It was exactly three years ago when it all happened. At the time, I was so hurt that I could hardly talk about it; I would get teary eyed... For weeks and months I was hoping to get a phone call, email, or any sign from anyone saying sorry and that I am missed… Not even my good friend, whom I helped through tough times, physical and emotional…
The only communication I ever got was from a girl, unaware
of the situation, asking me for help with the school’s newspaper. I answered
but never heard back from her. And then one time I emailed, by error, one of
the mothers, mistaking her for someone else, and received a cold reply saying
she has no idea what am I talking about …
With time the pain subsided; I returned to the public
schools system, and this small, private, religious school was forgotten.
Then, few weeks ago, exactly three years later, at a special
screening of an ethnic movie, I saw one of my darling students. She was one of six
girls that were the pride of the school, and my favorite group. And this
student was the brightest and the best…
For a while I hesitated, not sure, but then, all of a
sudden, without thinking twice, I stepped forward and said something to the
fact that this is my favorite ex-student.
Both she, and her mother, did recognized me, told me
where she were since (8th to 11th), and then
told me about the rest, and what high school they go to now.
It was only when I departed and asked them to send my
love to the other girls, that my emotions came full strength, and tearing, I
could hardly finish my sentence… It took me another hour, well into the movie,
to get back to myself and the pain to faint to the past.
It was a small religious school that invited me for an
interview about a month after the school year had started. They told me that
the previous teacher of several years had unexpectedly left, and the newly
hired is not liked by the students, and being replaced.
I should have been alarmed by this information, but teaching
a sample lesson to these darling group of girls I thought I found what I always
wanted, students who like to learn, supportive parents, helpful administration,
and an opportunity to teach the way I want.
For the first few months I was the hero teacher. My
students’ parents were all happy. Parents of younger kids expressed hope I will
be there when their kids get to my class. Students told me they understood
things now that they had never before, administrators were all approving, and
other teachers invited me to their homes for family celebration.
Before the holidays I received many gifts, both from
parents and from administrators and teachers, and at a school holiday
celebration I was highly praised by my students, with wishes and even with a
cute poem. Everyone cheered for my celebrity…
Then, only few days later, just before the end of the
semester, a parent wanted to talk to me. She met first with the head master of
the school, and their meeting lasted for a very long time. At the end of it,
she ignored me and the head master wanted to talk to me…
To my surprise, I learned that the principal was not
happy with my performance, claimed that students don’t understand me, said I
don’t use enough technology, and so on…
I was astounded, and asked her only half seriously if it
means that she plans on firing me. Her answer was not re-assuring at all. Later
I tried to get more information of what was it all about, and eventually
realized it will be better if I just quit.
I, somehow, managed to teach to the end of the school
day, and following an email exchange later in the day it was clear that I
should not come back. I still had to fight for my last paycheck, but when it
was over I was just left to wonder what had happened.
It took me months to put together events and time line, to
realize that the great celebration before the holidays was also before the
report cards. This mother with whom I had to meet had two kids as my students,
cute and smart but spoiled and undisciplined, and although I did not fail any
of my students, and even ‘D’ was rare, I didn’t hesitate to award ‘C’s to many
students, and her kids too…
This woman, however, was rich and well-connected, and the
school needed her money and influence. They couldn’t effort losing her over a math
grade, so they got rid of me.
This was not the only case of unhappy parents with their
student’s grade, I assume. Many of my students were sons and daughters of
influential people in the school and community, a fact that gave them and their
children entitlement to special treatment. The school depended on their money
and influence and could not effort to lose them …
It is a sad story, but not a rare one. Sad for me as I was
attached to the students and was doing a good job. But even more consequential
was its reflection on the education system. It is not rare that private schools
depend on parents’ satisfactions, translates to money… So to keep students and
parents happy they get (buy) good grades. And with no a standard, mandatory measure
of objective achievement, no one will ever know…
