While I am never satisfied with how well I taught or with how well students learned to reason and each to be a better person (I aim for what MLK Jr. said education should be about in his “The Purpose of Education”), I must have made some positive impact and done some good over the past school year (in a private school in Western MA).
1. The seniors gave me a few lines in the senior song in the school’s class song contest. I was told that being mentioned is a “rare honor,” especially for a teacher new to the school. (They mentioned that I don’t wear shoes. LOL. (I wear sandals in school, all year long.))
2. The seniors gave me a few scenes in the “senior follies“ video that they made for the end of the year, to be shown in a school assembly. In the “follies,“ seniors, dressed up as teachers or administrators, make fun of their foibles and praise some of their strengths. I was told that being included is also a “rare honor” for a teacher new to the school. I didn’t get a full, complete treatment — only three or four teachers did — but I did get a few bit parts.
A male student wore pants and an untucked dress shirt, and was barefoot. In one scene, some teachers were sitting around a table in a meeting, and “I“ was up on the table doing push-ups barefoot.
Hahahahahahahha
The Head of School spoke in the assembly after the video was shown. To my surprise, he mentioned to everyone how rare it was for a new teacher to be included in the “follies,“ and had everyone give me a round of applause. The students were already standing, so that means I got a standing ovation. 🙂
3. After the graduation ceremony for the seniors, off campus, I got nine roses from seniors. The seniors are each given some roses, which they can give in gratitude to teachers, whoever they choose.
4. A number of students wanted me to sign their yearbooks. I tried to write something significant, not just sign my name, so my hand got tired. I had to shake it out a few times.
5. After an award ceremony on campus, and after the graduation ceremony off campus, lots of students wanted to get a picture with me. One girl even jumped up and down like a little kid after I said yes, she could take a picture with me. 🙂 Now there is respect. 🙂