Prayers Answered

I've been praying desperately for assistance with the approaching onslaught of parents angered over their children's incomplete grades. (Incomplete is anything under a C-, gross, huh?)

The answer came in a way I wasn't expecting.

I was up front with my students today about the flack I've been getting lately regarding my policies being too harsh.

Last week was a very bad week full of tears, breakdowns, venting, and significant reconsideration regarding these issues.

So I revised my policies according to suggestions to help students succeed.

They were all in a frenzy about this change.

They hate it. They like my old policy better. They think I'm so "nice." They think I'm so "great." They think if students are doing badly it's because they're just not turning in any work.

They started a petition to switch back to my old policy and to tell other critics of my policies to stop picking on me.


Seriously?


They were so defensive of me. And so reassuring. It was nice to hear these things from my own students, who a week ago I was crying over because I was convinced they hated me.


Sometimes, the place we teachers need to go to know that we're doing a good job, to know that our students appreciate us, and to know that we're not "too harsh," is directly to the source.


Thank you, students, for all you said and did today. You were the answer to my prayers. I love you.

Comments

Tonia Z said…
And it doesn't matter if it is year 1, or year 10 (or year 25 according to Mike)... but October is just a hard month to get through. Glad you found a resolution to your problem. Once the kids figure out you are on the same team, it makes for a TOTALLY new adventure. Good Job!!
November 2, 2009 at 9:36 PM
StacyB said…
See, they do love you, and so do I. Good job, Nae! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
November 2, 2009 at 9:39 PM
StacyB said…
"Team Work" would be a fabulous motto for your class, Miss Balibrea. Essentially, that is what you do every day in class. Maybe a big, huge banner in your classroom would be appropriate.
November 2, 2009 at 10:22 PM
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