As I’ve alluded to previously, there was a real lack of heterogeneity when it came to class placement. Parents were given 100 percent free choice in which homeroom, and therefore, which program, kids were placed in. I don’t think it’s right; no one does, but it happened. I’ve been pissed off and stressed out about it, but kept running my mantra through my head “kids first, government second.” And so far, it’s working.
Last night was Open House. It was so different from last year, when I was a newly (secretly) hired student teacher/long term sub. I was TERRIFIED of Open House. It was my first ever. this year, though, I was confident and I knew the answers to the questions that came at me. Last year’s parents (in my program, we have kids for two years) already knew me, and it was a friendly conversation. New parents asked the usual questions — what the hell IS this program, anyway? And I knew how to answer them. It was great.
I came home last night, exhausted, but renewed in my faith that I can DO this. I slept like a log.
Today, I talked to a few teachers from The Other Program. One was trapped in her room and harrassed for an hour by several parents, wondering why their precious kid didn’t get into Advanced Algebra. When she stressed that they hadn’t passed placement tests, they insisted their kids just didn’t try, and that THIS year, they would try. (Tough luck, and, by the by, your lil’ genius failed her regular math test this week.) Another teacher had to defend not allowing a retake on a test that the kids failed, because they knew what was on it, and hadn’t studied.
Hearing all of this (and much more) had me seeing my silver lining. Yes, my kids have thicker files (they should sort kids by weight of files, I’m telling you, as an easy way to assure heterogeneous groups) and they have more step-parents, or they are more likely to get free lunch, and only ONE of my seventh graders has been on honor roll (as opposed to the rest of that list, which makes up a complete homeroom — “We want Johnny with all the other ‘smart’ kids from “good homes” — but damn. I also don’t deal with coddling parents, who are always working to abil out their kids, instead of letting them assume some responsibility. My kids are more self-sufficient, out of necessity. They are more likely to appreciate and need the extra care and security they get from being with the same two teachers for two years. They aren’t afraid to be creative and work with others who aren’t “from good homes.”
And, the great mystery of why they all flocked to the other program, and one homeroom in particular, may have been solved. This year, I’ve taken over Nat’l Jr, Honor Society from the other math teacher. The one that all the “good kids” requested. Now, we wonder if they thought it would give them an edge to be in NJHS by being with the advisor. I guess they’ll NEVER KNOW. HA!!!
Anyway, now I’m tired, and feeling slightly under the weather. Yoga was great excpet for the whole “can’t breathe through nose” thing. Oh well!