Teacher's Dilemma...

What do you do with a student who clearly has no intention of doing any work or is simply not capable of doing work and this year will be the third time taking your class?

They don't try, they don't want to do work, they hate the subject matter, and they don't give a damn if they graduate or not. What's even worse is that they have no intention of allowing the other members of the class learn since they are a constant distraction to others.

I understand that it's not my job to deny students their educational opportunities, but there are students who don't take advantage of the opportunities set before them. no matter how you place it in front of them they'll never take it.

When I first encountered a student like this I was tempted to lock them out since they're frequently late to class but that leads to administrators breathing down your neck about wandering students. Talking to the student one on one doesn't work since they've heard the same speech about 100 times and they know what your angle is as an educator so they basically tell you what you want to hear. Parents don't know what to do or don't give a damn since they treat school like day care. I just want to smack the parents across the face and yell at them to get a grip on their kids because they are in essence screwing over the rest of the class.

The last possible choice is the last ditch compromise. Sit in class and do nothing, bother no one and you'll get a D. Once you distract others, you fail the class. After failing the class 2 other times, there's no possible way that they are going to become a career scientist, they're not going to do anything worth grading, they're not going to contribute to group of classroom learning so that's what it boils down to. Behave and pass.

This is what makes urban teaching seemingly impossible. You have to make these compromises that negate everything you stand for and believe in as an accomplished educator. With other students as witnesses. It's scary to think that someone with a bachelor's and getting their master's is considered accomplished but when you look at the average American, it is...

This is just sad.