Saturday, March 1, 2008

Something's Gotta Give

This week at school, the kids were crazy. You would think it was after spring break and that they had already taken PACT. Each day, there was at least one fight, and some days two! By Friday, ISS (In School Suspension) was packed!

Something else happened this week. A 6th grade student threw a chair at his teacher. I have taught this child for the last 3 years. Yes, he has behavior problems, doesn't want to be productive, is constantly out of his seat bothering others; but no way did I think he was capable of something like that. The teacher ended up going to the hospital, and may not be back. (Can you blame her?!)

This little boy has no stable home life whatsoever. His mom is on drugs, he and his brother are unkempt and hungry, and they fear going home because of the danger where he lives. Now, this is no excuse for his behavior, and there is only so much we can do as teachers to provide the care and compassion students like him need. His life consists of simply surviving-most of the time on the streets- school ends up at the bottom of his priorities. I'm left feeling frustrated, because at my school there are many others like him...I just hope that this time away from our school will prove to change him for the better.

No comments: