Kontan.

Since it is feeling almost like spring outside I decided to get rid of the snow theme for a while. Winter may make another showing, here in the South you never know. I counted my days and am officially gone from TCS (the charter school). There are parts that I will miss. The schedule, set up like a college MWF/TR schedule, was wonderful. Having first and second periods off was extremely convenient. I loved teaching US and AP US History. However, like all jobs there were headaches. This particular had about 15 in my fourth period class. It was AP and I pushed them. I expected them to be self accountable. I gave them the tools to study and research. I didn’t quiz them constantly or test them on every detail. I made them write and I didn’t tell them how spectacular their BS ability was. Instead, I called them on it and told them they had given me a well written essay with no substance. Most of them knew how to write and had been told their entire academic career how wonderful they were. It would have been easier to tell them the same, but when you read an entire essay that has no supporting detail and is riddled with generalities you are not doing them a favor by giving a good grade and ignoring the lack of substance. AP readers and college professors won’t tolerate that. Their multiple choice questions were greater than knowledge based learning. A large portion of the class didn’t like it. Others rose to the occasion and sought excellence. I saw one student move from a generous low C to a low A. She worked so hard for every point.

When the students were told that I was leaving there was mixed reaction. My music students were disappointed and very concerned about what would happen to their class. I don’t blame them, the new teacher is not a music person and we had been having so much fun with our Stomp preparations. My honors students were taken by surprise but understood you do what you have to do. A good portion of my AP students were visibly elated. They had already decided that they would achieve great things with another teacher.

One individual decided to organize a farewell celebration. Keep in mind please that this was not a “we will miss you” going away party. I don’t know how to describe it, but it was very clear that this was a “don’t let the door hit ya” kind of send off. On the last day I gave a final quiz and afterward the organizer asked if the girls could share the snacks they had brought, I looked up and quietly stated, “my concern is entering grades and letting each individual know where they stand in the class…you can celebrate after I leave.” I don’t think the irritation I feel is because of this immature handling of my departure, it is because this student is one that I went out of my way to help. It is necessary for me to realize that he skipped a grade and is younger than the rest, but that doesn’t change the fact that he had followers. I received the following apology from a student who I have great respect for:

I’m terribly sorry how your last week went at TCS, at least with our class. I never wanted it to end that way. I just hope you don’t think the entire class disliked you. That’s not true, but I’m afraid you’re under that impression. I’d like you to know that I’ll miss you. Class won’t be the same. In all seriousness, your class may have been my favorite this year. I’ve always loved history. It’s such a fascinating subject. I hope that you enjoy teaching at your new school and I wish you the best of luck there.

Why is it that the students who need to apologize are never the students who do?

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