After talking with you last night, I was thinking. And what I was thinking is that I would like to invite you to see the positives, especially in the kids you are teaching. I know there are a lot of negatives both from my own experience and also from reading your journal. But surely, there is positive. What would happen if you tried to accept them for who they are right now? That's not to say that that is easy (this I know from experience) and it's not the be all and end all and I'm not saying get all buddy buddy or that they don't need some discipline. However, I am saying that if you could learn to meet them where they are at and understand where they are coming from, you might have an easier time helping them in their school work. And helping them with their school work is, I think, is the direction you want to go.

If you have decided this is not the population you want to work with and are interested in trying the opposite end of the spectrum next year, I have friends who work for a private school in Saratoga. It is the polar opposite of where you are at. Maybe I could put you in touch.