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A debt of gratitude
without measure
That’s My Opinion
By Bob Robinson
I’ve been wanting to write this column for quite a while, but finding,
editing, formatting and posting stories for County News Online has been
unbelievably time consuming. CNO is a demanding mistress.
Add to that my workload at Edison – teaching a humanities course and
filling in for a colleague’s introductory art course after he had
emergency surgery – and my plate was full.
Most of you already know I’m an adjunct instructor at Edison Community
College. Have been for nearly 10 years. Forever being the glutton for
punishment, this fall I took on a new challenge…
Substitute teaching at local schools.
While I am licensed to “sub” in all county districts, my assignments
have been coming from Greenville Schools. The calls I’ve received from
other districts always seem to come after I’ve accepted an assignment
in Greenville. So far I’ve been at the high school, junior high, East
and Woodland Heights.
The experience has been interesting. Radically different from what I’m
used to at the college level… even with the number of post-secondary
students I’ve had in my classes.
When I applied for my license I felt I’d be most comfortable at the
high school level. I’ve been working with Key Club kids for several
years and am currently working with IMTV students on their new
endeavor, Digital Waves, which is scheduled to go “live” on Monday.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I had few surprises at the high school level. As I’d already learned,
some kids were easier to work with than others. Some were more
motivated than others. Some kids really wanted to learn, others didn’t
seem to care… they were biding their time, either to turn 18 or to
graduate. From the lesson plans I was given by their teachers I could
tell they do their best to challenge all students in their particular
fields of study.
East was fun… I’d forgotten what it was like to be an 8 or 9-year old,
especially as they try to transition from a single-room single-teacher
environment to limited class movements with a variety of teachers
during the day. They were eager and ready to learn but had to be
challenged to concentrate.
Junior high was a surprise. A pleasant one. I’d been led to believe
this was the toughest group of kids to work with. I found it to be the
exact opposite. They sometimes struggled, but they wanted to learn.
Almost without exception. They were also friendly. When I took my lunch
breaks I was invited to sit with several of them, and in one case, had
the opportunity to have a long discussion with a student who was “at
risk” due to his behavior.
The next time I was there I saw him in the hall between classes… he
assured me he was keeping his nose clean.
What blew me away, though, was sub’ing at Woodland Heights. I’ve had
two kindergarten classes. These bright, shiny little faces will warm
the heart of the crotchetiest old man. I ought to know. I am one.
I had originally said “no” to substituting at the lower grades for fear
of not being able to connect with the students. Supt. Susie Riegle and
Woodland Heights Principal Tammy Stritenberger challenged me, saying
that they disagreed, and that the male influence was especially needed
at the K-2 level.
They were right. It was rewarding beyond belief! Stritenberger told me
that my “kneecaps” were going to get a lot of hugs. She was right.
While there were many highlights to my experiences there, one stands
out more than the others. One class was attentive and responsive during
“story reading” while another seemed much more interested in my Texas
A&M ring and talking and bickering among themselves. At one point,
I had a tough time getting and keeping their attention, so I asked “Are
you taking advantage of me because I’m new here?”
Every last one of them responded with a loud “NO!!!” Then went right
back to doing what they were doing before. When I was able to stop
chuckling to myself, we finally got down to the business at hand.
I’ve learned three things from these experiences, which I hope to
repeat for a long time to come.
The first is that some kids may present challenges, but every one,
without exception, is a precious gift to our society. They are ours –
and those we ask on our behalf – to mold into productive leaders of the
future.
The second? As we count our blessings during this Christmas season, I
have one more that I can add to my 67 years… the opportunity to work
with our youth in one of the most important environments of their young
lives.
The third is that a good teacher is worth his or her weight in gold.
I almost went into education more than a half century ago, but chose a
different path. I’m not sorry I did, but feel privileged to step into
the shoes – if even for a day – of those who accepted that challenge…
And are excelling in it.
The debt of gratitude that we owe this unique group of individuals is
without measure.
That's my opinion. What's yours?
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