Little People

Being a teacher is rewarding, fun, exhausting and .......painful.  Let me explain.

This semester I have a student teacher so my time is freed up to do things I normally don't get a chance to do.  Unfortunately, I am learning a lot about myself.  To save you the "our job is so hard", "the State rules our schools", "we have to prepare for the BIG test!" sob story, I'll just say there's usually not enough time in our 9 month year to cover everything we need to.  We rush in, teach, teach, teach and send the little boogers home in a whirlwind of "Remember to study your spelling words!", "Get your planner signed!", "Book orders are due tomorrow!", "PLEASE get on the right bus today!"  I am noticing that the time I spent truly getting to know my kids, without worrying about getting behind in Math, is lacking.

Since I'm not solely responsible for the academic side of planning, teaching and grading I find myself really LEARNING my students.  This year most of my kids desperately need me.  Hopefully I haven't missed the last six years of these same kind of kids.  My kid woes range from family cats passing away to living with foster families or grandparents to being afraid to go home because of people who are in the home that, frankly, shouldn't be there.  My heart has been at my feet more than once this year already and sadly, I feel more times a'comin.

You know what?  It's not just "my" kids.  Little guy crying in the hall because he broke his glasses and mama is going to be mad at him.  A hug, reassurance and he still waves at me in the hall.  Habitual office kid...now I know his name and he knows mine.  I check up on him whenever I can.  Amazingly, my list goes on and on.

Eight year old brothers should not have to protect their six year old sister.  But he does.  Schools should not have to feed kids breakfast, lunch AND supper. But we do.  Teachers should not have to drop snacks in backpacks at the end of the day.  But we do.  Kids that sleep in urine-drenched beds should not have to have their items washed at school.  But we do it.  Dirty faces should not have to be washed by teachers, principals, nurses, counselors and paraprofessionals.  But we do it.  Hugs should not JUST come from those same people.  But I'm glad we get to embrace those little ones.

I consider myself lucky to have such valuable time to spend with such valuable lives.  If we can truly listen to the sad eyes, slumped shoulders and sad expressions of these little people, maybe, just maybe, we can help break this incredibly disappointing cycle.