They Have Never Seen The Ocean

Once in awhile I sub at school.  It's nice for a little extra money - but more importantly it gives me a glimpse into the lives of young kids.  I am jaded a little I guess. I hear a lot about how horrible public schools are...I have heard it my whole life and there is good reason. However, looking beyond the stereotype and getting past the deluge of bad information....there are children. 

I am not glossing it over. Public school is tough stuff. But here is what I have learned in an educational system that is flawed, but trying to stay alive without the foundation of a family at home. 

In a group of 7 kids for a reading tutorial...I learned 4 of them have never seen the ocean. They have never set foot on a sandy beach, they have never had a moment to gaze across those immense water and wonder...is there something or someone bigger than they are.   Most of them have never even been out of New York state. 

I have learned they grasp at any little information they can get from you to find out about your personal life. 

Kids are sneaky, but they also think it's great that they get jolly ranchers at the end of class. 

They hate to read. However, they think it's awesome I have written a book and I actually get paid to blog. It's all perspective. 

A snow day induces delirium

They want attention. 

They need a little tough love.

They need a home. The kind where mom and dad live and actually love them - this would solve 99 percent of the learning problems. 

In a comparison story where an animal was named Goliath...I asked them..."what does that tell you about the animal if his name was Goliath?".. Blank stares.

Eight seventh graders couldn't tell me who Goliath was. 

I learned what the Cinnamon Challenge was.....

People are very critical of teachers and public school.... but many of those people who fear it and criticize it... have yet to really set two feet inside it. 

I mean let that sink it....these children have never seen the ocean.

A slap in the face...

Ok, not literally. But here it goes. Blessing first.  Andrew is 9 and in the throws of all that third grade has to offer.  You can start to see the separation in the kids...the athletes, the "good" kids, the artists, the musicians...even, sigh, the "cool" kids and the "not so cool." It happens quickly as their world starts to evolve. :(
 There is one particular girl in his glass who is a HANDFUL. She is everything that would make you pull your hair out. Emotionally needy, crass, obnoxious and very disruptive in class. But, oh how she adores Andrew.
Andrew admits, he doesn't particularly LIKE her, but he thinks she is lonely. That's the most he has ever said about her. That brings us to last Friday..they do a character assembly at school. Each class has a "bucket" where kids and teachers can leave encouraging notes, from those buckets a child can be elected for his "character".  You guessed, this girl nominated Andrew twice. I looked over his certificate which gets presented in front of the whole school, and it said "Thank you, for always being nice to me".
tears. sigh. love that kid.
Moving on, Tuesday she invited him to lunch with her. She goes to a special room with a teacher because her behavioral problems sometimes cause a problem in the cafeteria. Andrew, agreed.  Doesn't sound like much, but it's lunch time without his friends, including his best friend who isn't in his class this year. It means, one on one time in a small room with a teacher and this girl. tears. sigh. and then... i felt slapped in the face.
Why did he do this? Because he thought her feelings would "feel better" if he went.
Why did I feel like I had been slapped? Because, honestly, I have been putting off a lunch date w/ a friend. Stalling, busy, kids, you name it...I had a reason not to go.  It's not that I don't like love my friend, I do. BUT...in all honesty- it can be draining. I don't agree with a lot of what she does or how she handles situations...it leaves me wanting to bop her over the head with something rather than hug her or pray with her.
tears. sigh. made the call.
I am going to lunch. Why? Because God showed me that if a 9 year old boy can be so selfless, what in heavens name is wrong with me?  So, in Andrews words, lunch will hopefully make her "feelings feel better".
putting an ice pack on my face.