College Happenings

This morning I woke up with a list of things to do on my mind. Thinking through my list I remembered that I needed to get new books for my third graders. I volunteer once a week as a literature and writing group leader for third graders. I really enjoy it. The kids always make me laugh and add something different to my week.

Thinking about what book I would pick for the month I also thought if I went back to school I would get an education certificate. I tucked that thought in the back of my head and headed off to class. After an hour of talking about Marcus Garvey, a West Indian Black who was influential to blacks in America in the 1920’s, I was headed to get some books for my kids.

Before I got to the school where I get my books I got a phone call from the gifted education lady. As soon as I heard the message I knew something was wrong. I thought back to last week and recalled one of my students crying. I thought back to weeks before when a student said he wanted to quit because we weren’t reading what he wanted to. I thought about one of my students who loses her assignments constantly.

With a feeling of dread in my stomach I called the gifted lady. Before she spoke I knew that something was wrong. “What had I done?� I asked myself.

She told me that not just one, but two parents had called her. Two! I was surprised, I had expected one, (the girl who cried), but not two. Naturally my feelings were immediately hurt and I wanted to cry. She could not tell me whose parents called and I did not ask. It didn’t really matter. I am pretty sure who called and why.

Perhaps the gifted lady suggested I was not used to the emotional needs of third graders. This is probably true. I treat them like adults. I let them know my expectations and expect them to follow through with their readings and assignments. I have told them that if they do not come to group prepared than they have to go back to the regular class and can’t participate. I don’t think this is too much. Not letting them come to group is the only thing I can use.

I told the gifted lady about the girl that cried and told her that the teacher and I had discussed it. She said that was good. I then told her that I was really upset and we should talk later. She agreed.

I am really upset. Pissed actually, but not at the kids, at the parents. What kind of a lesson is it when you tell your kids you can quit if it is too hard. The parent who said my kid will quit if they don’t get to read what they want.

To that I want to say, fine take your kid out and let him read only Harry Potter. Don’t expose him to “classic children’s literature.�

Seriously what is the lesson in quitting?

I want to quit now, I want to say, F-you, I am a freakin volunteer! I don’t get paid! I am doing your children a favor! That is what really pisses me off, is that I am VOLUNTEER! I am taking time to prepare a lesson and coming to the school every week to teach your children, to benefit your kids, and this is your thanks!

But here is the difference between me and the parents. I am not going to quit. I am going to go talk to the gifted lady and talk about ways that I can improve and better help the kids. I don’t really want to. It is hard to say, “I didn’t do it good enough, I need to improve.�

But fortunately for me, my parents never told me “If it is too hard you can quit.”