The End

Okay, so I did cry with one 8th grade class after the last posting. I have one of my classes for 45 minutes every other day for a study-hall type of thing. Almost the entire room was in tears when the bell sounded, and we had a huge all person hug. It was very sad, but a great way to end.

On Tuesday my 8th graders were "promoted" to the 9th grade. It's sad to think about, but most of them won't make it to their 12th grade graduation. The drop out rate in St. Louis city is horrendous.

The last day of school for all students was today. They were a bit ridiculous, but it was a good day. Where did the idea that students should do nothing on the last day of school come from? My kids have never been able to sit around and do nothing, because that adds up to loud noise, students out of their seats, yelling, and fighting. I see it evey day in other rooms. Why do they think that will suddenly change today? They were up in arms because they were asked to write a 1 sentence answer to about 25 questions. I was in awe. I thought they were kidding. Sit around for 90 minutes?

They whined (in unison!), "it's the last day of school!!".
Me: "What was that?"
Them: "The last day of school, whine, pout, complain."
Me: "Wait. The last day of what, now?"
Them: "Ugghhh. School."
Me: "There you go! We're at school! Will I make you tuck in your shirt tomorrow?"
Them: "Huhhhhh, no."
Me: "Will I give you an assignment?"
Them: "NO!"
Me: "Why in heavens not?"
Them: "There's no school, thank GOD!"
Me: "That's right. But there is school today. End of discussion."

For most of them, it was. After that they were more open to end of the year stuff. It's a shame, but I have taken to generally ignoring the kids most of the time. Not in all things, only when they're talking. Usually, they talk primarily to complain. You can always tell by the way they begin a sentence if they are going to complain. I took them seriously up until about November. Desperately tried to figure out what the problem was. There wasn't one. I've actually asked them one day what they would prefer to do. The next day, we did it. Guess what? Still complained! I just ignore it now.

There is something awful and exciting about being done with this school year. I feel incomplete. It's odd. I don't have to mentally plan my day for tomorrow. I have no lesson plan to internalize. No parents to call. No anything!

I go back to my building tomorrow to check out. I am almost entirely done. Even so, I am required to be in the bulding for at least 2 hours, so I am going to make copies for 1st quarter next year.

We are beginning the school year earlier next year. The first day of school is August 14th. We will be ending (according to rumors) in May sometime.

Also tomorrow I will be signing my contract. There are going to be individual conferences with the administrative team and we will be presented with our contracts. I am crossing my fingers for a bigger raise than I know is coming. This year, I was one of 7 teachers that made less than everyone else. The difference? We're Teach For America. So we are members of an elite organization that accepts 12% of its applicants and have a history of inhumanly hard work. What do they do? Pay us a grand less than their lowest paid first year teachers. What's the raise? The same salary that the lowest paid "regular" first year teachers received this year. I don't know if we'll be able to negotiate, but I'll try.

If I could, I'd work for free. I can't. I've got bills to pay, and on this salary, we barely slip by.

I can't wait for next year. Until then, I'll probably have very little to say.

Lisa