This was a tough one. A very kind parishioner said her grandkids had outgrown their board games, puzzles, and toys. Could we make use of them? Sure!
I walked into the school the next day and walked through a wall of stale cigarette smell (like thick, awful, stale) and a dust ball. The dust ball was similar to the one that followed Charles Shultz's Pigpen through his Charlie Brown Life!
No argument here - the "gift" went right back out the door to the trash.
Sometimes "givers" assume that it does not matter the condition or smell of a gift - a poor kid will like anything!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
The "Good-doers" Part II
The next group to have our students as recipients of Christmas giving was the high school that was connected to our building (in name only). They moved to the suburbs, and the elementary school took over the old high school building.
The high school had a Giving Tree. Each of our student's first name, age, and sex was listed. Then the H.S. students could choose the student for whom they would buy. There was a service group that would coordinate everything with the help of advisors and the labor of the school secretary. Thank you, Chris! The service group would bake cookies to be brought to the school as a treat for the students on the day the gifts were delivered.
The challenge with this activity was keeping the kids in their skins when they knew the high schoolers were coming. Talk about wild energy and electricity running through the building. All in all this was a good experience. Had one teacher meltdown when she refused to let the kids have their gifts because she wanted them to "settle down". Not possible, believe me, when this giving gets rolling.
Occasionally, a child would throw a tantrum because they didn't get what someone else had. One girl, and she was a girl with a girl's name, consistently received a boy gift every year for four years! How does that happen? The H.S. students did a splendid job, and as the practice occurred each year, it got better. We tried to get the H.S. kids more involved with our student body, but distance between the two schools prevented any regular visits. I suspect, too, that the powers that be at the H.S. were leary of the "neighborhood" in which we educated children. (Didn't stop the alums from coming back to see their old stomping grounds and reminisce. ) Oh well. This "good doing" created some very positive memories for our kids. Good 'nuff!
The high school had a Giving Tree. Each of our student's first name, age, and sex was listed. Then the H.S. students could choose the student for whom they would buy. There was a service group that would coordinate everything with the help of advisors and the labor of the school secretary. Thank you, Chris! The service group would bake cookies to be brought to the school as a treat for the students on the day the gifts were delivered.
The challenge with this activity was keeping the kids in their skins when they knew the high schoolers were coming. Talk about wild energy and electricity running through the building. All in all this was a good experience. Had one teacher meltdown when she refused to let the kids have their gifts because she wanted them to "settle down". Not possible, believe me, when this giving gets rolling.
Occasionally, a child would throw a tantrum because they didn't get what someone else had. One girl, and she was a girl with a girl's name, consistently received a boy gift every year for four years! How does that happen? The H.S. students did a splendid job, and as the practice occurred each year, it got better. We tried to get the H.S. kids more involved with our student body, but distance between the two schools prevented any regular visits. I suspect, too, that the powers that be at the H.S. were leary of the "neighborhood" in which we educated children. (Didn't stop the alums from coming back to see their old stomping grounds and reminisce. ) Oh well. This "good doing" created some very positive memories for our kids. Good 'nuff!
The "Good-doers"
A car conversation brought to mind the "Season of the Good-Doers". Please do not interpret this as a criticism of those who help others. It's more a commentary on being a thoughtful giver. The school secretary was a kind, happy person who was rather direct in speaking her thoughts. She coined the phrase "the good-doers".
Our school consisted mainly of families who lived at or below the federal poverty level. In many ways, the poverty was one of spirit as well as financial. At Christmas, we would be flooded with calls from organizations that wanted to help by providing gifts for the kids. I wasn't certain how to orchestrate the whole process, so group by group I will relate the story.
There was the wealthy suburban church that wanted to provide a gift for each child. I asked them to purchase books for reading for the kids. That went over like a lead balloon, but I persisted and won. The teachers developed lists of fun books for the students to have in the classroom. Of course, then I dealt with the few teachers who listed some book out of print that they loved as a kid and were certain that our urban kids would love. I didn't learn to review the lists (in my spare time) until I would get phone calls saying the giver couldn't find the book. Some people would give up and give gift cards, so the teachers would have to do the shopping (in their spare time!)
