I have to say, when I first found out I was being switched to teach a 10th grade Keystone class, I wondered exactly what was going on. It replaced an ACT prep class I was teaching, and this new class had nothing to do with math. I really had no idea what it was when I first heard the news. I hadnt taught 10th graders in several years. So all that comes together to say, I just wasnt real excited about the whole deal. That was back early in the summer. Late this summer, I began to learn a little more about what this class is, and now its one of my favorite classes to teach! Its kind of like a life skills class, where were (Mrs. Candace Churchwell and I teach this class together.) tasked with trying to help these young kids find themselves and find their way. Weve been talking about living a principled life for almost two weeks now, and today was an amazing way to wrap it up. Yesterday, one of our students left us a note, asking if she could share her story of being bullied. We obliged. So today, she sat in front of the entire class and read five pages she wrote that told her story. She talked about being teased, beat, and tormented by classmates, and about it all being ignored by those who were tasked with protecting her. While not everyone in the class was touched, I saw a few tears and most listened intently as she described her life. After she shared, another student told her own story of being bullied, resulting in what she described as losing trust in everyone and feeling helpless and hopeless and lonely, even when surrounded by people. The best part was after the bell rang to dismiss class. Thats when several students walked over to those who shared, offering to be there for them whenever they were needed. In four short weeks, these kids have shared more than I ever thought they would. They are learning to see people, not just as they appear in fleeting encounters, but for the people they really are. This class, that I first wondered if it was punishment or castigation of some sort, has become one of the highlights of my day. So thank you Mr. Ashley, for switching me to teach this Keystone class!
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 02:20:25 +0000
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