On my island in St.Kitts located in the Caribbean region we are in the season of exam preparation for the 12th graders. These days, most of us teachers in the Technical and Vocational and other departments are tired. The students proclaim their own tiredness in protest to the request for more commitment. We are tired. They are tired. But something is so same about this tiredness at this time of year. We are tired and learning.
But does it have to be this way?
Students: I stopped writing, looked up from my desk and asked. Why are you guys and your peers not grabbing the opportunities to learn? Then, I went silent and listened. That type of silence where they can appreciate nothing they say will be offensive.
“Teacher, most students believe work is not real. The life we have we believe in. We want this”.
“Teacher, school sucks, it is hard, shitty, and I don’t see how it makes sense”
I went silent again and buried my tiredness in typing.
I have one foreign national Yogeily. She is from Domincia Republic. Her behaviour is different.
She is diligent, aware, and conscious of the classroom. She understands she is there on purpose.
She is not the most brilliant but she shows up. She doesn’t always understand the English I speak with but we speak in both languages and google the gaps. She shows up. She takes the benefit of all of me but not just me. She understands my limits and goes to take from the other teachers in the space to fill her cup.
How do we get ALL children to understand discipline is a skill? You need to show up to learn and qualify to compete in the world. Can all children understand this?
