Okay so I wrote that boring yet positive post just hours ago. And here I am with another post... this one not as positive.
Today after school, we were meeting to discuss students who were referred for tutoring. As a tutor, I have a hand in the selection. We were meeting in the counselors office for confidentiality (it being an office, not just a classroom... and it was big enough for us to meet with a table to spread out our forms) and whatnot. There was a student brought to our attention that most of us know. One of those kids that just pulls your heartstrings because you know things are rough and he or she is just really sweet... you know? Usually wearing mismatched socks and just craves attention. Any kind of attention. Poor kid. This particular student is not at grade level in reading and was therefore referred by their teacher for tutoring. We put this student on the list and then counselor sticks her nose in where it frankly didn't belong (as she isn't involved in tutoring, we were just using her office) and said something that just made me fume. LIVID. I don't even remember the exact wording of it but it was basically, "don't waste the spot" because that student "is hopeless."
How pathetic is it that at second grade, this student's counselor and other supposedly caring adults have already written them off as hopeless? Oh it made me so angry! You don't say things like that, behind closed doors or not. But did I say anything? I couldn't. Mainly because I didn't know WHAT to say. It was ridiculous. And I hate that I didn't say anything. Obviously I'm still thinking about it five hours later... Regardless of the child's home life, mental capacity, attitude, etc, you have to show support. It can be trying and it can wear on even the most patient person's nerves, but you can't ever just give up on them!
It just makes me cry to think that this kid is seven/eight years old and people are already giving up. He has a long way to go, sure. But he won't get there if he's not given a chance. I wish there was more I could do. But I am already tutoring two nights a week with a grade level meeting another night, a (required) book study another night. And I'm going to tutor another girl (outside of my paid tutoring hours) because she's already going to be there after school but we wanted to fill as many of our slots as we could and not turn kids away.
These are the things that keep me up at night and that just drive me nuts. I'm sorry... I promise the next one will be happier, I just had to get this off my chest.
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When I first started studying education, I knew that I never wanted to hear from other teachers who the "bad" kids were. I want to know and appreciate - or not, as the case may be - each student for what I see.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started student teaching, I was warned about a particular kid. I watched the way that he interacted with my cooperating teacher before I took over the class. I could see that a huge part of his perceiving acting out was a ploy for attention. I tried interacting with him in a way that was different from what he was getting from other teachers, and he responded. He told me more than once that I was his favorite (which I took with a grain of salt), and I ended up finding him one of my most endearing and memorable students of the 130+ that I had that semester.
Sometimes, it's easier just to be quiet and let others think what they will, but pursue something on your own. You do have the power, as a teacher, to make a difference in their lives, and sometimes it's just as simple as treating them like a human being instead of as a problem.
Shesh I ramble.