of control." Paul Hanson, a school district spokesman, said Montelius would be assigned to a nonteaching position (not in a school) after she makes bail. "The school district is shocked and appalled by such a total failure of professionalism and by this teacher's utter disregard for the safety of her students," he said. "We will pursue all our options vigorously." Those options include dismissal, he added.

Ted Kirsch, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, could not be reached for comment about Montelius last night.
Another teacher from the school, who asked that her name not be used, admitted the incident was "really, really poor judgment on the part of the teacher" but said the media was blowing it out of proportion. "She's not an ax murderer," she said. "It's my understanding the fire was out when the administration became aware of it. There was no fire drill in the school. It should have been handled, but it shouldn't have been the lead story on the 6 o'clock news."

Gershbach said more than 145 fires have been set in city schools this school year, an increase from previous years. He said there were sometimes two or three a day, and now someone from the fire marshal's office goes on each call. Fire Commissioner Harold Hairston is supposed to address this issue today at a news conference, he said. The Girls High fire, which did not activate smoke alarms, caused about $250 worth of smoke and fire damage in the ground-floor classroom, officials said.

Montelius, of Morrisville, Bucks County, began working for the district in 1999, Hanson said. She took a leave of absence in 2000 and began teaching social studies at Girls High last October, he said. He did not know where she worked in 1999 or why she had taken a leave of absence. Students in her homeroom class said she never seemed to be able to handle the students.
In fact, right before Easter break in March she got into a confrontation with a group of rowdy girls, said Patricia Davis, 18, another senior. "She started to cry and left the school," Davis said. "She didn't come back for two weeks." The girls said she rarely arrived by 8:05 a.m. when school started so they
often got the key to their classroom from another teacher to let themselves in. "She'd make it in by 8:15 or so," said Catrina Cope, 18, another senior. "One time we asked her why she was always so late every day. She said she lived two hours away."
While the girls said students were shocked by what happened, Cope said she felt sorry for Montelius. "She's really nice," she said. "She just wasn't able to handle some of the girls that come through here." Added Suarez: "I don't think she's a bad person. I just think she had a bad day. A really bad day."

She wasn't playing at all! Poor thing!
 

I don't say that I agree...but I UNDERSTAND.

;)

I do understand!!!!!! I teach 6th and 7th grade!!!
Enough said.:p

I TOTALLY understand.:D :o

I just know, though, that whenever I feel like setting it off that it is time for me to walk down the hall because a job is a terrible thing to waste.:p

teacher?
 

Maybe she shouldn't be teaching at all. I graduated from Girls High in 1985 and believe me it is not that crazy. Girls' is one of the top academic public schools in the city so many of these students are intelligent and conscientious w/ little or no behavioral problems. She needs to find another profession!

1985? These kids are TOTALLY different
 

Now you do realize that THAT was over 17 years ago?

I'm sure many of the people who attended the high school where I teach 17 years ago can't "see" how the kids behave TODAY. I tell you, it's truly different. You all would not believe some of the things we see and hear DAILY.

Re: 1985? These kids are TOTALLY different
 

I agree with you 2D. Soror McCoy, I know your high school has prestige attached to it but even with prestige and intelligence and high standards, there are still bad apples in the bunch. Not only that but there are some teachers who are known to be targets for bad behavior. From the article, it sounds like Ms. Arson is one who might not have the rapport with the students nor the ability to handle bad behavior.

All I can say is psychatric evaluation. :eek:

Re: teacher?
 

I agree. I graduated from High School only 3 years ago (yes, I know I'm a youngin'), and it's sad to say but some of those kids were BAD! Not all of them, but a handful of them were troublemakers. Yet, as a teacher you are forced (somewhat) to put up with certain things...I WISH she was my teacher and she did that to me (mind you, I was one of the good kids so I would have been an innocent bystander)...My Mom would've had her neck...She obviously needs to go work in a flower shop or a garden or something that requires a very LOW level of stress...

But I do sympathize with the woman...

Well I wouldn't set anything on fire but -- here is good example of the type of stress that Educators are under..
Today I took the day off, to take my daughter to the doctor.

This afternoon afterschool-- I stopped by to pick up somethings-- my classroom is in shambles. Books ripped and torn up on the floor.. and that is not he half.

The books were ones that I PURCHASED because they seem to hate the school's selection.. (at least $150 worth)
Software on my computers has been uninstalled and the little balls from the mouses are all missing.
ALL of Which I am going to held accountable for at the end of the year!!!!


When I reprimand them-- there will be at least 3 or 4 sets of parents that say their child was not involved and how dare I sy anything to their little darling...

:rolleyes: :mad:

So to say the least many times our hands are tied!!

