Sub Vision: School Closure 2

On the last week of school before closure, I was at one of my favorite special education classes. This school has the best special education program, with the most qualified and dedicated teachers, most of whom I had known for years, since I worked there.

This group of students I was teaching just before the closure, are 12^th graders now.  I had taught this same group, for several weeks, four years ago, when they were 9th graders, as the school lost their permanent teacher and before they hired a new one.

This was quite a difficult group of students, smart but resentful, especially because their previous substitute teacher was much more lenient…

Over the years, I had seen them in different classrooms and watched them growing up. Some of them gained a foot in height, boys added facial hair and deeper voices, and the girls became young, smart looking, ladies. Most of them are now thoughtful young adults, taking responsibilities and seriously planning for their future.

With time, even the students who resented me most, became more friendly and appreciative, and just on that same week, the assistant told me, to my surprise, that one of the boys, with whom I  had many discipline issues, said he likes that I am their substitute teacher.

If the closure continues until the end of the school year, as they predict, it means I would not see this group of students at the school any more. I was already feeling sad every time I saw them, knowing they will graduate this year. Now I may not even see them before graduation…

Of course, I feel for them too. They will miss the thrill that comes with being the graduating class, respected by the younger students, befriended by teachers and staff, as they absorb the last memories of school days, realizing they will be leaving soon. And what about graduation ceremony, prom, senior activities and pranks? all those memories that carry you throughout life…

All through the school year students, teachers and staff are waiting for few days off, and the more the better. Now that we have them in abundance we wish we didn’t…