[etni] fw: What I get out of being a teacher
- From: "Ask" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
- To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 06:54:12 +0200
From: "Aviva Shapiro" - alshapirose@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: What I get out of being a teacher
Dear friends and fellow hardworking teachers,
Today I walked out of my last yud bet class.I feel both sad and very
elated.
I have finished teaching the most difficult class in my more than 20 years
of teaching. They are 30 very rowdy kids (mostly boys) who will complete
their 4 point exam by taking modules D and E on Monday , January 16th.
I am completely exhausted by them. I have spent many sleepless nights
reflecting on why some lessons were noisy and unproductive. I have redone
things and retaught material . I have patroled the classroom while they took
exams. to catch my 'cheaters'. I have spent hours of my 'free time in 'one
to one' talks both to scold and praise them.
They have made me laugh but also made me cry. Nevertheless today when
I said good bye I mostly felt sad. This was a class that one body wanted
and
everyone pitied me for having but it turned out to be one of my favorite
classes. It was NEVER dull It was NEVER quiet.. I never sat down in this
class. And I certainly worked my butt off. I wanted all the kids to succeed.
I felt bad when the few quiet ones suffered in silence while the majority of
noisy ones roared. I tried to help the weak and challenge the strong. Yes
I am worn out. But I will NEVER forget any of the kids in this class and I
feel thankful that I got to be their teacher.For they have made me think
and see differently.
For it is only with obstacles in our way that we as people and as teachers
grow. Having had to deal with a million and one obstacles and 30 very
different souls has enriched me and strengthened me.
I am not totally naive. I know that I didn't reach all the kids. I know that
I could have done better. I know that some of them will still think cheating
is ok as long you don't get caught but I pray that most of the kids will
remember me telling them that they can pass the test by themselves.
I hope that these words will ring in their ears as strongly as the applause
they gave me today rang in my ears.(touched my heart).
It is amazing how a few (well 30 ) clapping hands can restore ones' faith
and make you feel good. Absolutely amazing. To me this is why we spend
hours of our weekends correctling and planning, why we sometimes (maybe
even often) neglect our families and friends to get their work graded
quickly
and so on. I don't know how many more years I will teach or how many more
classes like this one I will have the energy to take on but I thank my lucky
stars for this "obstacle" and won't be afraid to encounter another such
class in the future.
Good luck to all of us on MONDAY. Hoping for a fair test.
Aviva
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