I hate this time of year...
A long time ago I read in a review of Dead Poets Society about how a teacher's life is a cycle of renewal and loss. Since then, I've looked at my life in that way; new chances in the Fall, and loss and moving on in the Spring with graduation and the end of the school year.
This year seems especially difficult, I had a group of senior kids that I was especially close to, and spent many extra hours with. They've already graduated and are moving on with their lives. No matter how small our community and how likely I am to see them again, we never again have that closeness we had when they were in school. I've always considered that a part of growth, and have been able to be happy to see them move on to wonderful and exciting things. It's been harder this year, and I'm not really sure why. I've spend most afternoons the past couple of weeks thinking how quiet the classroom is.
Today we had a farewell lunch for the two teachers who are retiring. Both Cotton and Diana are very special to me. Diana, because she's such a class act, and is such a generous, amazing person. After teaching 30 years in another district, she comes and works with us for half salary so that our students can have a "home ec" teacher. She's been so much fun to hang out with, and she's let me travel with her and her kids, and share in some really great times. I guess she'll be spending her time with her grandson and being "First Lady of Booneville"
Cotton is amazing in his own way. He is a Vietnam Veteran and played pro baseball, and was an area scout for the New York Yankees. (He's even got a World Series Ring, which is very cool. He's goofy and funny, even if he's given up on his habit of speaking of himself in the third person. Some how in the chaos at the end of the day today, we missed each other and I didn't get to tell him "see you later". He's taking tomorrow off, so I probably won't see him again. He's got an assistant coaching position next year at Connors State, and he can stay at his lake house and drink coffee.
Wow, I thought I'd feel better after writing this down...
This year seems especially difficult, I had a group of senior kids that I was especially close to, and spent many extra hours with. They've already graduated and are moving on with their lives. No matter how small our community and how likely I am to see them again, we never again have that closeness we had when they were in school. I've always considered that a part of growth, and have been able to be happy to see them move on to wonderful and exciting things. It's been harder this year, and I'm not really sure why. I've spend most afternoons the past couple of weeks thinking how quiet the classroom is.
Today we had a farewell lunch for the two teachers who are retiring. Both Cotton and Diana are very special to me. Diana, because she's such a class act, and is such a generous, amazing person. After teaching 30 years in another district, she comes and works with us for half salary so that our students can have a "home ec" teacher. She's been so much fun to hang out with, and she's let me travel with her and her kids, and share in some really great times. I guess she'll be spending her time with her grandson and being "First Lady of Booneville"
Cotton is amazing in his own way. He is a Vietnam Veteran and played pro baseball, and was an area scout for the New York Yankees. (He's even got a World Series Ring, which is very cool. He's goofy and funny, even if he's given up on his habit of speaking of himself in the third person. Some how in the chaos at the end of the day today, we missed each other and I didn't get to tell him "see you later". He's taking tomorrow off, so I probably won't see him again. He's got an assistant coaching position next year at Connors State, and he can stay at his lake house and drink coffee.
Wow, I thought I'd feel better after writing this down...