SATURDAY THOUGHTS: SUBSTITUTE TEACHER TALES

Well...
I survived my week with a class of first graders, and have not been driven to strong drink. 

I woke up and remembered it was Saturday. I wasn't late. 

I'm not usually an early morning person, but over the past few years, and specifically the past 4 months, I've morphed into one. 

Some things require a head start. Preparing for the children I met this week was one of them.

I'm not deterred. I'm a little tired, but not deterred, and actually very pleased. 

Most of the children were simply delightful! 

Some made me wish I was independently wealthy so I could send them to the finest school in the city--then it occurred to me that where they are could very well hold that distinction. 

It's a beautiful school. 

Some students made me know that someone prepared them well for first grade. Others made me wish I had some magic powers to improve their lot in life. Still others made me pray...hard...very hard...for them...and for their second grade teacher-- whomever he or she may be.

Only once did I wonder if I had completely lost my mind, or bumped my head for even thinking about going back into the classroom. 

I had to break up a fight. I couldn't let it continue. 

I haven't quite mastered "See, but don't see". 

I don't understand how adults can sit idly by, and not intervene, or keep walking, while shaking their heads, and not stop to help. 

Getting the kids to settle down didn't take long. Calming myself did. 

I reached back for "lights out, heads down". 

It worked.

Recognizing a need, and being able to fulfill it, really is a blessing. Having the kids help each other to clean out the stuffed, cluttered, dark abysses that were their little desks, was actually fun. 

They didn't complain. Now they know where their text and workbooks are. Pencils, crayons, notebooks, writing paper, artwork, markers, mittens, hats, library books, certificates and clothing materialized during the great desk dump. They looked around to see who was at their desks handling their things, and didn't complain when I asked them to smooth out, and neatly stack all of the loose papers they found. 

They all have new folders with their names on them now. Their papers were sorted. Their pencils were sharpened. Their chairs and tables were cleaned. The custodian even came in and cleaned the floor, and vacuumed the carpet. 

Environment matters. I cannot say it enough. Kids shouldn't have to learn in filth. Some things don't require money--just a little soap, water, and elbow grease.

I have a few more days with them before their teacher comes back. God, I hope she's coming back--refreshed, rejuvenated and encouraged-- and with the same bubbling enthusiasm that made her choose teaching as a profession in the first place.

There's a reason why people choose to teach. Some want to pay off loans. Some can't find another job. Some think it's easy. Others see the great need, truly love children, and want to see them succeed. 

It's sad when a person's enthusiasm is destroyed by some of the madness that often infects an educational system. 

Given what I observed for only five days, I totally understand if the teacher's absence was motivated simply by the need for a break. 

If nothing else, after Wednesday; after 8 days of old-school, neat-freak, no-nonsense me in front of the classroom, my hope is that they'll appreciate their teacher a whole lot more; show more respect; stay on task, and remember the real reason why they come to school in the first place. 

The aide phoned her, and put her on speaker. The children were happy to hear her voice.

There's always something to be said, or whispered in corners about a school, the staff, its issues and strengths. Whatever the problem is in one area or another, isn't a secret. The fact that some classes have been, and can be a bit troublesome, and need the presence of strong educators and aides, and continual parental involvement, is never something that can be hidden.

I still think that some of the things that are concocted and packaged as effective educational practices, are the brainchildren of people who were either ineffective teachers, or whose only connection to teaching was their own stints as students. 

Some things are just plain ridiculous; time murdering, asinine, wasteful, and teachers comply just to keep their jobs, but an effective teacher is a fearless, creative, flexible, clever animal, who is unapologetic when it comes to what's best for each student. 

An effective teacher isn't as rare as some people think, but I couldn't help wonder if the plan is to discourage effectiveness and promote mediocrity so that someone can say, "I told you so" when the children fail.

