Winding Down...

Well folks...test time is here again - which means that lovely vacation time is here again! YEA!

I can't beleive that I made it through an entire year! One whole year! Three terms, endless projects, report books like wow, homework correcting, uniform checking...three terms. I am very proud of me.

Tune in for the year in review. lol. Our best moments EVA! lol

industrial action

It has been a mighty interesting term for us here in Saint Lucia...you see teachers were promised a 7.5% increase in April 2009 [ yes I know that you are shocked that we could be offered so much...let me tell you, in all, it was a 14.5% increase teachers were to receive....anyway, I know that you are in shock that we could be offered so much in the midst of the global recession, but this is Saint Lucia for you] and when they did not get it, well union meetings upon union meetings were called as well as strike days....now I do not really mind....I get to sleep and do my assignments but I think about the students 'cause this is what they pay us - minus 7.5% or not - to teach the people's children and while the CXC children can no longer be affected by the strike, what about the form fours whom expect passes from? What about the MST exams slated for June 10th and the Common Entrance Exams carded for June 17th? These children are not getting taught....are we going to purposely going to destroy an entire generation???

The Prime Minister never said that he would not pay, just that he could not pay now and while had had promised the increase, show me one Saint Lucian Prime Minister who has not lied to his people...and I can think of one who was arrogant about it!!!!

Paint me whatever colour you want to Saint Lucia...but you know this, King lied when he said that he could pay and would pay by April but then again he has not said that he will not pay, just that he can't pay now...this time he is telling the truth and don't we want honest politicians? Of course I want my 7.5% but not at the expense of so many other more important things!!!!!!

What will happen tomorrow readers? Will there be no more teaching days for term? Will King give the money he said will come later, not now...will the union fight on principle or just on what they think is right? Only tomorrow knows and I'll be here for as long as tomorrow lasts.

[Just colour me pink!!!]

xoxo
schezzi m

Practice what you Teach?

Last night I went to sleep anxious, nervous, palms sweating and unable to sleep....

Why?

My first set of students had my subject at CSEC and CAPE level today. I got up and prayed, "Lord help them to be calm and retain..even de lil slow ones Lord...help them."

When I got to school I was so nervous! After a while I thought, but what de hell I already have a 1 and a B in Biology! lol But as I have mentioned in many of my blogs before - what is the point of being a teacher if you can't teach? A carpenter and can't build one table? Not even a bench? Despite what - student performance is our performance indicator. How well you taught or did not teach is reflected in how your students perform at a national level.  And just that fact right there?? Had me scared out of my wits, which is exactly why I went to view the CAPE paper first. See my CSEC class is/was an inherited class**, so in my Upper 6's I had a little more confidence. 

Went in..nervous..shaking...thinking about it now..I'm such a punk! lol 

Told the head invigilator that I was the subject teacher, she handed me a copy of the paper and I sat an perused. I smiled. I smiled. Heart racing I signed the form and practically ran out the room, and headed toward where the CSEC students were taking their exam. Did the same thing, sat and perused. I smirked. Winced. Shook my head. Left the room. Difference was? Inherited class.** 

I sat in the administration building waiting for the exam to be done with - to hear the reactions. And I felt justified today. One of my Upper 6 students said, "Miss, I eh go lie - yuh teach we like a boss. There was nothing on that paper that we could not do and it was because you taught us how to answer questions. Nah Miss, yuh is ah boss." 

I kid you not. I was moved beyond expression. That right there? Was my wooden stool. My first couch set. lol 

So ladies and gentlemen that was today - and I am a boss. 

Inherited Class** - This is a class that a teacher receives in their last year for 2 terms just before CXC. The class would usually not have had a teacher for the entire of their Form 4 year and you are expected to teach them everything they missed inclusive of what they need to know in their Form 5 year. Challenge? Yeah. In addition, inherited children, are not usually in the mood to learn, hence their lackadaisical disposition does not aid much in fostering an engaging learning environment. 

When ah dead bury meh clothes

So as I must have mentioned before...de chirren HOT LIKE PEPPA! lol...yeah I remember mentioning that. This term though? I got to witness some 'fulfilment of promises'. 

What's that? lol...

Last  term.. around carnival time so - parents were called in citing 'inappropriate behavior' on the part of their wards. Some parents shrugged their shoulders nonchalantly while others made that promise that no child really wants to hear..."De next time I have to come in school I will cut yuh ass right here!"

Well mamayo! Those children CLEARLY forgot that the individuals they live with, carrying the title of parent, can periodically act like lunatics when it comes to misbehavior in school aka 'makin meh shame'. 

Hear nah parent after parent (and I've been observing this for some  weeks now) - I seriously thought those children would not be coming back to school lol lol and people think you don't know..but YOU KNOW the children WHO KNOW their mom/dad or both will go postal on them..sad to say you also know the ones whose parent ain't bout shit and ain't gonna do shit. Is true. 

First case:

"Miss, WHAT has she been doing?"

*child's eyes close, instant tears*

"Don't worry Miss...that WILL NOT happen again. Right Diesel?"

*child paralyzed, cyar talk*

Second case:

To child:

"Girl...you KNOW I mad."

