When I was 4 years old I wanted to be a teacher. I watched Romper Room and the teacher was always so nice and smiling, and the children always looked happy. Then when my first born was 4 years old I volunteered in her preschool program on my college campus. I enjoyed working with the kids and loved being there with my daughter. I enrolled in some early childhood education courses and I learned a great deal. A great deal of that learning definitely helped improve my parenting skills. As I completed my degree I realized I didn't have the passion to be an early childhood educator.
When my first born entered school she was the 'perfect' student. (or near perfect?) - never a behavioral problem, quiet, compliant, smart. All throughout elementary school her teachers would each tell me they wished they had a "classroom full of Angela's". Her junior high days were mostly uneventful, (academically that is). -- I think for the first time she was genuinely upset that she was corrected and disciplined by a math teacher in 7th grade. High school was different. She had an opportunity to attend a private school and with that came privileged kids. While she managed to complete the often most difficult and dreaded freshman year, as a cheerleader even, she wasn't able to embrace the advantage of attending that particular school. I suppose that's just a proud way to say she wasn't able to find a way to fit in-- or perhaps a way to fit in while being true to herself.
She began her sophomore year at this school despite all her protests and complaints about hating the school etc. (I had a distorted idea of what tough love was at that time and was sure my forcing her to continue was done out of love ). Early on in her 10th grade year she switched schools--It was such a difficult decision for me to make. I was sure she was in the better school, and it probably was but that didn't make it the 'better for her' school. Sophomore year ended better than it began.
I honestly dont know what happened in her junior year. -She had a part time job, a drivers license and a vehicle to drive. The only problem at school was her being threatened by the vice principal that she was parked in a tow away zone (which she asserted herself, remained parked and was not towed!) and then there was a walk out students did to protest the US policy on Iraq-she was supposed to be disciplined for it but never was. How her junior year ended was not what I ever would have imagined. She grew increasingly bored with her peers and the trivial dialogue that was exchanged in the typical high school forum. With my half hearted support she managed to graduate high school her junior year-thereby completely avoiding her senior year. Dont misunderstand me, she worked very hard to accomplish this. She attended both high school and the junior college her sophomore and junior years. It was a very impressive accomplishment in deed! More impressive was her choice to continue her education and I am proud to say she earned her degree! (A couple of them actually:).-----
Anyway, this blog wasn't supposed to be about my oldest daughter and her school experience. It was intended to be about my youngest daughter and hers. Never have I heard a teacher say, "I wish I had a classroom full of Karma's" -nor do I think I ever will. And that's unfortunate because children like Karma present others with so many opportunities for growth that are disguised as challenges.
This year of school has been a very difficult one for Karma. From day one she had difficulties.
Yet she took them in stride. Last year was her best year and she loved her teacher. This year is the opposite with it being her worse year and her feeling like her teacher\hates her. (A complaint shes held since week 1). Two weeks into the school year I considered switching her into a new school. After our first meeting I thought things could change.. I was wrong. Two more times I heavily weighed the pros and cons of removing her from her class. Despite efforts on both the teacher and the student the combination is a fail. I'm afraid shes suffered an academic loss, (thanks to the switch to common core the status is subjective.) Karma has been so brave and courageous to endure this past year of school, a lot like how her big sister did years earlier.
One thing I know for sure is I raise some remarkably strong girls! ---- and here it is my opportunity to be an early childhood educator -40 years later- as I home school Karma for the remainder of the year. At home she wont feel stupid, or hated. She will feel loved and supported. Academically she can only improve. Karma managed for nearly 9 months, I can manage the next 9 weeks.
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