Thank God for 3 day weekends.
I was in a right mess on Friday. I was frustrated, and felt like a failure.
I'm still frustrated, and I still feel like there's something I missed.
But, I also managed to get some perspective.
In particular, I remembered an almost throw away line from Rafe Esquith in his documentary, talking to a fresh teacher waiting to get his autograph (paraphrased):
No child left behind is a lie. You can't get all of the kids. There are some that you just can't make succeed. So you need to settle them down, make sure they don't distract the kids that you can help.
If he can't get them all, then I'm pretty sure I can't either.
I need to be able to accept that.
Here's the trick: Accepting that doesn't mean I don't try. I don't write off kids who have a history of failure. I make the options available to them. I keep them in line, so I can teach the ones who aren't fighting me. But if one of them suddenly changes direction, I welcome them back to the fold. Accepting that some kids will fall through the cracks is not the same as giving up on those kids. Giving up would be writing them off - choosing from day one not to teach them because I don't think they'll amount to anything. I'm not doing that. There's nothing that makes me happier than seeing a kid on the skids turn it around. And the only way I'm going to see that is if I keep on doing the best for the most students.
That's a good thing to hang onto as I head back to work.
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well said; thanks. it gets awfully frustrating sometimes
around here ... a lot of people seem to go out of their way
to confuse respect and contempt ... no good deed goes unpunished ...
& we (who do the best we can) are more or less consistently
blamed for the failures of a system we had no part in creating
(and may very well have spent a lifetime resisting with
every tooth and nail we can bring to bear). tell the truth,
ever, about anything? -- stand by for punishment drill.
thank god for 3 day weekends. yrs in the struggle; yrs in the faith.
I appreciate your honest voice. I have been teaching for 10 years, and about five years ago, I decided that I could not save all of my students. I've been a better teacher ever since because I've been more emotionally balanced--not so frazzled, frustrated, and disenchanted with public education. Ironically, once I decided that I was not a savior-teacher, I have been far more successful with more students. I don't know why.
I am also encouraged to hear that veteran and master teachers like Rafe Esquith have the courage to state the politically incorrect idea that a student's failure is not necessarily ours and that a teacher may not save every student. I'm doing my master's degree right now, and most of the reading is from about teachers who assume all the responsibility for a student's success. I cringe inside when I read them and realize that those who are like me, you, and Rolfe are put forth as the "bad" examples in the articles. As a mother of three, I know that the biggest contribution I can make to society is to raise three good, decent, and informed, and contributory global citizens. I cannot do that if I am going to act like a savior to my students. I do all I can, but I ration my emotional reserves to better serve my family.
Unfortunately, I feel I must agree to get the grade, but I wonder if education has become as divided as our politics?
Just venting. Thanks.
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