I wrote the following letter to my Summer School Students:
To My Wonderful Summer School Class:
I wanted to take the opportunity to tell you guys what a joy
it’s been to have you all in class this summer. Summer School was probably not
high on your wish list for how to spend 4 weeks out of your already too short
Summer Vacation. I hope I’ve made the experience an enjoyable one for you, or
at least, a relatively painless one. You have made teaching Summer School an
enjoyable experience for me. Since I substitute in the district I might see
some of you if I sub at the high school.
I wanted to leave you guys with some final thoughts and advice so here
they are:
1.
Don’t
ever put yourself down. You are your own champion and sometimes your own worst
critic. If you forget what you’re worth, contact me and I’ll remind you.
2.
Don’t
ever let anyone else ever put you down.
3.
Ask
for help. Whether it’s something in class you don’t understand or something
outside of class you need help with ask. We all need help at some point or
another. Even adults.
4.
Ask
questions. Adults may not have all the answers but chances are we’ve been
around long enough to have at least looked for the answer
5.
Remember
“Carpe Diem” seize the day Two of my students thanked me for the letter and said they had never been told this by anyone. I told them I wanted them to know that even though I wasn't their teacher anymore, I still cared about what happens to them. I thought afterwards however, what messages are these kids getting elsewhere? Are they being told anything positive? How often does society "throw away" kids and leave them to the schools and the prison systems and then blame the parents or the school, or the kids for being "bad seeds." When do these kids get nurtured? Just because they're not all cute and squishy like when they're babies and sometimes, yes can be difficult doesn't mean they don't still deserve to be loved. My brother Will says to me periodically he doesn't know why anyone in the family still talks to him and love him after all the crap he pulled when he was teenager (long story short in and out of juvenile hall and then county jail until he eventually got his act somewhat together). I tell him what our great aunt Flo used to say "You do for family." What about the kids who don't have families or who have families that for whatever reason aren't there for them? Who is there for them? So, as always I'll be there for my former students whenever they need me. Even when they're all grown up and don't need Miss B anymore, I'll know I've done all I can to help them succeed.
