If there is a teacher who does not pray for today's students, he or she should not be teaching.
We are so challenged today by youth and the much-talked-about "lost generation." Even as a part-time teacher, I am moved to tears many days out of shear frustration.
What comes first, the egg or the chicken? Who's to blame, parents or teachers?
Well, sometimes I believe it is both. When we do not pray for students in school for God's helping hand, our days are so much more challenging.
So, I have a student who is CHALLENGING with his behavior. He gives me migraines, but I love him. Well, I had to pray for him on Monday because I simply was tired of writing him up for poor behavior issues (disruptive, disrespectful, damaging property...). Then I took a deep breath and said, "Lord, help me to help this child."
Briefly, what happened is that I became distracted for a minute and when I looked up, I could not find the ""Office Referral Form." I did not feel like starting over so I took the kid outside the classroom and asked, "What's wrong with you everyday acting like a fool? Aren't you tired of being sent to the office yet?"
He balked at first and I told him to count to ten backwards. Then I asked him the same questions again. He explained that he has to move to a relative's house because his mother is going into drug treatment. He began to cry.
In short, I gave him some words of encouragement about the Village loving him enough to help. I asked him if he could promise to control acting out negatively and if he wanted to go to Guidance anytime, he could. He asked me for a hug. I gave him one.
Today, is Thursday and this boy has been the creme of the crop alllll week. Twice he asked me for a hug. It was not even during my class time with him. He just saw me doing hall monitoring and asked for a hug. Tomorrow I am taking him a treat. He does not know it, but I am so excited to do this. I am giving him a "goody" bag with Halloween pencils and stickers and a few pieces of candy. I intend to praise him for his good behavior and encourage him to keep trying.
Back to the Office Referral. God interceded when I asked for His help.
Agnes B. Levine
Author of: "Cooling Well Water: A Collection of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" ISBN 0975461206 Winter 2008 Release Pending
www.myspace.com/coolingwellwater (Subscribe Now)
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Posted By: agnes levine
Thursday, October 30th 2008 at 4:48PM
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