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The Gesture
The work needed to make a real connection with a student is well worth the effort. The Player(s) I recognized [the student] immediately. Even though it was after hours away from school, some…
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The Blame Game
The Player(s) There’s always enough blame to go around, if you’re looking. First-of-the-year issues were just about dealt with. After about 5 weeks of school things seem to settle into routine. Students, who…
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Armor, part 1
The Player(s) [the student] is smart, highly intelligent. Articulate, well-mannered, and thoughtful about responses. [the student]’s attire is older, worn, tattered. Calls home, and to CYFD have yielded no help for [the student],…
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My Responsibility
The Player(s) I watched [the student] like I always did. After a couple of days around the students you teach a teacher’s eye will automatically gravitate to certain students. My eye was always…
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The Best of Intentions
The Player(s) My intentions were good. I’d taught [the student]’s siblings. I knew the family. There was a very loose casual connection between the family and me – friends and/or relatives in common…
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When the Teacher Makes a Mistake
The Player(s) We were still in the first few days of school. It was [the student]’s first time to volunteer for anything. We were talking through how to do an assignment. Sadly, I…
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When Things Aren’t Equal
The Setup It was the whole faculty meeting and training on the very first day of our contract. We started with a very brief welcome back, recognition of service milestones, and a great…
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A Medical Condition
The Player(s) It was the first week of school. I spent most of class time the first 2 days going over policies, procedures, routines… Typical beginning-of-year stuff. I’m currently teaching middle school –…
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The Student Sleeps
I watched the eyes stare for a little too long and begin to droop. [the student] had fallen asleep. I didn’t wake [the student] up. The Player(s) [the student] was quiet, well-mannered, well-liked,…
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Presumed Guilty
That time of year: training for administering state-mandated tests. It’s always accompanied by the insinuation: the whole world knows you’re guilty of wanting to cheat. But don’t do it. The Player(s) I’d sat…
An American School
Real Stories from America's Schools