The smart-mouthed, foul-mouthed, unruly, and disrespectful members of the class, always take a lot out of me, and threaten to put a bit of dampener on the day, but even they know that their days of wrecking havoc are numbered. They do know how to get themselves together. Sadly, they've been allowed to carry on for so long, that reigning them in, although it's not impossible, requires extreme patience. 

They have to be told that they will not be allowed to keep the others from learning--and THEY will learn, too. 

Kids need to know there are expectations--high expectations-- and that you care. 

Anyone who thinks children don't need rules, stability and order, is a complete fool.

I saw an awful lot that made me very hopeful; made me smile, and a lot that made me sad--even angry. 

Sometimes education is made much more complicated than it has to be--and, by the way, whatever happened to the "small class size" movement? One unruly student in one class is enough, but several? Twenty-seven children? That's not small. 

Classroom management shouldn't be the overwhelming part of a school day, but it occurred to me that when I was in elementary school, there were always at least 30 students in my classes--and one teacher...who didn't have a computer...or technology...or lots of money...and we could all read and write...very well. 

Teachers had authority and responsibility then, and parents didn't look at the teacher as the enemy to be mistrusted, mistreated or sued. 

The teacher was a respected member of the community--a parent away from home; the person who spent more time with the neighborhood children than their own parents; the person who saw what they were really capable of when out of the earshot and presence of their parents. 

We learned and excelled because we were expected to. 

We behaved because we didn't have a choice. 

No one made excuses for, or ignored disruptive behavior. 

We knew our parents had the teacher's back, and so, the teacher could actually teach.

Why on Earth would one leave one's child with someone all day, expect that person to be responsible, but fail to teach one's child what his or her responsibilities are? 

Contrary to what some may believe, kids want rules and stability.

Within seconds of meeting parents, it's often painfully obvious why children behave the way they do. If a parent thinks some crappy behavior is perfectly normal, cute or acceptable; if he or she is overwhelmed, unconcerned, or had bad experiences at school him or herself, everyone else should be subjected to, and quietly allow varying degrees of foolishness from the child, right? Wrong. 

Some children's biggest obstacle to achievement is, unfortunately, their own parent(s). 

Some parents are expert at trying to intimidate teachers, and very good at being confrontational and litigious, but when it comes to keeping their own offspring in line, they're clueless. 

There are some things a parent has to get a handle on sooner than later. I'm sorry. If a parent won't correct his or her own child, their "I love you" is a lie. 

A government employee with a gun, handcuffs and a badge, is under no obligation to show love or restraint when that child gets older and more out of control--none.

I realize I have a vested interest in these children. They are in my village, and I as a villager intend to do my part no matter what the prevailing opinion of them may be. Some of them are challenging--no--they're downright infuriating--and the first instinct is to send them to the office, or all the way back home, because allowing them to stay means very little in the way of learning will get done-- except learning how to bully, instigate, fight, destroy property, and demonstrate rudeness. It's not their fault, though. They can't be blamed for what the adults in their lives fail to do on their behalf.

I wish I had met them in September. It's so important to start the year off right. 

I don't want to believe that children are being set up to fail, but sometimes it really does seem to be the case, and it's irritating.
 Words like "off the chain", "out of control", "dumb", stupid", "undisciplined", "behind" and "ghetto" float around in meetings, teacher's lounges, playgrounds, cafeterias, classrooms, hallways, and homes but they don't ever have to apply. 

I saw it with my own eyes. The students can learn, they aren't hopeless, they aren't doomed to failure, they can listen and follow directions, they do have something worthwhile to say, and they will succeed. They demonstrated it this week--some of them consistently, some of them briefly, but they did it. 

Now I know they can. They know that they can. 

Whoever thinks otherwise, or thinks I'm wasting my time and effort, doesn't matter.

I'm going back. I'm going to take the brisk walk on Monday morning, and already know exactly what I want to do. One child cannot write his name. Another doesn't have a book bag or notebook. I want to change that before I say goodbye to them.

