a quiet Sunday

I never wanted to do what I'm doing. I was having too much much fun in the classroom. But I was convinced to, I guess, and did the coursework. In my first admin course we went around the room answering why we were undertaking the journey, and when they got to me....I said I didn't know. That I wasn't sure I should be here. But life happens and here I am. Three years into it actually. Off probation. Ready to begin my 4th year in a school I started. More surehanded than I was three years ago. Happier. Calmer. The ground more solid. More sure of my role in the work. But not satisfied. Never satisfied.

I'm silly enough to believe it's about the kids. That's where the focus should be. When people hear where my school is they either roll their eyes or wince. It used to surprise me but then you get use to it. But my kids are just kids. Yeah, some are dealing with issues that one wouldn't want a child to deal with, but they're kids. I'm surprised that people don't see the simplicity in that. They need adults who'll listen and model alternative ways to deal with things. My school tries to do that in addition to course work. My consultant gave up lunch to walk my wildest child, who liked to read, to get a library card. My dean spends countless hours talking to children. Kids get to school early and sit in my office as I do the schedule, just talking. I encourage that kids own their actions, but that their actions don't define the person they could be. We're a teaching and modeling school. Is the work noble? Yes. Are we noble? No. We're people with a calling. The kids matter.

We are not a teacher as "civil servant" school. I mock teachers who take that as their stance. It's inherently "anti-student." And philosophically unsupportable. You're there because the kids are there. Notice that? Kids = jobs. On a purely elementary level. On a greater level who looks at a 12 yr. old and says "it's not my problem?" What's the message? Who's problem is it? The kid who can't figure out an answer to begin with? But you came across as an adult with all the answers who won't share. Nice job there teach.

As Denis Miller used to say, "I could be wrong."