40 Minutes
Two weeks ago I was walking down the hall at school during classtime and I saw a student standing outside a room looking in the window. I said, "Hey, what are you doing in the hallway looking in windows?" He answered, "What are you doing in the hallway looking in windows?"And that became the next couple of weeks of my life.
He wouldn't tell me where he was supposed to be. Campus security was busy elsewhere. So it fell to me to find out who the young man was and where he belonged. It turned out that a teacher let him out of class early and he was loitering outside his brother's classroom. Every question I asked was met with a sneer and a returned question, most of which started with "Why should I...?" He kept telling me that I wasn't his teacher and I kept affirming that I really, really knew that. After 20 minutes of fact-finding, detention-assigning, and detention-walking-out-on, the young man was released back into the wild.
My follow-up was to go to the teacher who let him out and ask her to give the young man the detention slip I had written up for him: 20 minutes for window-peeking, 20 minutes for disrespect. His follow-up was to make up stories about me and tell them to his dad.
Now, don't get me wrong. If my son comes home some day and tells me that one of his teachers is following him around, harrassing him, saying nasty things about him to his other students...well, I'll be upset. It won't put me in a killing rage, but I'll be upset. This kid's dad was more than upset though. He was mad. So mad that...
...he came looking for me.
...campus security spent the week patrolling my classroom.
...the VP had me lock my door, y'know, "just in case."
And when we finally had our conference on Friday--me, the parents, the student, the AP and the VP--I spent 25 minutes being threatened, intimidated, and verbally abused. These parents honestly did not have a problem with what their child said. In fact, it's what they have taught him to do. If someone in authority asks you a question, you ask them one right back. I wonder how this is going to work for this young man the first time he is pulled over by a policeman for rolling through a stop sign.
After a while I got up and left. The dad was going to follow me out but our large VP stood up and kept him at bay. According to reports, the conference went on for some time after my departure and was, at all times, audible to the entire main office. The final result was that the student spent the prescribed 40 minutes of detention with the Assistant Principal.
How will this all play out? I honestly don't know. I've been doing this job too long to change now. The next time I see a kid in the hall who's not supposed to be there, I'm going to ask him where he belongs. I don't think anything has really been done to deter this young man from continuing his pattern. (It should be noted that my friend, Jim, has also seen him in the halls during class and my friend, Carolyn, was called an incredibly offensive and obscene name by him a few months ago. To date, he continues to enjoy his place on the tennis team and his job as a T.A. across the hall from me.) And dad? Well, I'll probably get to meet up with him next Monday at Open House. He has no access to the campus normally, but all parents are encouraged to be here that night. Time will tell if he decides to pay me a visit.
This has been a lousy school year and this is the icing on the cake. Sometimes I feel like God is putting His two large hands squarely on my back and pushing me towards a different career. Other times I look at the big picture and realize that last year was great and next year probably will be again. But when you're in the thick of it, it makes it awfully hard to get up in the morning. Pray for safety. Pray for blackened hearts. Pray for my students.
Pray, pray, pray. It's the best, sometimes the only, solution for everything.
posted by Thurman8er @ 8:38 AM
3 Comments:
Looks like I blew that (previous comment about yelling parents becoming pussy cats when they meet with you and V.P.) prediction.
I'm so sorry Steve that the meeting went as it did and although I would love to see you preach full time, don't give up on touching the lives of kids just yet. You have the "gift" and the kids need it. Hang in there my Math Brother.
As for the kid and his parents, "pay-day" sadly is coming for them. We all know that we'll always have someone in authority over us and with that comes certain expectations on our part. Well, all of us know that except this kid and his parents.
Glad you were protected. Stay out of trouble, o.k.?
Steve,
I don't know you - found you through Greg - but enjoy your thoughts and struggles (I was a teacher for a year before coming over here).
Am praying for you - keep standing up for what's right. All those around who DO want what is right are appreciative (although you may never see it much).
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