So today was my last day with the 125. Most of them students, some only there 'cause their parents forced them to school. I admit it; I'll miss them. A lot. The variety, the youth, the cheerfulness, the sauciness, the unexpectedness... the ability to make you feel alive. Even if that includes raising your voice, narrowing your eyes and trying to look tough.
Today was the last day.
In my third grade classes I had nice activities: a wordsearch with 26 words - one for each letter of the abc. In one class we had a party; the kids all brought something and I brought a ton of popcorn and plastic bowls. I was really surprised (pleasantly so) that the kid with whom I'd had the most trouble also brought a snack; a bag of bambas. In that class we played a game of bingo with prizes (I brought. Nothing fancy).
In the last five minutes of each class I got complete silence as I told them that I wouldn't be continuing with them next year. They were all really sad to hear that. One girl immeadately made me a card and slipped it in my bag. I explained to them that it was because of all the fighting and disruption - the principal had decided that he wants a tougher teacher. In one class my students reassured me that I wasn't a bad teacher; it was the fault of the badly behaved kids. In my fourth grade class the kids were furious. They wanted to meet with the principal and force him to change his mind. Several of them wanted it repeated to them that I had actually been fired.
The final thing I did was to was to hand out a cute note to each kid and a hard candy. They loved those! A sweet ending.
Wednesday is the final ceremony and farewell.
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4 comments:
Hey Shifra, sweetheart. B"SD
I got fired early on this year, too.
I wasn't tough enough w/the rougher kids, either. We had all levels in groups of between 20-30 kids & I had to put them all on task, but maybe 5 kids per class, grades 1 to 8, disturbed. The assistant principal would come in 2 to 3 times per class to maintain order so that I could teach the very weakest of the group. On my last day, I was once more teaching sweet, gentle Shim'on. The first time that I'd taught him, he fought so hard that he began to cry because he "knew" he could never learn English. But I sat him at the front of the class, right next to me & very, very slowly, very gently, I taught him how to read w-o-r-d-s in English. He was so THRILLED & EMPOWERED because he was now doing the "impossible." But our principal was far more interested in the appearance of order, rather than academic performance. So on my last day, Shim'on cried w/a far deeper pain than when I first taught him.
Two high schools w/far smaller classes w/boys at the end of their rope hired me w/in the week & gave me a far higher salary. But I don't think that anyone will ever give Shim'on another chance.
HaShem closes a window, but then He opens a door.
best,
Ra'anan
Shifra, you never know what's in your future. There's all sorts of teaching, not just elementry school. Some schools are better disciplined.
Just call me "toast."
Good luck!
I’m sorry you lost your job, Shifra, but know you are an awesome teacher; you even created and edited the school's first school newspaper (and yes,it’s in English).
I'm glad you told the students why you won't be teaching there next year and am hopeful they will better understand that there are consequences to their behavior.
The students have lost a jewel of a teacher - and I think they know it. I believe a great number of the students will always remember and keep you in a special place in their heart.
May HaShem continue to guide you in all your endeavors...
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