I have a brief story that I'd like to share from my observation last semester that's related to everything we've been talking about. I was sitting in on an ISS session at Leavenworth high school when this young girl came up to me and the three teachers I was with, “Do you think it’s OK if I eat these (a bag of cheese nips)?” The faculty is almost thrown back wondering why she would even ask, but then she says, “Ya know.... ‘cause of the iron and everything…” And then continued, as she cupped both hands over her stomach, “Ya know because I’m pregnant.” The faculty roared, “Again?! Again?!” The young lady said, “Yeah, same guy! I couldn’t believe it! I was not happy when I found out. I was pretty disappointed and it’s the same guy.” Again and again, she noted that it was the same guy. She acted as if this was surprising. She simply was not excited that she was pregnant again. The faculty said to her, “Girl, you need to practice some abstinence?” She laughed and was un-phased. It seemed that abstinence was not really an option. Another faculty member said, “Yeah you get more action than I do.” The young girl burst out in laughter and walked back to her table with her open cheese nips in hand.
When this happened I couldn't believe it, she hadn't even graduated high school yet and she was pregnant for the second time. It truly awwed me. It makes me reflect what truly is our role as a teacher, what are we really supposed to do if someone comes up and is pregnant for the second time, or is a foster child who has been beaten the night before, or a student who just doesn't know that they have worth and are loved?
After everything we have been talking about, it has become a reality that next year we are going to be facing these students no matter where we are at. No matter what, every student we face will be dealing with some type of issue, even if it is small. I once heard in a talk, that "no one can escape life" No one can escape life! No one! I think as future teachers we need to remember this next year. Every student will have struggles throughout our time with them. Every student we look at needs love, every student we see needs a mentor and someone who they can come to in the midst of these struggles. No matter the problem we truly do have to be a light in the darkness. We truly do have to be an inspiration, no matter what or how we teach, I believe our goal should be to help these students live a better life. I have heard people say that teachers can be the difference, and I never really believed it until now. We can be the difference in a students life, and quite frankly we HAVE to be the difference for so many lives. I think as we go on to next year, no matter what the students exterior potrays, no one can escape life, and no matter the problem we, along with the counselors and paras can help. We need to utilize use both of these people because if we truly are going to have an impact on anyone's life we can't do it alone. We have to be the miracle in their life, and I truly believe that that is our role as teachers.
I can certainly pick out your voice at the conclusion of this post, Sean. I had never heard that phrase, "No one can escape life," before. How true! Reflecting upon my time tutoring at the alternative school for Schools as Community class last semester, I met and worked with a variety of students that included a few moms. One student also had two children, boys, and had not yet reached the age of 18. It was a neat experience to be able to get to know her one-on-one by talking with her about her sons while also working on a research paper about a career that she is interested in. Although we will face plenty of our own troubles in the classroom, I agree that we can be inspirations as teachers to help students to live better lives. That is the point of an education: to grow in knowledge and as a person in general. I feel that both that student and I grew as people because of our time together in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteSean, I really liked what you had to say. We certainly have no idea what each of our students will be facing. This is why personal relationships with our students is so important. We are all getting in to this profession in order to help students and I think that many of us are facing many of these issues for the first time. One thing that I keep coming back to in my reflections over the classes the last few weeks is how important it is to constantly keep working to become better people. The better that we are the more capable we will be to help other out. The line that comes to mind right now is Mr. Rueb discussing self reflection and saying that it is vital, not as a teacher but as a human being.
ReplyDeleteNO ONE CAN ESCAPE LIFE. Sean, you are so right. I cannot believe that the teachers made jokes along with the girl. If we joke about pregnancy it makes it seem like it's ok and can be a laughing matter when teen pregnancy is the furthest from that. When you said that we have to be the inspiration for our students that is completely right. We have to realize that some students do not have a support system at home or even a role model in the home. So, we have to give that outlet for students, we should do all that we can for our students.
ReplyDeleteYou're awesome, Sean. And your post just makes me want to be that much better of a teacher. Sometimes I worry about when i'm a teacher whether or not my students will even learn any math becuase of all the time I will end up spending on things that they need mentally and emotionally that have nothing to do with algebra. I know that we just have to do the best we can, and I think that all of us have the potential to be life-changing agents in these students.
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