Of course, after the first year, I did ask the teachers to type the lists because I ended up retyping quickly scribbled lists that were rushed to make the deadline. I am not in any way criticizing this giving practice. We got some great books for the children and they were able to take them home at the end of the year. But (and isn't there always one?) the church people required that we go out to their church and pick the gifts up. It was probably a 50 minute drive from my home. We did it - for the kids.
Our school consisted mainly of families who lived at or below the federal poverty level. In many ways, the poverty was one of spirit as well as financial. At Christmas, we would be flooded with calls from organizations that wanted to help by providing gifts for the kids. I wasn't certain how to orchestrate the whole process, so group by group I will relate the story.
There was the wealthy suburban church that wanted to provide a gift for each child. I asked them to purchase books for reading for the kids. That went over like a lead balloon, but I persisted and won. The teachers developed lists of fun books for the students to have in the classroom. Of course, then I dealt with the few teachers who listed some book out of print that they loved as a kid and were certain that our urban kids would love. I didn't learn to review the lists (in my spare time) until I would get phone calls saying the giver couldn't find the book. Some people would give up and give gift cards, so the teachers would have to do the shopping (in their spare time!)
Of course, after the first year, I did ask the teachers to type the lists because I ended up retyping quickly scribbled lists that were rushed to make the deadline. I am not in any way criticizing this giving practice. We got some great books for the children and they were able to take them home at the end of the year. But (and isn't there always one?) the church people required that we go out to their church and pick the gifts up. It was probably a 50 minute drive from my home. We did it - for the kids.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Speaking of retirement- 42 years in a plastic bag
I spent this morning going through a bag of files I brought home two years ago. In one bag I found two half bottles of Pepto Bismol. Does that speak for job stress or what? It was a grin to read all the paperwork: grant rewards, letters of recommendation, old contracts (since I worked for a parochial school, they were a hoot), certificates, workshop agendas, transcripts, and credentials etc.
It's funny - forty two years in a plastic bag. They were good years and challenging and growth filled years. I want to try and resurrect some of my memories and chronicle them in these writings.
It's funny - forty two years in a plastic bag. They were good years and challenging and growth filled years. I want to try and resurrect some of my memories and chronicle them in these writings.
Heartbreak
Received an email from one of my teachers. (I retired two years ago!). One of our former students shot and killed himself last week. He was 21, and left three children. The reality hit when I read the obituary. J. was such a smart kid. He wasn't "bored", he just did not see the value in what was going on in the classroom. He wouldn't do his work, so I consulted with his grandmother and I allowed him to pass on the basis of his standardized test scores. The kid scored off the charts. My hope was he would find the challenge in high school that he needed.
I recall speaking with him at the last graduation I attended. He had been booted from his high school and made some choices that earned him more trouble, but it seemed as if he was turning his life around. It is a tragedy that plays out all over this country. Don't know what is the answer, and I know that this isn't just another urban problem.
I recall speaking with him at the last graduation I attended. He had been booted from his high school and made some choices that earned him more trouble, but it seemed as if he was turning his life around. It is a tragedy that plays out all over this country. Don't know what is the answer, and I know that this isn't just another urban problem.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Frustration X 10
I just read an on-line "evaluation" of my school. I cannot turn away kids because they come from a public school. The parent's opinion was fair to a point. We had a terrible school year in 2007-2008. Hands down, I agree. However, there were many suspensions- she just wasn't paying attention. There are two sides to every story, and in the case of schools- there are fifty sides.
We just can't willy-nilly suspend. If it is the parent of whom I am thinking- her child was on her third school in two years. There's a story there. But, of course, we are not privy to that information.
Many of the parents with whom I deal are no more than kids themselves. They really don't get it. SO we are not just educating little ones- we are educating their parental units, as well. I still love the kids in our school; and I know that every teacher is putting his/her all into making the future a brighter place for our children. We are not perfect, and we are not going to make everyone happy. The greatest critics of schools are people who couldn't get their way -reasonable or not !
We just can't willy-nilly suspend. If it is the parent of whom I am thinking- her child was on her third school in two years. There's a story there. But, of course, we are not privy to that information.
Many of the parents with whom I deal are no more than kids themselves. They really don't get it. SO we are not just educating little ones- we are educating their parental units, as well. I still love the kids in our school; and I know that every teacher is putting his/her all into making the future a brighter place for our children. We are not perfect, and we are not going to make everyone happy. The greatest critics of schools are people who couldn't get their way -reasonable or not !
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