Fitting commentary on teaching. Violence and despair are easier to see, but (I like to think) the good stuff lasts longer and has a greater effect in the long run.
The mindset is no way a weak point 😊 it’s what keeps you going and something the students could model. You also give them consistency - you’ve been at the school longer than most of them!
Also never underestimate your reputation amongst the students - he’s fair, pushes you in a good way, he cares and …. shit there are some good white people 🤩
The third person telling of the story is very effective - great post 🙌
Is it more a matter of a competitive man wanting to face the most challenging adversary?
It would be relatively easy to grow the kids who want to learn, those who come from an environment that encourages growth. The wisdom of the trenches means so much more than that of the offices surrounded by green grass.
Loved the post. (But also I miss the first person voice. Just wanted to tip the scales a bit. :) ) Honest reflection on the joys and challenges. Thanks for sharing.
As the other teacher who has been in this school the same amount of time as you, I fully agree. Every day as a teacher is a day in the trenches. I have been feeling the same about the kids we've seen graduate and leave the school, and whether or not they even remember us or the impact we thought we had.
But just the other day I got a text from Luis, and a few weeks ago Angel sent me a text. Both checking in on me and just wanting to chat.
Honestly, just think back to the yearbook signing a few years ago where you, the Bio teacher, and I were all pulled aside by that one student who struggled back some tears as he told us how we were like three fathers to him. To be honest, that's the kind of memory that keeps me pulling through.
Last thought: Sometimes it feels like the violence/bad stuff team makes more points, but they are all field goals. 3 points ain't nothing to ignore, but when the good stuff happens, despite it being less often, it feels like a touchdown and a conversion. You know what I mean?
Ladies and gentlemen, for anyone who's been following me for a while, this is the history teacher, and the Dungeons and Dragons Club master. He's my best friend, and a fellow survivor.
Lord of Beleriand, I think about the moment it a lot. It was one of the best moments to be a teacher, and I agree, the reason we return again and again, is largely because those great moments always mean so much more than when the bad stuff happens.
As teachers, we don’t always know the seeds that we planted but be assured that you have made a difference in their lives. I hope that when your summer break comes, you get a chance to recharge and relax.
I taught in the small, suburban school where the violence ran rampant and was essentially unaddressed, so it continued to do so. I was assaulted there, myself. More than once. Usually by girls. For the most part the boys wouldn’t hit ME. They’d part like the Red Sea. Until they didn’t, and the kid who hit me was devastated because he didn’t mean to.
When I refused to press charges, refused to be part of the school to prison pipeline, admin was furious, but I reminded them what happened when charges were pressed. NOTHING. And this kid, unlike the girl who tried to plow me over, didn’t do it on purpose. He also then didn’t try to turn it around and make ME the villain—yeah, I was out of work until DCF AND the police cleared me.
You are doing a job too many can’t, that too many walk away from, and I respect that. I’d still be teaching if I hadn’t been forced to retire.
Just remember WHO you are doing it for. Don’t for a MINUTE believe what you’re doing doesn’t matter. No, we can’t save all of them, but the ones we DO help are the ones who should matter to us.
But, don’t let the system chew you up and spit you out. It gets exhausting as you get older; when it starts to break you down, get out under your own power.
We HAVE to believe in the good, or we’re all lost.❤️
My dad used to say, "you'll never know the impact you have on others." Have faith. The scoreboard is not even close -- you're making a huge difference.
I've been reading you for a while now, and I think is one of your best posts yet.
Thanks Frances! Always trying to get a little bit better.
Fitting commentary on teaching. Violence and despair are easier to see, but (I like to think) the good stuff lasts longer and has a greater effect in the long run.
Here's to another year of good stuff.
Always on the look out for it. Cheers to that.
The mindset is no way a weak point 😊 it’s what keeps you going and something the students could model. You also give them consistency - you’ve been at the school longer than most of them!
