Bad News
I had two students for tutoring with a total of three hours a week, but the two-hour-a-week student recently quit the agency altogether.
Substitute teaching can be very boring. I was at school for eight hours today and only taught three and a half of those.
Good News
The day after my tutoring student dropped the program, another student was added and given to me!
There are characters in every class in which I sub. Like the boy yesterday who slept for about half the class. The usually observant substitute did not realize he was asleep until a girl asked her at the end of the period, "Is he asleep?" The poor kid was rather shocked to find himself the last one in the classroom. I just hoped he hadn't drooled on the textbook, which had served as his pillow.
Or how about the girl who was "vacuuming" Skittles off her phone into her mouth? She choked the first time, but that didn't dissuade her from sucking up the rest of them.
I also really liked one boy's reading choice. Picture a tan kid wearing baggy jeans, a large, zippered hoodie with the hood pulled up, and a long beaded necklace with a cross. I saw him reading a graphic novel. I was debating whether to let him keep reading or to tell him to take out his homework. I let him keep reading because 1) it was sort of a homeroom class, with no set schedule, 2) he was so enthralled with the book, and 3) reading is good for kids. Imagine my surprise when I later saw the title of the book. Emma. Yep, this tall high school boy was devouring Emma, by Jane Austen, abridged graphic novel version. It really made me smile.
I hear a lot of crazy names. I won't share them here because of privacy issues, but let me tell you, they are doozies. Some of them are a result of their respective heritages or backgrounds, but some of them are just made up. And heaven forbid if you pronounce it wrong! Hmmmmm, sounds like someone I know...
Raging debates. Some of them are hilarious. Yesterday I heard a debate about the wingspan of eagles and another debate about whether the Cold War should be called "The Cold War" or just "The Cold." These aren't formal debates, of course, but rather animated discussions over what is correct.
Today I heard a prolife/prochoice debate. I was very interested in this one. A boy and a girl were arguing for abortion while two boys were arguing against abortion. I was having the best time listening in to their arguments. The girl looked at me and told me that they had already done their work. I wasn't about to stop their debate, but I didn't tell them that. I listened intently for about twenty minutes as each student tried to make his or her point.
The prolife boys had very good arguments. I was quite impressed. (The argument that made me laugh was, "The fetus' brain isn't developed? YOUR brain isn't even developed!!" haha!) I was very encouraged by their stance, by their unwavering belief in the fact that embryos and fetuses are human beings, and by their ability to debate the issue with others. I hope that those two boys grow into young men who are compassionate toward those who have been deeply wounded like the third boy in the group.
I was saddened by the prochoice boy. He advocated abortion because he knew that he was a "mistake." (His mother gave birth to him in high school, and his father left when he was six months old.) He didn't want other children to endure the pain of having a father who walked out on them. It was so sad; actually, it was heart-wrenching, even though this boy stated the facts in a rather unemotional way. I wanted to tell him that he wasn't a mistake, that he would be okay, that he could make a difference in other people's lives, that he could himself be a good father one day, etc. It was so sad. Even as I sit here, I wish I could do something for that bitter boy who had it so hard. Sure, he went to one of the best high schools in the district, probably had a cell phone, a laptop, and a slew of other luxuries. However, he was so hurt by this individual that he couldn't even remember; I'll bet that he would give up everything in a heartbeat just to have a dad who loved him. It was this pain and hurt that drove him to condone abortion. He didn't want other kids to experience what he had experienced.
Today I heard a prolife/prochoice debate. I was very interested in this one. A boy and a girl were arguing for abortion while two boys were arguing against abortion. I was having the best time listening in to their arguments. The girl looked at me and told me that they had already done their work. I wasn't about to stop their debate, but I didn't tell them that. I listened intently for about twenty minutes as each student tried to make his or her point.
The prolife boys had very good arguments. I was quite impressed. (The argument that made me laugh was, "The fetus' brain isn't developed? YOUR brain isn't even developed!!" haha!) I was very encouraged by their stance, by their unwavering belief in the fact that embryos and fetuses are human beings, and by their ability to debate the issue with others. I hope that those two boys grow into young men who are compassionate toward those who have been deeply wounded like the third boy in the group.
I was saddened by the prochoice boy. He advocated abortion because he knew that he was a "mistake." (His mother gave birth to him in high school, and his father left when he was six months old.) He didn't want other children to endure the pain of having a father who walked out on them. It was so sad; actually, it was heart-wrenching, even though this boy stated the facts in a rather unemotional way. I wanted to tell him that he wasn't a mistake, that he would be okay, that he could make a difference in other people's lives, that he could himself be a good father one day, etc. It was so sad. Even as I sit here, I wish I could do something for that bitter boy who had it so hard. Sure, he went to one of the best high schools in the district, probably had a cell phone, a laptop, and a slew of other luxuries. However, he was so hurt by this individual that he couldn't even remember; I'll bet that he would give up everything in a heartbeat just to have a dad who loved him. It was this pain and hurt that drove him to condone abortion. He didn't want other kids to experience what he had experienced.
It sounds like I only have pity for the boy. I have more than pity, though. I want him not just to be pitied, but to be challenged to change his course. I want a better life for him. I want to give this kid hope. Hope that he can better this life and hope that he can live in the next. But only Jesus can give him that. I hope he finds Him.
I hope it doesn't sound silly, but I feel like crying over this boy, who I only interacted with for an hour and a half. I want so much more for him and for kids like him. Only Jesus can heal.
But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief,
To repay it by Your hand,
To repay it by Your hand,
The helpless commits himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless.
You are the helper of the fatherless.
-Psalm 10:14
2 comments:
Think I heard some familiar things in your post. :) Cool to hear the observer's point of view.
Mistake? Mistake?!!! The only mistake is that someone didn't treat him as a blessing! God has a purpose for him, we know that don't we? I wonder what it is?
As far as the man that he should be able to call father...? Men, never ever walk away!
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