Wow, I've Got a Lot to Learn

I went looking at some other blogs, and boy, this is boring in comparison. Where do people find the time to add the doodads and thingy-dingies?

Anyway, the school where I teach is a gem. We have a smaller than average middle school population and an administration that is committed and caring. I don't think I could have landed in a finer patch of clover.

I liked school when I was younger, and I still like school today. I like the rhythms of the school year, I like the camaraderie, and I like the energy of possibility. The wonderful thing about middle school students is that every day is a new day. In some ways, middle school teaching is similar to training puppies. They are clumsy, in-between childhood and adulthood, frequently eager to please, but often unsure how to do it, and life is difficult to imagine beyond today.

The students I feel sorry for are the ones who have been turned into adults by unfortunate circumstances. I feel sorry for the ones who have parents in jail, who need to take care of younger siblings because mom (or dad, or both) have to work two or more jobs and are out of the home for 11-12 hours a day, and I feel sorry for the ones who are dealing with homes that are being strained by alcohol or drug abuse. These kids are growing up, but they are often forced to grow up way too fast and with too little guidance to help them keep to the paths that will take them somewhere better.

When I get the opportunity to get to know my students better, I admire their strength and resilience, and I go home and thank my parents for my "normal" upbringing.