This piece started as a comment on swan's previous post, "More Tales from the Schoolroom," and it became so long, as it evolved, that I decided it needed to become a fully-fledged post. What follows is the "comment" that grew to be a post:)
In order to get the impact of this, you need the context. This particular class has been the scourge of the school. Each year as they have progressed through the school, (small parochial school with little ingress or egress of students in a pretty stable community, so there is significant continuity of the students in the class throughout their elementary years) the teachers who have had them have had one of their "worst years ever." These are kids who have supposedly incorrigible behaviors towards each other, and their adults. "They are resistant to learning" is how they are billed. They are tough and just bad. They are "gang like." They have parents who are supposedly incompetent in their parenting and unsupportive of school.
The three boys who broke out of line and hugged her are the largest, toughest, "baddest", coolest guys who happen to be African American (not a relevant factor other than in understanding how contrary this behavior is to culturally normative behavior for their ages and peers) guys who would likely be headed for significantly troubled adolescences. swan's work in recognizing and validating their self-concepts, reinforcing that they are good, rewarding their sort of being the "dirty dozen" or "black sheep squadron" who can out perform everyone else, and in loving them by rewarding them, making learning fun, and responding to serious out of line behavior with the ruthlessness of an avenging angel, is transforming them. No, I don't mean she disciplines them for not filling out the headings on their papers correctly, or not putting their lunch tickets in the lunch ticket pouch in an orderly fashion...such as her predecessors chose to go to war with them over. She is particularly emphasizing behaviors which are cruel to other students, and working with them to understand what is meant by behavior that is "civilized" and "compassionate." She has a zero tolerance policy for bullying among her class whether in school or out. I wonder that her Catholic, Christian colleagues haven't bothered to teach those lessons, and here the rank heathen lurking clandestinely among them, is noting that until those lessons are learned, she can try to teach them to solve algebra equations until she and they are blue in the face and it won't matter.
These bad boys (who are learning she has a special love for "bad boys," as have I:) have found an adult who cares enough to emphasize what matters, who will accept nothing less than their liking themselves, and being good to each other, who will keep them safe, and who insists they learn, and who tells them why they must learn to be happy and successful (and better yet to confound their detractors:) Too, she has become someone who they don't want to disappoint or displease, mostly because they sincerely like her, but somewhat too because she has demonstrated that she will make their life a living hell if they insist on violating some of her most sacrosanct rules. (Be nice and life is the best ever, be bad and ....well, you just don't want to think about how that will be:) I don't know if many of these kids have ever had that relationship with an adult before.
I know I am rambling inanely, but I am just so outrageously proud of her.
Oh yeah too, the school psychologist came in to observe some of the kids on IEP's to see how their school year is starting out. She knows all these kids because, over the years, all of them have been referred to her numerous times because they are so "troubled." She left the observation shaking her head incredulously at the orderly class room, with students participating constructively, without rancor or disruption. swan learned later that the psychologist went to the principal and suggested that all the young teachers be required to spend periods of time observing and being mentored by her:) Thank god she has no degree in education as her colleagues have. I am beginning to think that perhaps college education combining mining engineering, economics, and business administration is the optimum teacher preparation regimen.
OK I'll shut up now, but I know she will never tell you how really wonderful this is, and how astounding it is for these three in particular to be coming to her to hug her and lead the class in a group hug.
I feel like I'm living through "To Sir With Love." (Recognizing I may well be the only one old enough to remember that movie.)
I am so thrilled and proud to have swan in my life, to love her and to be honored to be loved by her. Who she is and her achievements as an educator swell me with pride.
Not bad for people who have no integrity and live their lives taking the "low road" as we have been told recently by our DD guru friends.
Swan You Are, Of Course, Mine All Ways and Always,
Tom
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined.
Two wonderful posts....nice to see someone so proud of their love.....and no, you are not the only one old enough to remember "To Sir, With Love" there are at least two of us!!
ReplyDeleteKaren
Wonderful post! I think swan must be the kind of teacher that kids remember all their lives. PS: I remember the movie, too! Meow
ReplyDeleteThat was a lovely tribute to swan's beautiful post, and to her skills as a teacher. You are truly lucky to have her in your life.
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember TSWL. Lulu sang the theme song.
Hugs,
Hermione
I, too, remember, To Sir, with Love. My Sir was a Mr. Roger Vaughan, fifth grade, who realized why I didn't fit in, had me tested and then made sure my class work was supplemented with enough other interesting stuff to keep me from being bored to tears.
ReplyDeleteI've had adolescent psych patients that responded to exactly the kind of love and treatment that Swan provides in the class room. I was lucky enough to find a social worker who would teach the parents what the kids needed.
What the world needs is lots more Swans!
Lyn
I love your pride in Swan and your open support, love, and encouragement of her. That you are her biggest cheerleader moves me.
ReplyDeleteOf course, her teaching skills and ways of relating to her students is just wonderful to all involved, including those of us who get read about the developments.
Yes, I remember To Sir With Love also.
And the last thing I wanted to say, is that perhaps you need a different group of friends. Anyone who feels the need to tell you that you "have no integrity" and that you live your life taking the "low road" is not worthy to be called friend. imho.
Thank you for letting us all witness your love for your Swan.
Tapestry
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteVery good, Tom.. Wonderful to read about Sue's teaching. I was a teacher and had my own special qualities but this was not one of them, I would have liked it to be.
ReplyDeleteYour DD guru "friends"? I'm surprised at what you say they say.