And I will say this...I DO NEED a Psychatric evaluation--because I will be there next year doing a job that most people could not handle nor would they take the pay cut to do...

* Remember that teachers make all other professions possible!!!

Hear Hear on TEACHERS making all other professions possible!! :cool:

Girl they do that mouse mess at my school then complain when they have a computer with no mouse.

Our kids are also into porn sites or saving a porn pic as wallpaper. These little suckers have figured out how to get around all of the firewalls. I want them to teach me so I can play Tetris @ lunch.:o

Anyway, the kids of today are not the kids of yesterday.

I have this little HUSSY (she is) who comes to my class late regularly. Today she came to class 35 minutes late, mind you this class is 45 minutes long so WTF!! Last week I wrote her up and instead of in school for a whole day, she got 3 20 minute detentions. Today when I wrote her up I told how when I asked her why she was late, the little HUSSY :rolleyes: @ me :mad: and shrugged me off. I would have liked to set fire to her azz with a belt but alas I cannot do that.

My 4th block (last class of the day) makes my NETHER REGIONS PULSATE EVERY DAY. There are some really smart kids in there who I love but then I have some others who make me vow to never have children. Oh and these are both white and Black children. For anyone who has told you WHITE CHILDREN are angelic -- BUUUUUUUUUUULL!!! Those mofos can be some of the worst ones. Trust me on that one.

**calming down**

I agree. That's what parents should instill into their children to respect their teachers. Loviest 95, the parents should pay for the books and other items damaged.

CTFU at that!

ANd I agree that teaching is one of the most important and least appreciated of all professions. WHere would any of us be if it weren't for school and for teachers? I don't understand the mentality of these kids OR their parents these days. It makes me sad for all of us.

CT4:

[b]I have started locking them out of class when they are late-- if they want to learn they will be on time!!![b] :cool:

And for those parents with a problem with what I do I say "What would your boss say if you were 15 minutes late everyday?" many of them can't even answer because--Surprise-- they don't work:rolleyes: they chill at the house all day and only come out to cause me problems

Can you tell it's the end of the year-- and I am at the end of my patience for mess!!:mad:

Countdown
 

:cool: I survived my field trip today to see the musical of The Secret Garden.:cool:

Part of the problem is that parents have stopped teaching their children that not only is education a privilege (not everyone gets it) but they have also been deprogrammed so to speak to not take full advantage of the education that is offered to them FREE of charge.

Please do not get me started on how students don't "do libraries" anymore.:rolleyes:

PARENTS and NON PARENTS who deal with children: Teach them that coming to school to play is annoying to teachers (trying to put this nicely). Tell them to come to school and take their
education seriously.

Loviest, 15 more days for me! :D How about you?

I Understand, I teach in NYC
 

:confused: This is my 17th year teaching, I can't believe the time has gone so quickly. BTW, please forgive my spelling, I'm not using Spell Check, I'm tired ---just got in from class. This Masters business is tough work after you've taught all day. Sorry, I digress.
When I first started teaching, a friend of mine told that it would get tougher every year. I skouffed at that, what did I know I was fresh and ready to set the world on fire, save those kids and enlighten the world! You know the drill. Then I got into the classroom for real. Yeah, it wasn't easy going, but it's nothing to compare with today. I have no idea where these parents come off with the idea that we are suppose to take their child's BS and theirs too. But, then on the other hand if you watch some of the young mothers out there walking with their 3 year olds and calling the child everything except the name it was leagally given you start to get some idea. The mothers really don't know what to do with the children. Think about it. This child had this baby because she wasn't listening to her own mother.....she was going to show her mother that she was grown and could handle her own business.....NOT!
Now the young mother's child has reached school age, well first of all did mommy have all the re-natal care that she was suppose to have or did she just go in and give birth? Next, she has just found out that what you let Pookie do at age 2 is not so cute at 5 and even you are beging to have difficulty curbbing this behavior. The worst part is she doesn't even have the courage to ask for help, so the child grow up to be a monster, but mommy is going to back everything the child does, because " I teach my child what to do". Yeah, right.
Then there are the times when you call mommy in for a conference, cause Pookie, really name Shazzamie ( I want her to be different);well, she sure is. Mom walks in wearing a skirt short enough and tight enough to belong to someone a lot younger and smaller than she is. Well you're right she and Shazzamie share each other clothes. Are you now wondering should you even continue with this conference? But you charge on in there anyway. Oh did I forget that Mommy is ranting and raving about she wants to see that so and so teacher that is giving her darling a hard time, who does that woman think she is. Mommy turns the corner calling your name only to stop suddenly upon seeing this black face, hair in locks and dressed in jeans. You should have seen the smoke rising from her putting on the breaks! It was priceless, because she thought I was a white teacher.
Yeah, the children are more difficult the come to us now with a ton of issues.....more than Jet or the Daily News. However, is spite of the grief that they may give us, for some we are the most consistant thing in their lives.
You are just going to have take out those mouse balls, put your books under wraps and tell the critters why this is happening. Break out the Tough Love and hand it out in liberal doses.
Yesterday I tried to stop a kid from trying to kick out the widow of a classroom door. The boy turned around and told me to mind my own F*#@king business. Well folks, before I knew it I replied in kind. Yes, I admit I was wrong to sink to his level, but I had had enough of this kind of attitudes from the stuents( it's just small few, but enough is enough). Then he called me a F.....ing B...... I told him yep, you're right. Well, I felt bad about the whole incident and prayed about the matter.....Oh, did I forget to say that prayer is a necessary reqirement...oh, okay. Any away as I was leaving my room this morning who should I see in the hall, but this same child and his grandmother. His official teacher introduced us and I went for broke telling her about the intire incident. Yes, I did include the fact that when he spoke out of turn at me I replied in kind. The child stated that he was angry and another student in the classroom, hence the attempted kicking of the door. I told him, I didn't care about the other student, it was his treatment of me that concerned me at the moment. I got an apology, but I know this kid is going to go off the wall again. Why? because his family has not dealt with his blatant homosexuality.
Anybody that says our job is easy and we don't need those two months off, is welcome to try my gig any day of the week. I'll even spot a period or two. Long live the teachers of the inner city!

