Just When You Think You’re At the End of Your Rope
…Somebody ties a knot in it so you can hang on.
Background info: This has been a difficult year at school in terms of student behavior management. There have been NUMEROUS fights. The most recent was this past Friday afternoon. It was actually off school grounds at the park behind the school. It involved about 75 students from our school and the High School up the street. It was “only” a fist-fight between 2 boys, but there were many witnesses posturing and waiting for an excuse to escalate the fight. There were, apparently, knives and guns in evidence as well. I know far too much about the dynamics of that fight cause my students don’t hesitate to tell me all the gory details. Sigh.
A week ago I told 2 administrators and the deputy that is our resource officer that if they did not make sure an administrator was in the crosswalk by my room during class changes I was going to take myself in my room and shut the door. Then the little darlings could go ahead and kill each other. That’s how bad the energy was. Understand me here. I don’t back down from these kids and their fights. Ever. I have literally waded through the mob more than once to stop fights. I am 6′ tall and not at all intimidated by them – they know it and have always backed down when I confront them. But I don’t have any interest in being a policeman and doing that all day. That’s the job of the administrators.
Not all the kids are fighters and bad – there’s just a few. But they get that “mob” mentality going…..
Given the atmosphere I just described, perhaps you are not surprised that I am feeling a big drained, eh?
Today they turned the tables on me. I have two HUGE beautiful pictures I bought to decorate the classroom. Framed, matted….about 3.5 feet x 2 feet. Somebody paid a lot of money for these, but I bought them at a garage sale. They were awesome. WERE.
This morning in the passing time before school started when I was out monitoring the halls, my students managed to knock over and break one of them.
I was royally PISSED. I let them know, in no uncertain terms, just how angry I was. Oh yeah. Then I walked out of the room to calm down a bit.
When I came back – the class was TOTALLY silent. (THAT NEVER HAPPENS) 2 of my boys stood up and accepted responsibility. Then they apologized and offered to pay for the picture. Then these two little bad-asses….looked at me with big watery eyes and asked me if I still love them…and they wanted hugs.
All the mad just went totally out of me. Whoosh.
Did I mention I love my kids?
You are the kind of teacher every kid deserves. (((hugs)))
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*hugs*
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and it makes it all worth while after all, doesn’t it? 🙂
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Clearly you are doing something right. Be safe…
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There needs to be more teachers like you!
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I’m willing to bet there aren’t many teachers who’d bring about that sort of reaction to the situation. You are a hero to work with these kids.
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(((((Too))))) I can’t imagine the stress that you deal with day to day, I know I wouldn’t have the patience.(That’s why I love giving my kid’s teachers lots of kudos, they deserve it!) Apparently these young people in your classes see something in you that they don’t elsewhere…like maybe you actually give a hoot?!!Teachers like you enabled the young woman in me to soar many years ago.So thanks!
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RYN: Hey, I’ll admit to the butt trumpet, but I demand a re-read of Item Y! Haggis is most definitely a Yucky. ~:P
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In the school where I used to teach, this is what’s known as a “payday.” Congratulations; you made the right choices when you were deciding what you wanted to be when you grew up.
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Dare I say that it may just be your influence in teaching these kids that got them to ‘fess up like that? Hell, SW, NOW you know you are teaching them right! Hugz
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Man that’s good! Soulfood those hugs, your love a lifesaver to kids without boats. You go Wolfie! 🙂
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And this, when it comes down to basics, is what is the very most important thing, isn’t it: the teacher teaches “You matter!” and the student learns “Hey, I matter. And that means you do, too.” And good grows in our crazy world. Please don’t ever change your occupation.
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you live in florida? What a great place to live. would you do me a favor? would you quit voting for people named Bush. it only encourages them..if you didn’t vote for bush, ignore that last request..
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Kinda restores your faith in the little heathens doesn’t it???
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You make a huge difference in the lives of those kids. They’ll never forget that they once had a teacher who CARED. I wish every student had one like you. I’m praying that you’ll never burn out.
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WOW. What a story!!!!! You are one special teacher, and those kinds of teachers are so rare. Gifted, you are!!! I loved this entry. Just LOVED it!!!
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That tugged at my heartstrings. They really should give you combat pay. My mother taught in the inner city and spent time breaking up knife fights back in the 70s; I remember her stories. RYN: Do you realize that “Christmas flamingo” can be sung to the tune of “Frosty the Snowman”? 🙂
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Wow! You must be some awesome teacher to get that kind of respect.
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I’m smiling a big gooey smile. You could turn anyone to mush, even some gangsta wannabe’s. Have a good re-charge over Christmas 🙂
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awww, SW, what a heartwarming story. every kid should have the privilege of having a teacher like you. draining, but rewarding? yes. you’re one of the best~
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🙂
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