New Kids, New Hassles, New Lessons to Learn.

So I was recently confronted with the fact that I teach at a great school. I teach a great class. I have LOVED going into work this year. And I still do, but something happened this past week that has made me realize how great I have it at my school.

I have a very small class size this year, 23 students showed up at the beginning of the year, as one student decided to attend Amish school instead of Westview. Knowing that I had the smallest class size, it was inevitable that when a new student arrived, they would be placed (most likely) in my class. And low and behold, on Tuesday, my principal entered my room to inform me that this was to be the case starting the following day, Wednesday.

Great, turns out it is a female student who has moved in from another state. So I grab a desk, write out a name tag and laminate it at the end of school, and then pull together all of the materials my new ward would need.

My class was so excited when I told them that we were to get a new student. I was excited too, until the next day, when reality hit. My new student entered the room.

I know I have it good, the students in my class are great workers, no complaining, just minimal management issues. Sure I have one or two who have a little attitude, but we're working on that, and they're willing to work with me. I was nervous when the first few words out of the new student's mouth were, "I don't like to read."

It wasn't the fact that she said it, it was how she said it. With wide eyes, boisterous enough for the rest of the class to hear, and a little giggle under her breath. I knew I was going to have my hands full when she continued to shout out at times that were completely inappropriate, and even my not-so-socially-aware kids were looking at her in puzzlement. But I could handle this, a little out of the ordinary, a little rough around the edges, but I can get through this... right?

Day two: Wardrobe Mishaps.

Like most schools, we have a dress code. My little girl, decided to ignore these and wear her halter-top dress. Thankfully the principal caught this before I did, and gave her own jacket to my new girl to help her cover up. Though her justification for wearing such an outfit to school was that her bra straps were not showing as she was not wearing one. Great.

Day three: Money for Exchange of Services.

On the third day of school, my new girl arrives with five dollars. I see her playing around with it, and I inform her to either keep it in her pocket or her backpack. Later on, I see her messing with it again, and tell her one last time to put it away. Then I check my e-mail. Apparently, she had informed another teacher that she had earned this five dollar bill from accepting a dare from another student to kiss a boy on the bus. She and the other boy did so (but didn't ever really kiss, they just got close enough to make it look like they were...), and she earned five bucks. After reading the e-mail, I confront my girl about the matter, to which she informs me that this is true, through her giggles, and that she just doesn't know what to tell people about her boyfriends, since she's had so many already. Nine, to be exact. Whoa buddy.

In the course of three days, I have had more to deal with than I have the previous nine weeks. I've forgotten how easy I have it with the school I'm at, with the students that have been placed in my class, it truly is remarkable that my biggest issue lies within smart alack comments. Now I realize, those days might be over. And I find myself wishing that this little girl would move again sometime so that way I could have my old class back.

And here's where I have to stop myself. Because I know that this girl's life, has been so different from my own. It's the students like her that need teachers the most. Teachers who truly do care about them, whether or not they succeed. Teachers who provide a place that helps students like her realize that they are worth something. That they don't need to resort to accepting bribes to get the attention they desire. That there's more to life than what they have experienced so far. I know that I will probably not turn this girl's life around. But maybe, if I watch my words and actions, I might be able to turn her day around. And even though it's a lot more work for me in the long run, and my patience will be tried, I hope I get to see just one more day with her in my class.