Going Anyway

Thank You

Friday, May 5

I don't remember what it was like to not be sick. I'm feeling better, but I'm still extremely stuffed up.

On Tuesday, I just felt like not doing anything. On Wednesday, I was busy, and yesterday, I finally started getting work done. I need to finish planning for next week over the weekend, and I also need to grade some more papers. I hope to get all this done over the weekend.

Tomorrow Ava and I are running concessions for a music competition the high school is hosting. It's going to be an all day thing because we are working shifts in the morning and afternoon. We will get a long break mid-morning. (I shouldn't do it because I'm sick though, but I don't like quitting things.) The point is: it's going to be a busy weekend, and I was stressing out about it this morning, trying to get some work done in advance during my free hour.

That was when the principal, Jeff, came in. He's a larger black gentleman who never wears a suit. He's a guy who has little discipline, and I'm a strict teacher. I'm encouraging, but if students don't get their homework done, they get a 30 minute detention in order to get their points. If they don't show up to detention, they don't get any points. I also call parents for every detention given out. (Nancy has so many late projects and assignments because she just didn't show up to detention, and her mom just doesn't care.) I typically won't remedy assignments, but I don't want her to fail. Overall, by the first month, kids knew the drill, and I didn't have to give that many detentions after a few weeks. I do not give homework out every night because I think busy work is dumb. Because of that though, I do grade on accuracy, and students who fail the assignment are also required to work with me after school that day. I do not consider that detention, but I let their parents know.

Jeff is no help when it comes to disciplining kids, so I do it on my own. That sounds bad, doesn't it? It's not like I beat them with a stick.

I was writing the plans for the next week on the board, and I put the marker down when I saw it was Jeff. "Hey," I said to him. There's little formality in this school, too.

"Where were you yesterday afternoon?"

"You mean why wasn't I at the party?"

"Yeah." He was holding a few envelope, I noticed. "These are for you."

"I was helping a few kids." I took the letters from him. "Thanks."

"Well, since you missed the party, can I buy you coffee?"

I ran a hand through my hair. "You don't have to do that."

"Steven, let me buy you coffee. What kind do you want?"

I gave him a shy smile. "Iced coffee with Irish cream and caramel. Extra ice."

"I'm on it."

"Thank you. You really don't have to do that."

He came over to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "I know you and me haven't always seen eye to eye, but I want you know I will really miss you. You've given our eighth graders the hope of graduating and even going college. All I can say is thank you because I know you get minimal appreciation. I mean, you missed the appreciation party because you were going above and beyond. Don't think that goes unnoticed."

Okay, that meant a lot, even though I would've never admitted it.

I shook my head a little, putting a hand up. "Aww, no, I'm just doin' my job."

"No, you're doing more than anyone else is in this building. And you know that."

"Thank you."

To be honest, that conversation just makes me feel guilty for leaving the district. I know I can make a difference here, and I don't know if I can in Iowa because they're a little more put together up there when it comes to education(and in general). Do they really need me up there more than they need me down here?

Is Ava's education worth not helping hundreds of students down here?

Whether it is or not, time will tell.