My Work

In a recent post, I “confessed” to the following:

Unfortunately, I don’t have one single tragic flaw. I have many faults and one of them is to react emotionally and mindlessly when my parenting is questioned.

I react that way when *any* of my responsibilities are questioned. I give my everything when I am given a responsibility, and I go above and beyond if I willingly take on a responsibility. If I am getting paid for it, I will happily lose my sleep over it if I need to! Such is the case with my work. If anyone has been reading anything on this blog, in the last few weeks, they would already know that I love my job, and I love my students.

Here is another episode from Momley Teacher’s life. I thought I could let it go. However, I slept on it and have been awake for a few hours, and I can’t let it go without writing about it. I need to vent in my safe space!

Coincidentally, I am watching S3 E9 of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ titled ‘Heroic’. It seems to eerily shed light on my current situation, starting with the song ‘Heaven Is a Place on Earth’.

On Thursday, the not-so-new prep teacher took over my classroom to do Music. That’s my FREE time and I could technically go take a nap and no one would think twice about it. However, I stay to support this young teacher. Michael is supposed to support her, but he almost always sits at his desk and does his own stuff. So, I guess I feel compelled to stay. I am glad I did last Thursday. There was a beautiful moment I was able to capture where all 5 of my students listened to instructions from their Music teacher and performed in sync. I was so proud of them. Friday night, I was finally able to share that video with their parents. I CC’d Michael and the Music teacher on that email.

This is what I wrote …

This school year, we have Ms Music Teacher for Music and Gym. She has been amazing with our students. She finds different ways to engage them and inspire them. Here is a short video that demonstrates the wonderful work she is doing with them. I wish I had recorded the entire performance as it only got better; so sorry, this is just a glimpse!

 

Your children do us proud and we are privileged to work with them.

This is Michael’s response …

I'm just seeing this video now, and I'm honestly floored/amazed!!!  Ms. Music Teacher, you are doing amazing work with our kids.   To see each student participating together, all at once, is not an easy task (if I'm being honest, I don't think Ms. Momley or I have been able to command the students as well as you have so far this year).  You are a fantastic teacher.  We are so lucky/thankful to have you on board.

 

Keep up the great work!

What the HECK?!

I am 100% in agreement with the praise he had for the teacher. I took serious offence to what he added in the brackets within his response! Honestly, what the heck?! When this Music teacher comes into our classroom, our students are on their way back in from recess. It is a transition, and it takes a few minutes for them to change into their indoor stuff and gather on the carpet and get ready for Music. If none of that happens seamlessly, nothing gets done … no learning happens and there are no memorable moments to capture!

I can write so much about it, but I won’t! All I will end with is this … within that video, one can see Michael sitting at his desk and missing the moment captured. He should have been supporting the teacher. He should reflect on what he does or does not do. He hasn’t earned the right to say anything about the work I do.

What is heroism anyways?! … it is possible for Heaven to be a place on Earth if we can be kind to each other without demoralizing each other.