The only stable place…

The only stable place…

August 31, 2006, 10:07 am
Filed under: Job description

For many of my students, school is the only stable place in their lives. It feels weird to be viewed as such a rock in the lives of students whose lives outside of school are many times chaotic and dangerous.

Sometimes a student will do almost nothing but sleep at school. On the surface, this is an offense that most teachers would not tolerate. But for some, their father deals drugs from the home, their mothers bring in new boyfriends every night, or sell themselves for drugs or money. How’s a kid supposed to sleep through that? Or they’re awoken by gun shots, and have to sleep on the floor to be safe. How about the kid whose “guardian” watches porn in the same room they’re trying to sleep in? Sometimes school is the only “safe” place to sleep.

Many students come to school sick. Many come to school after being beaten up on the street or by their “guardian.” I have had students who have lost family members, even mothers or fathers, that don’t miss a day of school.

Sometimes students will do nothing but mouth off to staff and other students at school; again, an offense that many teachers wouldn’t tolerate. But many kids have so much anger and hate built up inside from what they has to deal with. They knows that they can “vent” and we as teachers can’t slap them or throw them across the room, or deprive them of their food. If they act up we can’t sexually assault them, or verbally abuse them. If they get into a fight with another student, they know we’re not supposed to let it get out of hand; we’ll step in and break up the fight. Sometimes school is the only “safe” place to let out your feelings.

Dealing with inappropriate behavior is complicated. Knowing what lies behind inappropriate behavior is useful in addressing the real issues; but those issues are even more complicated. On my school-issued identification badge it lists my job title as Teacher/Counselor. I probably spend more time doing the latter. I don’t mind. My students need to know how to act appropriately, even more than they need the academics. If they don’t learn how to act, they’ll end up dead, or in prison – a burden to society. Someone must teach them the skills. Someone must empower them.

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