The Hard Ones

After months of these small oddities, the teacher spotted a bruise in a weird place. Secretly, she called the hotline, hoping they could find the “something” she suspected but had no idea how to prove. This was the role of teacher after teacher through the entirety of Cynthia’s schooling. There was always a “reason” for the bruising that seemed well practiced and she had plenty of excuses for every little thing.

    “They was drug dealers, Mrs. Adams. We done moved to a new place and the basketball court is right outside my window. They be doing drugs and being loud all night long. I can’t get no sleep.”

Alfy waltzed into my classroom the first week of school with the charm of a gameshow host. Cheesy smile, boisterous presence, and humorous personality. As the weeks went on, his charmful façade eroded to expose the deep root of anger that could erupt without warning. Defensive angry words. Hurtful cuss words directed at other students. And defiance toward all authority figures.

Are you looking at your students through glasses of love? Or glasses of frustration? Preconceived ideas? Or Weariness? How can you work on changing those glasses this week?