DAYS 52 and 53

As of Jan. 11 2016, I will only be able to work as a sub on Mondays and Wednesdays and half a day on Fridays, due to my schedule at Henry Ford College where I am in my last semester to receive my Graphic Arts: Print Design Certificate.

Monday: Morning was Kindergarten and afternoon was 5th grade. This week I am to read to all of the classes about Martin Luther King, Jr., and I enjoy telling them details about the pre-1970s racism. They are quite shocked to learn that there were separate schools and that black people couldn’t vote or go to some restaurants or even use some bathrooms. I love being able to tell them about the strides that have been made thus far (more is necessary, but for today – learning about the struggle is enough.) I start by telling about pre-public school era when only people with money could get educated.

Wednesday: Kindergarten at the Montessori school – it was a pretty good day, overall – many enjoyable moments. They loved the “Five Little Bluebirds” song and the “Pizza Hut Song”. The only thing I hate there is dismissal time. There ought to be a better way, but I can’t think of one. The kids put on their coats, hats, gloves, etc. around 3 pm and then have to sit (watching a movie – but still – after sitting most of the day, it’s hard!) until their parent arrives and their name is called on the walkie-talkie. The other teacher in the room with me (2 classes combine so some teachers are free to freeze outside keeping the line of cars moving and helping the K-2nd graders into their cars) was rather – strident (I’ll leave aside the term I was actually thinking of.) And all I could think of was, “How good can it be for 5 year olds to be forced to sit here in all this hot clothing, not allowed to move around, for nearly an hour, being constantly yelled at for every little thing they do?” By the time I left, I felt very stressed, mostly just from listening to her berate this one and that in an effort to maintain control. I must admit to also saying a few comments to them in a not-so-friendly voice. I’d also like to convince them to call the room number first and then say the kids’ names, because when they read off several names and then mention the room number, I can’t remember the names that they called. We have to call the kids to go to the door. Sometimes the people outside just call names and forget to say room numbers – doesn’t help us subs at all since we don’t know the kids’ names.