Teacher to parent:

"Mam, please not at school"

Parent to teacher:

"What??? This is mine! I make it! Call God or call de police!"

And these are just a few. Why in God's name theses little girls and boys keep touching up each other like dogs in heat??? Not only that but getting ketch CONSISTENTLY???? Ugh! At least put a lil thought into it nah? Geez. 

All the melay made me wonder where does the discipline end and the child abuse begin? Where do parents draw the line? But as a teacher? I can't help but feel the plight of the single parent, now get a lil end to bring in some money - but have to be taking days she don't have to come an school to deal wid she own chile who crotch seem to be on fire.

I know all the child activists goin to come out in droves - oh the child have psychological problems blah blah, licks is not the answer But nah man some of them? Eh eh...they OVER BAD lol And they're that way because they KNOW that their parents fall for the psychological BS they try to feed into every situation. 

I think though that in some cases, the kids do need help and are in fact crying out for some attention but where are parents taught that? Where do you learn to differentiate between a child that needs a slap for being rude and one who needs some one on one couch time?

Sex Ed - The Evolution

Now people...I know you remember the previous blogs on sex ed...and really I never thought I would hear anything to top what i heard in those Form 5 classes BUT this term - Form 2's are being introduced to reproduction and WOWWWWWWWWW I can't help but laugh. I started off with a simple definition of reproduction or rather a purpose : "Reproduction is the process that ensures continuity or the survival of a species."

So I went on to say that since sexual reproduction is our means of facilitating reproduction - then the purpose of sex is for reproduction right? They say..."yeahhhhhh..."

I say "right. So then, according to our definition, humans should only have sex if the aim is have a baby. right?"

They say "ummmmmm......"

LOL

Wait it gets better.

LOL

So I say - "so if we think of sex as a light switch whereby everytime you have sex you flick the switch and when u see light that would be the baby - you shouldn't really do it unless you planning to have a baby right?"

Here it comes:

1. "So..ummm..Miss...but ent you does do it just for so?"

2. "But Miss...what if the bulb blow?"

3. "Or if it eh have no current Miss?"

4. "Miss so you saying just because we have the equipment doh mean we should be using it?"

5. "SO Miss then if everybody know that then the only people having sex should be ole people?"

6. "Miss I doh feel yuh should only have sex to get chile - yuh should have it to feel good too..ent?"

After answering those questions and refocusing the discussion I forged on to the structure of the Male Reproductive System. We get to the description of the urethra and penis and it says it scientific terms that men cannot "multitask" hehehe... so I ask..so this means what people? That men can't do what an what at the same time?

Hand goes up in the air.

"Missssss me!!!!!!"

"Yes Kelly."

"Miss dey cyar pee and break at the same time."

" 'Pee' and 'break'? I don't know those terms. What do you mean?"

"Miss...they can't...Urinate and...hmmmm...sperminate at the same time."

LOL

"Kelly...the word is ejaculate hunny. Write it down."

LOL

Hear nah...it was a wonderful experience - I cannot even BEGIN to blog about all the interesting ideas my kids had. Different from the form 5 discussion though was the experience. I knew from just what they said that, though they hot - dey eh really doing nothin yet. YET. The innocence is still clear.

Ok one for the road. After discussing the male reproductive system.

"So Miss... when we get to see pictures?"

Gears up!

Well..the vacation has ended - and to be honest I can't wait to go back out to school. Contrary to my students' beliefs- we teachers DO NOT live in jars - and do indeed have lives. Lives that I must admit can be a bit frustrating at times - so I am happy to go back to my safe world of mayhem that is the school system. 

I'm a bit nervous about this term - my first batch of kids will have CXC and CAPE exams- I am so anxious and excited for them. Despite what anyone says teachers are measured on the performance of students. Plain fact. If de chirren getting 1's - de teacher could teach. If dey gettin 4's she cyar teach shit. Make sense. I mean you  cyar claim to be a carpenter - yet not for all de doubles in Curepe you can't build a bench....somethin's gotta give. 

Well that's it for now.

Note to self: Where are all the hot looking young male teachers? No seriously...WHERE? If you know hit me up - I  APPLYIN FOR A TRANSFER! LOL 

Exhaling...

Well we're at the end of another term and WHEW! I survived! As I get more and more into teaching I am realizing more and more just how deep this hole goes...

I watched as my exam students went through, what I call "burn out" where they refused to learn anything more. They're like "Miss....PLEASE no more!!!!!"

I watched as clueless parents STILL insisted that their child is not wrong. They're like "Who Lewis??? He would NEVER!"

I watched as some individuals who claim to and get paid to be teachers took advantage of the "system". Work to rule? Maybe. They're like "Steups...whatever yes."

The general concern I had for my students has deepened into genuine care and love even. Not for all though...eh eh..some of dem bitches just evil! But in  some cases, its really heartbreaking to see them searching for someone - anyone to look up to. And usually, whether we want to be or not - it ends up being us. Great.

All in all the term was TIRING. I cannot say that I was not counting down the days to Easter vacation. Between SBAs, Mock exams, end of term exams...it wasn't easy at times. So the kids are home - the vacation is here and... beach here I come?