So, What Would YOU Do?

School is a kinda crazy place. People leave their children for a minimum of 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, with total strangers because...well, that's what you do.

Most times it works out ok, with some "strangers" creating more memorable experiences or possibly having a better rapport with a child than others. Then, at the end of one school year, you take your child from that now "non-stranger" and start all over again the following school year because...well, that's what you do.

Being the "stranger", or teacher, on the other side isn't any less complicated. You have the responsibility of educating someone else's child, the best you can, for a minimum of 6 hours a day, 5 days a week because...well, that's what you do. But unfortunately life isn't that cut and dry.

As a teacher I am paid to educate children. Sure, social skills, learning how to make good decisions all come into play as well, but mostly my job is supposed to be about helping children to try and understand new things. Unfortunately my job isn't that cut and dry either

Example:

Sweet girl enters my class. She does not look at all like the other children in fact, she doesn't look like any student I have ever had before. She has orange/green colored skin, with dark brown circles with crusty scabs under her eyes. It's obvious something is very wrong. As we go outside to play she carefully pulls out a hat from her backpack and places it on her head. When I ask, "What's up?" She explains she is allergic to the sun.

Now, personally I have had 4 or 5 students who were allergic to the sunshine and it truly does cause them grief if they do not keep covered. But for some reason this didn't seem to be the complete answer to all this young lady's problems for as time goes by, this darling seems to be having difficulty keeping up with the class. At times, tired, at times distracted and other times seeming "foggy headed". It seems that there is always something.

One day my darling enters my classroom covered in scratch marks. In fact, her arms are bleeding from scratching so much and she is having difficulty staying put in her seat. What could be going on?? So, I ask.

Darling explains that with the exception of chicken, she is allergic to all meat, most vegetables and fruits, as well as any sugary things. Apparently, the night before her family had gone out for a birthday celebration and ate hamburgers, fries and chocolate sundaes. All the things she was allergic to. She was now suffering the consequences.

Oh my. Surely her family must have known she would break out from head to toe if she were to eat all of these foods. What were they thinking? I swear, I need to call that parent and tell her...

STOP!!! Hold on there.

As a teacher it is my job to educate the future. It is NOT my job to judge, evaluate or preach others in their parenting. As well, in order for me to be successful in my job I need to be allies with my parents so we both can work together to help their child grow. It is a fine line that teachers walk each day, that divides what is and what is not our business to get involved in. And for me, this problem was tippy-toeing all over that line.

So, now you have the facts. What would YOU do? Send me a comment and I'll let you know later the outcome from this story.

Now and Then

Sometimes I think about all that has changed in schools since I was a kid, not to mention working as a new teacher. Sometimes I cringe, and sometimes I chuckle, sometimes I write my buddies who read my blog. So, today is nostalgia day. Prop up your tootsies and walk down memory lane with me. See if any of my memories ring a bell.

These are a few things I remember:

Then:
Men and women teachers had a dress code. Women were to wear dresses, nylons and heels. Men were to wear suits with jackets and ties. When I first started teaching the dress code was lifted so women could wear pants. Apparently I caused quite a stir with the mommies for I wore jeans. They didn't realize I couldn't afford new clothes and used my old college wardrobe. Even so, I still can't figure out how men could afford to dress in a suit every day.
Now:
To be honest...is there a dress code? I remember one teacher at my school who looked better than Britany when Britany was in. Tight, low, ummm, I guess it all goes-apparently it isn't one of the state standards.

Then:
Friday, art days and Wednesday film days. Man, when I was a kid I LOVED those days. I was talking to a fellow teacher the other day about "film days" and she had no clue what I was talking about. Schools used to have movie projectors that were on carts that rolled from room to room. On the cart was a big canvas bag filled with movies that were on various topics from art to nature to...whatever. College students wanting to be teachers had to pass the audio/visual class on how to work the projector before you were allowed into student teaching. Personally, I only passed because there was a shift change in the instructors and I lied about knowing how to thread the projector (don't tell my school district.)
Now:
What film? What art?

Then:
The cafeteria food was-food. Throughout the morning you would smell cookies baking, grilled cheese sandwiches and other yummy things. In November you would get shredded turkey with gravy over mashed potatoes the day before Thanksgiving and as a kid I would beg my mom for the 35 cents to eat in the "cafe" that day. Milk would cost a nickel and there was no such thing as low fat.
Now:
It is frankly bizarre what is served to kids nowadays under the guise of food. This crud comes in cellophane wrappers that the cafeteria workers heat up. Whenever I see this stuff I always wonder if parents know what their kids are eating for lunch. If they did, I think the cafeteria (or "barfateria" as we call it in my room) would be out of business. What's funny, is if you ask kids what they would like to eat if they had the choice (I did) it is actually healthy-who knew?

Ahh, memories. Such fun on a lazy day. Maybe you have a few too-write and let me know! Enjoy.