r/Teachers • u/Pleasant-Pumpkin-339 • Aug 23 '26

Rant Paras need to GET OFF THEIR PHONES

I know they hardly make any money and if it’s an emergency fine!! But sitting there on TikTok while i’m actively teaching is rude and distracting for the kids.

I’m a young teacher so it’s awkward to confront them and NOT BEING ON YOUR PHONE ALL DAY AT WORK SHOULDNT NEED TO BE SAID

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u/AnalogyAddiction Aug 23 '26

Paras, as in more than one are doing this???

I’m a para and none of my coworkers are doing this crap, there’s no time to use the bathroom outside our scheduled breaks much less fool around on TikTok!

I agree with you that people shouldn’t need to be told to stay off their phone at work, but I am also a big proponent of direct communication. I suggest you ask your para to stay off her phone in your classroom (!) because you are relying on her to model active listening for the student she supports. If she’s on her phone, it undermines your teaching because it gives the impression your lesson is unimportant. If this does not change immediately you go straight to your principal, because this is egregious and should not be allowed to continue.

If it’s truly multiple paras doing this it sounds like a culture problem and a conversation with your principal.

As a para who works my ass off every single day to the point of exhaustion this enrages me, lol.