Also never underestimate your reputation amongst the students - he’s fair, pushes you in a good way, he cares and …. shit there are some good white people 🤩
The third person telling of the story is very effective - great post 🙌
Had a fun time trying the voice out. Definitely enjoying the feedback from it.
And yes, lol, the kids need to see white people that aren't portrayed as privileged assholes in the media.
You are awesome.
Appreciate it Simon!
Is this really a scoreboard against violence?
Is it more a matter of a competitive man wanting to face the most challenging adversary?
It would be relatively easy to grow the kids who want to learn, those who come from an environment that encourages growth. The wisdom of the trenches means so much more than that of the offices surrounded by green grass.
Loved the post. (But also I miss the first person voice. Just wanted to tip the scales a bit. :) ) Honest reflection on the joys and challenges. Thanks for sharing.
As the other teacher who has been in this school the same amount of time as you, I fully agree. Every day as a teacher is a day in the trenches. I have been feeling the same about the kids we've seen graduate and leave the school, and whether or not they even remember us or the impact we thought we had.
But just the other day I got a text from Luis, and a few weeks ago Angel sent me a text. Both checking in on me and just wanting to chat.
Honestly, just think back to the yearbook signing a few years ago where you, the Bio teacher, and I were all pulled aside by that one student who struggled back some tears as he told us how we were like three fathers to him. To be honest, that's the kind of memory that keeps me pulling through.
Last thought: Sometimes it feels like the violence/bad stuff team makes more points, but they are all field goals. 3 points ain't nothing to ignore, but when the good stuff happens, despite it being less often, it feels like a touchdown and a conversion. You know what I mean?
Ladies and gentlemen, for anyone who's been following me for a while, this is the history teacher, and the Dungeons and Dragons Club master. He's my best friend, and a fellow survivor.
Lord of Beleriand, I think about the moment it a lot. It was one of the best moments to be a teacher, and I agree, the reason we return again and again, is largely because those great moments always mean so much more than when the bad stuff happens.
Keeps us in the game a bit longer.
As teachers, we don’t always know the seeds that we planted but be assured that you have made a difference in their lives. I hope that when your summer break comes, you get a chance to recharge and relax.
Thanks for the encouragement Mary. I’m always about half dead by the time I get to summer, but every year so far I get excited to return to the work.
I figure it will be the same case this year.
>>It feels good to try. It feels good to do something hard.
Doing hard things is how we grow, so they say.
I hope you get completely refreshed by your summer.
Usually does the trick. As always, I’ll be excited to get there and little bittersweet I have to say goodbye to my seniors.
Great post. Keep going!
Appreciate it!
Gonna have to put some weight on the bar for that kid
I taught in the small, suburban school where the violence ran rampant and was essentially unaddressed, so it continued to do so. I was assaulted there, myself. More than once. Usually by girls. For the most part the boys wouldn’t hit ME. They’d part like the Red Sea. Until they didn’t, and the kid who hit me was devastated because he didn’t mean to.
When I refused to press charges, refused to be part of the school to prison pipeline, admin was furious, but I reminded them what happened when charges were pressed. NOTHING. And this kid, unlike the girl who tried to plow me over, didn’t do it on purpose. He also then didn’t try to turn it around and make ME the villain—yeah, I was out of work until DCF AND the police cleared me.
You are doing a job too many can’t, that too many walk away from, and I respect that. I’d still be teaching if I hadn’t been forced to retire.
Just remember WHO you are doing it for. Don’t for a MINUTE believe what you’re doing doesn’t matter. No, we can’t save all of them, but the ones we DO help are the ones who should matter to us.
But, don’t let the system chew you up and spit you out. It gets exhausting as you get older; when it starts to break you down, get out under your own power.
We HAVE to believe in the good, or we’re all lost.❤️
My dad used to say, "you'll never know the impact you have on others." Have faith. The scoreboard is not even close -- you're making a huge difference.
!!!
It's as tough a road as our current day to day political world.