There were many things that occurred to me during the week:

1. If a child rolls his or her eyes at his or her own parent, and it's not checked, chances are that you, or another adult are next, but what makes the parent think you're supposed to tolerate it, too?

2. Children learn what they live, and react to it, and play it out in public in varying ways. They're not to blame, but their behavior has to be addressed.

3. People do what they are allowed to do, and will continue if no one has the guts to say it is unacceptable. When people think their hands are tied, they may stop caring, grumble, murmur, complain, or gossip-- and work strictly to the rule.

4. Cleanliness and order in a classroom should not be optional, or an oddity.

5. Even if it isn't in the job description, if it needs to be done and you're able, do it.

6. Being liked is nice, but that's not the primary aim.

7. Doing the right thing may attract curious gawkers--and even enemies-- who aren't fans of the progress you make because they've given up, don't want to put in the time, or don't care.

8. Never be surprised if people don't want to see you doing what they said couldn't be done, or weren't willing to do themselves. Know to whom you are accountable. Wannabe supervisors abound, especially when people assume you don't know what you're doing.

9. Go in with high expectations and you'll get results--sometimes immediately.

10. Respect is better when it's mutual, but may not always roll that way. Be respectful anyway.

11. Some parents view a bad report of their child's behavior as an indictment on themselves, and may find unreasonable ways to retaliate.

12. Parents and teachers should be on the same team. Let a child know you have an issue with their teacher, and you may as well plan to home school them. Some teachers have been guilty of ignoring students altogether, because they don't want to deal with their parents.

13. Supporting your child doesn't mean upholding them in wrongdoing.

14. Clean up first. You'll be surprised what you might find...and what you don't need to go out and purchase.

15.  Only a fool won't appreciate/will reject help.

16. Some children will get attention any way they can. Behaving properly may never occur to them to be a good way to get it.

17. Teach what's important first, and subsequent lessons will be a piece of cake. 

"America's National Symbols" can wait, until a child learns that in America, when a teacher gives a simple instruction like "Please have a seat" to a first grader, the teacher expects to see a little bottom immediately lowering itself into a chair-- and doesn't expect any back talk, eye rolling, foot stomping, or teeth sucking.

18. Allow children to climb the walls from September to April, and good luck trying to get them acclimated to a pin-drop-quiet standardized test setting.

19. Follow through. If you say you're phoning a parent, do it.

20. Whatever is going on at home will be spoken of at school. Kids don't have filters--at all.

21. Be consistent. Every adult in the room has to be on the same page. It doesn't take long to communicate what's expected and see results.

22. Be creative. Kids learn in different ways.

23. Theories are good. Putting them into practice is the real test of whether they work or not.

24. When you know you're right, and your cause is just, don't back down.

25. School employees have to be more that people who happen to need a job.

26. Crayola is the best, so are Bounty paper towels.

27. Yesterday is a reference, not a place to stay. Do better and be better tomorrow.

28. Sometimes, it's reassuring for parents to know that their child's teacher is a parent as well. It's good to see a parent leave a conference with a smile on his or her face.

29. Some people are quite satisfied if you do nothing. It motivates their continued inactivity.

30. If an important someone is coming to observe, it seems to me that making sure student desks don't look like dogs have been playing on them is more important than putting the date on the board.

31. Sometimes people know the severity of a situation full well, but wait to see what you're going to do, and then criticize your methods.

32. Given the opportunity, it doesn't take long to turn some things around.

33. Creating order out of chaos shouldn't be a bother to anyone.

34. Ask questions until you get the right answers.

35. Mommy was right. Care for what belongs to someone else as if it was your own.

36. If you're going to be in a place for any length of time, why not invest in it? It doesn't have to be much. Why not leave a place better than you found it?

37. Know who your supervisor is--by name and face. That way, wannabe's won't get away with trying to tell you what to do, based on their own agendas, or take advantage of your ignorance.

38. Don't give up.