Back to School... Four - Back for more...

Reflection - Week 4

Four - Back for more...


We have New Classrooms!!!

Our New Temporary (Permanent) Classrooms!!!

The Long Walk to Educational Freedom...

Building of the Structures for the Grade 8 Classes

Monday Assembly - In 'full' Attendance...

The Grounds, 3 Weeks ago - BEFORE the 'New Developments'...

After Weeks of feeling like a weathered leaf, blown about by the Cape Doctor - Southern Eastern, our temporary (permanent?) structures were made available for occupation! We were able to move most of the Grade 9 to 10s out of the Community Center and back to the School-grounds. The Grade 8s are still being accommodated in the Church Hall, but plans are in place to have them move into their own classes by Monday next, as soon as their pre-fabricated classrooms are put into place. What an exciting start to the Week. Shiny New Classrooms and excited 'new' faces - back-to-School, we go!!!

Space...

...and...

...Opportunity!!!

On the Academic Front, I was able to make some headway with 'my' Grade 11 and 12s, regarding the Short Stories for English FAL (First Additional Language) and HL (Home Language). We even managed to work in a piece of Transactional Writing this Week - The CV and Letter of Application. This linked up well with the Lesson I had for Life Orientation - Careers and Career Choices. The Learners were also busy with their Prepared Reading for English, Oral for Afrikaans and their PATs (Personal Assessment Portfolios) for the Tourism Class. It seemed, like we were finally getting back on track and on the way to normalcy at School...

I was feeling a renewed appreciation for the experience (joys and woes) of Teaching and the blessings of being able to connect with so many young bright minds. The Learners and I were coming to some sort of an understanding with each other. It even seemed like I was getting through, to some of the regular 'Clowns' and 'Hooligans' in the higher Grades...

Then... The End of the Week arrives...

As discussed and arranged with my Mentors in ENG and LO, I was to continue with the work that I started with the Grade 11 and 12 Classes, while they attempt to get their Grade 10s up to speed... Up until this Stage, the lower Grades still had very little actual Classroom-time and had 3 Weeks of Work to catch up on... This was no Big Issue, as I have already been attending to 'my' Classes on my own, since the previous week...

I was quite surprised however, when I was called upon (during my 1st Period Lesson), to be told, I was 'needed' somewhere else - to attend to a Class, while the Teacher went to the Bank? It was Pay-day for the Teachers and he would be back soon... From my experience of the previous Friday (when 6 Teachers were absent), I thought... I would simply have to keep an eye on the Learners, while they were busy with their work, which was left for them by their Classroom Teacher. I would run between Classes, as I did not have the space to simply add these Kids to my Grade 11 Class, as was done the Week before... Luckily, I thought to myself... It wouldn't be too bad... It was not Friday the 13th...

I was mistaken!

I put the Grade 11s to work - complete their CVs and Letter of Application, and made my way over to the 'new' block of Classrooms. I found out, I have inherited the Math Classes of Grade 9 and 10...

Now, I am of the Opinion, that each and every Critter and Creation on this beautiful blue ball that we call Mother Earth, is worthy and deserving of Respect. I try to honor this 'Personal Rule' of mine at all times... In practice, this can sometimes be a tall order, I have come to realize... Try as you may, to treat others with Respect, Dignity and Compassion... That does not necessarily mean, the same will be afforded to you. Not everybody is as concerned with your wishes and well-being, as they are with their own concerns and 'priorities'...

Upon my arrival at the 'new' Classroom, the Grade 9Ds seemed to have lost their minds??? The Desks were upturned, lewd writing on the Walls and Blackboard, Papers and Garbage strewn all over the Classroom-floor, Loud Music being blasted from their Mobiles and Mini Beat-boxes - a General Scene of Chaos!!!

I tried for the better half of two periods, to get back some order and get the kids back into the classroom and into their desks. It seemed futile... Fights (Mock or Real) constantly breaking out, on account of Bags, Clothing and Books being hidden or thrown about or out the Windows. Cursing at each other, with a clear attitude of Contempt and Disrespect for their fellow Learners and the Teacher. As they have already lost 4 Weeks of the Semester, it was made very clear by the Learners, that they had no interest in getting on with their Schoolwork... By Break-time, their Class-teacher had still not returned to 'relieve' me and I decided to seek out the Senior or more experienced Teachers for advice or HELP??? I was informed that the 9Ds, 9Gs and 9Es were the 'Problem Classes' and that I will have to 'make do'... "Keep them busy...", was the best advice on offer... I still had 4 more Periods with them 'little Angels'!!! I had this eerie feeling, that this was the reason that these Classes were handed to the 'Stupid Student Teacher'. What doesn't kill you... May just leave you, with ever-lasting Scars... All the best Theories relating to Discipline and Classroom Management, goes up in Smoke when the Classroom is on Fire...

Excellent kindling...

Back-to-back Classes of Madness and Mayhem, with not a lot of support from my 'colleagues' did not leave me with a very positive 'feel' on this fateful Friday... I did not feel a lot of Love for the Profession, as I stepped out of the Gates that afternoon. I do realize, however, that One (or more) Bad Day(s)... Does not make a Lifetime of Experiences... There was still a Lesson to be learned from this.

There will always be People, who will try to take advantage of one's kindness and soft heartedness...

Respect, Compassion and Love should be reserved for those who Value, Appreciate and Treasure it.