Re: I Understand, I teach in NYC
 

:D :cool: Yeah!! What she said!!

I have a 4th period class if you want to get "initiated" today or anytime between now and June 5th just hit me up.:cool:

I've come to believe that there is a serious lack of respect for teachers. Kids are not being taught, by their parents, to respect their teachers, or any other adults (including their own parents).

I can remember, when I was in school (a long, long time ago), it was unheard of to disrespect our teachers, and we had a FEAR of our parents. Yes, there were a few who did "act out", but for the majority of students, we didn't want our parents to come up to the school. I also believe one of the biggest problems is, children don't fear their parents. I can also remember when teachers were allowed to discipline us. Yall remember the paddle? I remember getting hit on the hand, or even on our bottom, with the paddle (not to the point of abuse). And parents were okay with that. Now if you look at a student wrong, you may have the authorities called on you.

I am not a teacher, and I have no desire to be... it is a very difficult job. I'll leave teaching to those of you who have the heart for it. My heart is with the criminal justice system. :eek: Yes, I said it... I love working with criminals. It takes a lot of patience and stress management (and I mean a lot), but just like teaching, somebody's gotta do it.

teacher points an gun at students
 

Teacher Accused of Pulling a Starter Pistol on a Student


VTS
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Print This Story (KYW) (HAVERTOWN, PA) May 17, 2002 10:20 am US/Eastern
Criminal charges are expected against a Haverford teacher who allegedly pointed a starter pistol at a student.

Authorities say the incident occurred inside a classroom at Haverford Middle School on Tuesday shortly after dismissal. Police say when a number of students who were involved in "horseplay" ignored the teacher's orders to behave, he pulled out a starter pistol and pointed it at a 13-year-old girl.

Investigators say it was then that another teacher walked in, saw what was going on, and ushered the students out of the room.

The teacher, whose name is not being released at this time, is said to be involved in the school's track and field program.

No one was injured in the incident. Police will likely charge the teacher with a misdemeanor offense.

Haverford Township Superintendent Leonard Vender sent a letter home to parents, which read in part "If your son or daughter expresses concern about the rumors that may surround this incident, please inform the class guidance counselor."

School officials say he has been temporarily relieved of his duties pending completion of the police investigation.

:eek: Gosh... I'm sorry to hear(read) of that fellow teacher's experience. Did she converse with her Principal concerning what she was dealing with in that classrom? That can make a world of difference having their support. What about her attending some workshops on Behavior Management? So many people think that Teachers have it easy -but WE DON'T.:rolleyes: There is so much that we have to be accountable for, yet people are quick to say that we don't do our "job".

I'm sorry... but if I'm at a school and I feel that I'm about to pull a "Fire Marshall Bill". It's time for me to go. Those students are'nt gonna run my blood pressure up and then gone about their business. Not the Kid!!! :p

I wish that Teacher the best because I can identify with her.:D

what is going on?
 

For those of you who don't know, Haverford is just outside of Philly and is considered a very prestigous (sp?) suburb. I am saddened and dishearted that all of this is happening in/near my hometown.