Dear Teacher Who Likes to Party,
In case any teacher needs an explanation, a partying teacher is the one who just signed off on an end of the year checklist and heard her administrator say, “Have a nice summer.”
Don’t mind if I do (in nine more days).
As a student, the ecstacy of the last bell of the school year was grand, but Good Lord is it even better as a paid adult.
But the partying, I’m referencing is the surprise party that happened last week during 5th period, well, mostly a surprise anyway. She knew they were planning something, but not to the extent of being locked out of her own classroom, so they could retrieve the balloons, goodies, and a birthday cake stored in a neighboring teacher’s classroom.
On the board, in big bold letters, the phrase, “We love you, muchly” was scrawled across the center with the word “muchly” circled as if to signal to their English teacher that they were correcting their own grammar. Oh, the love!
She is 29 for the 29th time. They know because it has been an extra credit question at least 29 times.
Her favorite part about being 29 again is that she is more patient, more understanding, and less gullible around teens. Though she never would have admitted it, there was a time she wanted to be their friend. Now she sees herself as a mentor and celebrates each year that she is closer to retirement. Her energy is waning.
And all God’s teachers said, “Amen.”
But even with energy that is fading more by the day, she must be doing something right because they are the most respectful bunch she has ever taught. She rarely has a cell phone issue, and they are a tight knit group from such diverse backgrounds: multiple races, varied extra-curricular activities, differing socio-economic statuses- a real-life 21st Century Breakfast Club.
They are so unique and special she struggles to put into words just how amazing they really are, so she sums it up with the truth- “I can’t say why they are so special, they just are.”
And maybe they “are” because she “is.”
She is a survivor of pandemic teaching, which she swears in only for the young- those who are 29 or younger. She wonders if she has taught her students anything during this COVID year, but she does not wonder if she has learned anything.
She’s learned all the buzz words we’ve been asked to extend to kids, such as grace, compassion, and flexibility, must also be applied to ourselves.
She’s learned self-care has been vital to surviving all the pressure and turmoil.
She’s learned that teaching in a pandemic is a lot like childbirth. One often forgets the pain of a moment once it is gone.
She’s also learned strength comes from the doing. “We’ve done it. The kids have done it, and we are ultimately stronger for it.”
Above all, she’s learned there’s never going to be another group like 5th period.
Because of this, she makes a special point to project a thank you note on the board the next day.
The words were not shaped like a heart, but they could have been.
“It is a rare occurrence that I get a group of students who, as a group, are so cohesive, so hard-working, and so kind. I loved you when you were merely names on my roster in August before I ever met you. But now at the end, I feel honored, blessed, lucky, to have been able to experience what you bring to this school, this classroom, this life.”
My guess is she's brought a great deal to their lives too.
She’s right. It’s hard to say how or why they are so special, but I have no doubt it starts with her.
Otherwise, why in the world would a motley crew of teenagers (often viewed as the most self-absorbed people on the planet) bring her 29 balloons?
-CDB