Observations From the Last Days of School

School is out in eight days. I'm finished in nine days. I can't wait!! I have plans to spend the summer with my girls and family, just having fun.

Unfortuantely there's a long haul leading to the finish. There is so much to be accomplished between now and then I wonder how I'll do it.

But, here's the thing: every year I wonder how I could possibly get it all done. Yet, every year I'm finished with time to spare.

There are placement cards, Language Arts portfolios and cumulative records to fill out. There are report cards to complete and an entire room to pack up for the summer. This year, (fingers crossed!!) I hope to be packing up for moving purposes. All of this must be done while still providing educational opportunities for the little angels. The same little angels that are less and less angelic as the days progress. I love each of my students. They are kind, sweet, generous souls who really care about one another--usually. The end of the school year inspires them to come unhinged. Mix this with hot HOT classrooms and outside temps in the 90's with lots of humidity. Add one impatient teacher and 15 anxious children. This is a recipe for grumpyitis on all sides.

In previous years we could count on the administration to assist where needed to make the closing of school run smoothly. In fact, our previous principal would take a grade level's children for one and a half hours one afternoon so the teachers would have ample opportunity to work. Not so this year.

I have been disappointed to discover my principal won't stand up for her teachers. My good friend Bridget was being verbally abused and assaulted by a parent this morning. Our principal was there to witness as the insults went flying. The berating lasted about ten minutes and the principal did nothing to stop it. This just breaks my heart, especially as the insults were personal. "You have a vile personality." "I would stop listening to you after 30 seconds because your personality is so offensive."

While my girlfriend knows in her heart this is most certainly not an accurate assessment of her personality, when invective such as this is hurled at you, you have a difficult time ignoring it.

To add insult to injury, Bridget was then physically abused by a student this afternoon. The child punched her hard in the back, leaving a bruise along her spine. He also kicked her, punched her and bent her fingers back in an effort to escape her grip as she escorted him to the office. There he proceeded to punch the principal and throw a chair at her as well.

I wish I could say this is uncommon for this little boy. Unfortunately Bridget and her students have been dealing with his anger and agression all year. We were told to take care of problems in our own classrooms and to leave the assistant administrator alone. So, she did, and has been abused all year. Did I mention this angel is a kindergartener???

I am not paid enough to be physically abused by my children! The really tragic element to this tale is the boy was diagnosed with some mental disorder before school began. His mother decided at that time that she did NOT want him to have medication that could help level his emotions, so we, the educators are left to suffer.

As a parent, how can you not help heal your child by whatever means necessary when they are obviously crying out for help??

So, the end of the year should be interesting. Thoughts on retentions tomorrow.

'night!