I had a 2010 corps member come to school with me Friday. I warned her about what she would see. That one of my kids has both is parents deployed to Afghanistan and is really angry and scared. Another is screaming for attention from a mom who is never home, and he thinks he's 29. Another is just super ADHD. Another isn't wanted at home, and acts up in class. And another who speaks no English...just to name a few.
There is a lot of anger, and a lot of fights. I just didn't think they would all combine for Pandora's Box in one single day. Especially the day when we have a visitor all day.
Four boys went crazy, and when administration came for them, they said they didn't want to go, and administration looked at me and said, "We'll, I can't make them go if they don't want to."
I called parents.
"I just think you have management issues, Ms. Passey." (But could be true...but I don't think I'm the only one with issues....)
By 9:30 I had broken down in tears in front of all my kids, and this poor girl who is coming to B'more to teach next year. (Which wasn't really called for, but once they started to come, there was no stopping them.)
The class next door had a sub, so they were crazy (and remember how we have no walls?).
The first grade class on the other side (you know, the one with 31 kids) had one of the students LEGIT try and strangle another kid. Seriously, squeezing his neck with intent to stop air. For Real. So there was much throwing of desks (I don't know why this was necessary, but it seemed to add to the "I'm Serious! You better let go of his neck!" nature of the affair.) and wailing of children. Don't worry, the little strangler wasn't suspended. He came back for round two of "who can I strangle" two hours later.
After a rough morning, we went outside to get some of our energy out, when two kids got into a "I'm not backing down, EVER" kind of fight where I had to restrain them, while I tried to get the rest of the twenty kids into a line to go inside.
I didn't actually every get a chance to teach math, or social studies. In fact, I'm pretty sure no learning took place Friday. But you can't win them all. I mean, I'm also pretty sure no one died (or quit their job) so that counts for something.
At the end of the day the new 2010 corps member I'm pretty sure was traumatized. But at least now she knows what she's gotten herself into, right?
7 comments:
I don't know how you didn't cry sooner. I don't know how you don't cry walking into the door. I am so sorry for you and those kids with sad homes.
Good luck.
Wow. All I can say is I'm so sorry! I hope this week is better.
Where are those warm fuzzy inner city success stories??!!
Just sending some love, from one Baltimore girl to another.
Too bad you aren't a first year and I can just say, "It'll get better!" while feeling just a little bit guilty inside.
But I'll get to see you soon! Love you!
Here's that love:
lovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelove..............................and so on. :)
Good luck! We had fun times in D.C. with people threatening each other with cheese slicers and throwing rocks at the door. But nobody tried to legitimately kill anyone. Daniel went to school a few weeks as part of law school. His first day one of the students threatened their ROTC teacher and had to be removed. So scary. Makes me want to give them all big hugs...and give you a break!!! Janay-michelle's sister. Who is glad this is your last year.
Oh MAN! I was shocked when my first graders were snickering about the word sex. Hang in there!
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