Well, this posting everyday did not happen. I've had a really long and busy couple of weeks since I've posted last. I'm working on my Masters in Youth Development and Leadership and since I've posted last, classes have started back. I've also gotten to know my neighbors pretty well so we spend most nights hanging out. Today is the day after Labor Day. Labor Day weekend was great but today was not. I literally woke up this morning almost sick because I didn't want to go to work. I spent most of the morning not wanting to be at work. I have to stop doing that. The day got gradually better and by the time my 8th graders came in, I was fine. One of my 8th graders can make me feel better by looking at me. She's just one of those kids who you want to be in her presence all the time. She gives off a good energy. When she walked in, I felt better. I felt a lot better. I was sitting at my computer when she walked in and said "Mama, you ok? You look like you haven't had a good day." Then she hugged me.
It's kids like her that make me want to be a teacher. I said something today to one of the parents that made a lot of sense to me and opened my eyes. I don't care about the paperwork, I don't care about the crap I get from other teachers about not being a "core subject" or the attitude from certain people in the district about the program that's being built. I realized today that I don't work for them! I don't work for the superintendent. I don't work for the principal. I don't work for the community member or parent who comes to me on a weekly basis that start conversations with "When I was in band..." I do NOT work for them! I work for the 104 students who enter my classroom on a daily basis. I work for the children who sit in the seats in my room. I work for the student who looks at me on a daily basis and says "Ms. Smith, can I help you today?" Those are the people who pay me. I am responsible to and for those people. I don't work for anyone else.
Teachers, please remember who you work for when you are in the classroom this school year. You work for the faces that you teach.
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