To Quote Alice Cooper….

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER!  Yep.  Today was the day.  Whoooo-eeeeeEEEE!

During this last couple of weeks I have found my patience increasingly difficult to locate.
  "Miss Wolf!  Miss Wolf!"
  "growwwwllllrrrr WHAT? growwwwllllrrrr"
  "where are the bowls?"
  "growwwlllrrr AN ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR AND YOU STILL CAN’T FIND A BOWL?!?!!?!!!!  I’M NOT YOUR MOTHER.  CHANCES ARE THE BOWLS ARE WHERE YOU PUT THEM.  GO AND LOOK!  growwwwllllrrrr".

Sigh.

No.  I’m not particularly proud of those short-tempered moments, but they happen.  And they cause me to doubt myself.  Did I make a good decision in deciding to teach?  Do I really belong around these kids?  Am I actually making ANY kind of difference, or am I banging my head against a 20 foot thick brick wall every day?  growwwwllllrrrrrrrrrr.

And then comes the last day of school.  It’s a short day.  Nobody does anything productive.  At least not in the sense of school work.  The day is spent saying good-bye to some, wishing a nice summer to others, praying that THOSE few find another school to attend by fall…  It’s a laid-back day of remembering, visiting, and looking ahead.

The teachers are just as happy about the end of the year as the students.  We just happen to be more circumspect in our clock watching.  We start out the last day counting the minutes.

First block.  All 7th graders.  I was asked to sign year books and t-shirts.  Is it silly for me to feel flattered?  Still….all these years after I’ve graduated, I’m tickled when somebody wants my name in their year book.  (Guess you can tell that teen wolfie wasn’t the most popular kid in the school, huh?)  The bell rang and I got well wishes from all and hugs from many.  One boy wanted me to know I was his favorite teacher, this was his favorite class and he was REALLY going to miss me.  My smile got wider and I got a little pep in my step.

Second block – no class.  I went and visited another teacher’s room where I got more hugs and well wishes – from students that I never even officially taught.  They were simply my little hall rats that I spoke to every day as I patrolled between classes.  That pep in my step became a bounce.

Third block – mixed class.  7th and 8th graders.  One girl who has been alternately a joy and an annoyance to me for 2 years came up to my desk to talk.  She’s been absent for more than a week and wanted to make sure that her absences were excused and that she was still going to pass.  I told her I understood her situation and all was well.  Her situation is that her mother was just sent BACK to drug rehab.  Her dad couldn’t keep the family together.  She and her brother got shipped across the state to live with Grandma.  She broke up with her boyfriend of 2 years.  Her life, right now, just generally sucks.  But this potentially annoying child showed great strength of character in our discussion.  She assured me that everything happens for a reason.  And we talked about high school and how there were going to be lots of new boys – CUTER than her ex.  And she touched my heart. No 14 year old should have to deal with a family repeatedly shattered by a drugged out mom.  I guess I understand those annoying tendencies a little better now.  And maybe next year’s annoying child will cause me to dig a little deeper before throwing up my hands in exasperation.

Fourth block – 6th graders.  The scourge of my exitence.  The one group of students that makes me want to leave early every day.  They are too loud, too immature, too physical for me.  And yet…as the bell rang and they filed out – they all said good-bye, wished me a good summer and said they’d put down for my class next year and they couldn’t wait.

Fifth block – mixed 7th and 8th again.  A very small class by this time since many students had checked out early.  The 8th graders were anxious to go, but afraid of going.  We talked about what’s coming up for them next year.  I signed more year books…And then it was time to go.

Our ritual is to dismiss one class at a time.  The halls are lined with teachers not in class at that time, custodians and office personnel.  The students must leave by only one route and go directly to the buses.  ALL the teachers turn out at the buses.  THere are hugs and tears and smiles.  I got buried under a sea of hugs and my shirt soaked up more than a few tears.  I got many promises that they’d come back and see me all the time. 

Finally, they were all herded onto buses and the buses began to roll out, horns blowing and students waving out the windows.  We all stood on the sidewalk waving as they went by.

Finally – the end of the school year.  As I walked back to my room I gave my doubts another thought.  You know – maybe I made a good choice after all.  I saw a lot of little rays of light today and they sure were shining brightly.  And maybe, just maybe, they were shinging just a twinkle brighter because of something I’ve said or done.  I like to think so.  And yes – I’m looking forward to working with some of them in summer "camp", the cool training sessions I’m scheduled for over the summer…..and the start of next school year.

That bounce in my step?  I stopped noticing it.  After all, I don’t think my feet were actually touching the ground at that point.

Happy Summer, y’all!