A pen, black or blue it is what most people use for writing
or taking notes. I take one to school with me each day, whether it is for my
own use or to assist teachers with admin I also have one. Living in our current
world I realise that one has to protect your property and look after it. After
the first week the first pen was gone. Thinking that I left it somewhere or a
learner took it, but me being naïve I never considered one of the learners in
the classes that I teach the most. It is one of the other classes that I had to
observe or help out at, definitely not my classes. Taking pen two, I select one
which is marked and that I know not a single learner can lay claim to. Last week
pen two disappears. This now officially an issues for me, I start thinking of
precautionary measures and possible solutions to these disappearing pens. For
this week is browed pens from learners each period and returned it to them
after the period, inconvenient at times but cheaper than my other alternative.
Thursday approaches, teaching mathematically literacy and
going out of my way to help all the learners and help them individually
understand. There is one boy, who asks something every five minutes and
celebrates when he understands. I took this as I complement, thinking that if
it is only this one learner that I help its ok. End of the period and this boy
has another question; I am at his desk trying to think of a different approach
to his problem. Low and behold… there is one of my pens, written Hoerskool
Postmasburg on it. I was stunned, disappointed and sad.
Friday, ‘my class’ (as I have them for all three of my
subjects) need an invigilator. There is pen number two, a blood bank pen. Investigation
showed that this pen has been traveling through the entire class since they
took it from my possession. This week I intend to ask one of the teachers some
of their class time to have a serious discussion with these learners and very
clearly communicating my disappointment. Hopefully the results will be more respect and
a better attitude towards education and educators – only time will tell.
Fortunately, I do not need to teach these learners further,
so their reaction to our discussion I might still teach them. This was quite a
shock to my system this whole event with the pens. This was supposed to be my
class, the one place where is would surely be able to make a difference. These learners
are smart and I believe this may be a contributing factor to why teachers have disciplinary
issues with them, they are ahead with work and then disciplinary issues arise.
This was a challenge I saw and fully embraced and then just when I tough that I
have built both individual and a class relationship with these learners, it
blows up and I see that I was surely fooling myself.
Entering the next week, I look forward to teaching other
classes, having fun and building new relationships. The classes that have been
allocated practicing teachers welcome them with open arms, thus other opportunities
for me.
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