nowhere I’d rather be

There will be an “end of the year.” The summer will come. The desks will be cleaned out. The roster will change.

 

And those are the facts that bring me to the paradoxical truth of this passion called teaching: a way of life which breaks my heart and makes me beg for seconds. I am madly in love with each individual little person taking up breathing, living and learning space in our old 1950’s-built classroom with the huge windows. If you know me, you are not surprised that I refuse to draw the blinds. The Aspens on the north side always remain visable. I am conviced that my kids learn better brightly lit and wide-open, not dimmed and vacuum packed. My “little executives” I call them, reminding them that school is their “job”— five days a week, seven hours a day, with heavy workloads, deadlines, co-workers and a demanding (yet loving) boss. When I remind them of this very grown-up responsibility, their backs straighten, hands fold neatly on top of desks. Suddenly, they are dignified. ”Wow…” I trail off and pause for about five seconds, time enough to place my eye on each one, ”You guys look like you are ready to change the world.”

To that they nod and smile like a dog eager to be let off his leash.   

~ by Jen on November 15, 2007.