Categories: uncategorized
Date: 01 January 1970 00:59:59
Well, they certainly weren't fine for me. Yesterday I taught the most atrocious selection of children. I use the words "taught" and "children" in the loosest possible sense of the words, of course. Their behaviour was totally appalling. It was a relief to hear from other members of staff that they have similar problems with them (unlike the teacher whose lesson I was covering, for whom they are always fine, apparently ;-) ) but this was sheer pack mentality. With only about two decent children in there without the strength to go against the tide, the rest were rude, arrogent, deliberately antagonistic, argumentative, crude, disruptive, violent, and totally uncontrollable. A rather unnerving experience which I survived by thinking "I am getting paid rather well for this whether you learn anything or not. You, on the other hand, will achieve nothing in life until you learn to respect authority and learn to learn, and you'll have all this unfinished work for homework". Mind you, knowing my luck, they'll probably be rolling in money by the time they're 25 - probably running protection rackets or the like.
I had a similar experience to a far lesser extent covering a lesson this afternoon, too, but there they were really just testing me out, and they found I was pretty determined. Mind you, my credibility wasn't helped by the fact that when I stopped the video to tell them to be quiet, I accidentally hit "rewind"!
My own groups, in contrast, have been wonderful. They work so incredibly hard and have made stunning progress. Shame it isn't the kind of progress which will show in tests. They are tackling work instead of saying "I can't". They are thinking about things. They are sitting quietly and listening. They are putting their hands up instead of calling out. They are showing confidence in using numbers and daring to risk answering questions. And amazingly, all my groups of special needs children bar three can complete more than half of a tables square accurately in five minutes, and know how to tackle doing the rest.
I have not done a lot of Bible study the last couple of days, although I have increased my active prayer time. There has just been very limited time for reading because I have been so tired (very very tired - still well, but very very very tired) and also because last night I went abroad for my annual trip to the opera. Disappointing, because it didn't capture my imagination like it usually does. The music was lovely, but there was limited action and the words were not clear and the storyline not really exploited as it could have been, so I am sad to say I spent most of the time battling sleep. But it was great to have an evening out with my friend and the crossing was smooth and pleasant....and we've spotted some shows coming up which we are rather tempted to go and see... oh, and the opera was free so that in itself was a treat!
Worst indulgence of the week so far? A whole bar of white Green and Blacks in one go! Well, I haven't given chocolate up for Lent, have I?
Achievement of the week so far? The lounge is tidy. It looks lovely. Wow! Just don't look in any of the drawers where I have just shoved things out of the way!!!
Right, I'm off for another nap on the sofa. Should I get the Smudgelets out of the bath first or leave them to turn prune-like? Oh, decisions decisions....