after school
Kid in after school, doing his makeup work (typing essay): "You know people are all talking about you, how you're the nicest teacher."
Me: What?! You've got to be joking. Who says such BS?
Kid: You know, my homeboy in 3rd period, and these other guys I dunno, and me and this homie here, and - well, people are talking, that's what they say. They say you clown around on us and all, but you're really cool.
Me: Must be the drugs. [audible scoffing]
Trust me, when I give all those "no credits" on Friday because they didn't do mandatory writing assignments, there will be plenty talk about me, and it will all start with "fucking bitch."
Though, tough cholo who has anti-authority issues, who only works for me (he says), really wanted to chat during his advisory 30 seconds. I sit with each kid in 3rd period and we figure out their schedule for next term - usually it's a very quick: "You passing this class [English 9]? OK, time to move into this class [English 10]." But he actually wanted to talk about school things, and he even was cracking jokes.
So, I took a deep breath and slowed down and talked to him. Because that's really what he needed - some adult at a school who doesn't think he's Mr. Asshole (what the counselor calls him) and who really does care about what he says and thinks. Because I do - I think he's a cool person. Integrity-challenged perhaps, but he's a teenager and we all make mistakes sometimes.
Now, I don't want him talking smack about me, spreading lies that I'm nice or something, but I want him to keep lowering his defenses because they stand in the way of his learning. And I do want him to feel like a valued human being and not just a cog in the machine that represses him because of how he looks (like a gangsta) and what his name is (Hispanic). My hunch? He got big in middle school and it freaked the teachers out and they tripped on him and he tripped back, and here we are today. So many teachers are afraid of big kids, especially black and brown ones.
Me? They may be stronger and faster than me, but I know the knees are weak on everybody. If they come at you, kick 'em and they go down HARD.
Anyway, then I was working in the office on students' files (they are such a mess, I want at least the English Learning part right) and a woman came in who didn't speak any English. I got to help her, which got me my brownie points for the day. And I learned something.
The part that bothers me about today ... last week the principal had a MANDATORY staff meeting (the second in two days) about the results of a survey done that was supposed to be PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL. He wanted explanation for everything that wasn't glowingly positive about him.
All I can do is thank goodness for the little voice in me that told me not to do it.
A coworker who is the union vice president thinks that this is completely appropriate - that if you don't like Mr. Principal Man, then you shouldn't teach there.
And that totalitarianism nauseates me. It's the same as my last school - if you're not for him, you're against him. That's BULLSHIT. People can disagree about things and not always like each other much, and still have a positive environment for kids. Instead, we as teachers are forced to swallow any questions or discontent because it's seen as disloyal or backstabbing.
And honestly, that's not just bullshit, but that may be one of the reasons schools suffer - because teachers DON'T stand up enough and say, "Hey, I disagree with you and I think you're wrong."
How did we get to this point in our country where questioning is disloyalty? It's scary.
Me: What?! You've got to be joking. Who says such BS?
Kid: You know, my homeboy in 3rd period, and these other guys I dunno, and me and this homie here, and - well, people are talking, that's what they say. They say you clown around on us and all, but you're really cool.
Me: Must be the drugs. [audible scoffing]
Trust me, when I give all those "no credits" on Friday because they didn't do mandatory writing assignments, there will be plenty talk about me, and it will all start with "fucking bitch."
Though, tough cholo who has anti-authority issues, who only works for me (he says), really wanted to chat during his advisory 30 seconds. I sit with each kid in 3rd period and we figure out their schedule for next term - usually it's a very quick: "You passing this class [English 9]? OK, time to move into this class [English 10]." But he actually wanted to talk about school things, and he even was cracking jokes.
So, I took a deep breath and slowed down and talked to him. Because that's really what he needed - some adult at a school who doesn't think he's Mr. Asshole (what the counselor calls him) and who really does care about what he says and thinks. Because I do - I think he's a cool person. Integrity-challenged perhaps, but he's a teenager and we all make mistakes sometimes.
Now, I don't want him talking smack about me, spreading lies that I'm nice or something, but I want him to keep lowering his defenses because they stand in the way of his learning. And I do want him to feel like a valued human being and not just a cog in the machine that represses him because of how he looks (like a gangsta) and what his name is (Hispanic). My hunch? He got big in middle school and it freaked the teachers out and they tripped on him and he tripped back, and here we are today. So many teachers are afraid of big kids, especially black and brown ones.
Me? They may be stronger and faster than me, but I know the knees are weak on everybody. If they come at you, kick 'em and they go down HARD.
Anyway, then I was working in the office on students' files (they are such a mess, I want at least the English Learning part right) and a woman came in who didn't speak any English. I got to help her, which got me my brownie points for the day. And I learned something.
The part that bothers me about today ... last week the principal had a MANDATORY staff meeting (the second in two days) about the results of a survey done that was supposed to be PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL. He wanted explanation for everything that wasn't glowingly positive about him.
All I can do is thank goodness for the little voice in me that told me not to do it.
A coworker who is the union vice president thinks that this is completely appropriate - that if you don't like Mr. Principal Man, then you shouldn't teach there.
And that totalitarianism nauseates me. It's the same as my last school - if you're not for him, you're against him. That's BULLSHIT. People can disagree about things and not always like each other much, and still have a positive environment for kids. Instead, we as teachers are forced to swallow any questions or discontent because it's seen as disloyal or backstabbing.
And honestly, that's not just bullshit, but that may be one of the reasons schools suffer - because teachers DON'T stand up enough and say, "Hey, I disagree with you and I think you're wrong."
How did we get to this point in our country where questioning is disloyalty? It's scary.
posted by NOLA at 2:57 PM
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