Winding up, winding down

Alice Cooper's "School's Out" Album is pictured above.  If you are really in the mood, you can click it and watch the video to his end of the year anthem.

Anyhow, the best time of year to be a teacher is at the end of the year...

              and at the beginning.

The end of the year is a happy time for teachers, but it can be a frustrating time as well.  I was listening to some students talk between classes a few weeks ago.  The students were talking about things that they probably shouldn't and I wondered to myself, "Have I taught these kids anything?"  Sometimes, I get the feeling that the students didn't learn the content of the class that I teach but also that they didn't learn morals, manners, or common courtesy.  I worry about the students going out into the world with half an education and no moral clarity.  I really do.  I like my students, and I want the best for them.  Sometimes though I wonder if they want the best for themselves.

Not long after overhearing the conversation between students that frustrated me, I attended honors night for our students at the College and Career Academy(CCA).  I always thought of these as nights for students and parents.  I never really thought of honors night as a night for teachers.  I always enjoy myself while I'm there, but it always feels like another after school obligation.  But this year, I came to a realization.  Honors night is also for teachers.

You see, when I was at honors night, I looked around at all the students and recognized so many of them (my current and former students) as good students and good people.  I watched them walk across stage and take their awards, and I spent time talking to students and families after the awards.  It made me realize that yes, my job does make a difference.  Yes these students have learned a lot, and some even have an idea what they want to do with their lives.

It was more than that though.  Some of our CCA students gave speeches.  The speeches were short - some seemed prepared and some were impromptu.  Each student though talked about what he or she loved about the CCA.  I knew that some of the ones speaking were not the best academic students.  I knew that some of them had no idea what they were going to do after graduation, even though they might have talked like they did.  However, I could tell, they'll figure it out.

I didn't really know what I wanted to do after high school.  Sometimes, I still don't know what I want to do, but I'm figuring it out.  And most of my students, even some that I question, they'll figure it out.  Some will make bad choices and end up bad places, but even some of those might remember some of the things that I taught them and find their way to good place.  They'll figure it out.

An old student, a new beginning

I ran into one of my former students from Pepperell a week or two ago.  He was never a good student.  I liked him, but I could tell he was heading from trouble from his freshman year.  He was into drinking, drugs, and parties.  From outside, one can easily see that the drug lifestlye leads nowhere good, but from inside it is hard to see.  He was a smart kid, but a terrible student.  I don't even know if he graduated, but if he did, I never thought he'd amount to much.

Well, he told me that he had just gotten out of jail.  The very day I ran into him was his first day out.  He told me that he was living the sober life and avoiding his old bad influences.  We talked for a bit, and I gave him my contact information.   Things still aren't going great for him.  He has put himself in a bad situation.  Not much education, a criminal record, past drug addiction, bad family relationships, and more.  But he is keeping in contact.  He is still sober.  He is still trying.  He is still figuring it out.  He may slide back into old ways, but maybe not.  He can figure it out.  Even though he isn't where I (or he) would want him to be, he's moving toward a better place.  He is making a new beginning.

and beginnings are even better than endings.

So while school winding down is definitely a happy time for teachers and students, and while I look forward to summer break immensely, I'm already starting to think about next year.  I'll have a new group of students to teach, a new group of students to lead, new methods to try, and a new year to try.  Yes, beginnings are even better than endings.  Without beginnings, there would be no endings, and most jobs don't get new beginnings every year.  I'm glad I work in one that does.