I always complain that UAB's education curriculum is lacking. I mean, they don't teach you what to do when your janitors constantly hang in the teachers' lounge when you are trying to poo. They don't tell you what to do when a kid pees in his desk on purpose. They don't teach you how to balance working, going to school, having a family, and having a life, and today I realized they don't teach you what to do when a student passes away.
News spreads like wildfire on facebook, so I already knew the girl had passed away before I got to school, but it still didn't give me time to prepare. What do you do when a 17 year-old boy falls into your arms sobbing like a baby? What do you do when kids are devastated by a reality they never knew existed? What do you do when a child cries out to you, "But things like this aren't supposed to happen here?"
Classes on strategic teaching and reading in the content area and measurements and evaluations don't teach you how to care for your students, how to cry with your students, how to help your students heal. I am beyond thankful that I didn't teach the girl who passed away. That sounds awful, but I really don't think I could have made it through the day. I have such a bond and connection with my kids, my heart was breaking vicariously. If I had known her.... I shudder to imagine how I would have coped.
Tonight, as a teacher, I love my students a little more. Tonight, as a parent, I love my son a little more. Tonight, as a student, I wish UAB had taught me a little more.
1 comment:
We really need an educational psychology class....one that teaches us how to cope psychologically!! I understand what you mean about being glad it wasn't one of yours...I dread the time when one of my kids' friends kills his or her stupid self accidentally!!
I love that my captcha for this comment is "BERFUF"...I might actually start using that term!!
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