Patriot or Tory?

In an effort to teach across the curriculum, we are reading historical fiction in class.  The novel we are reading is My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln and Christopher Collier.  It is basically a story of a family torn apart by the Revolutionary War.  It really is an excellent addition to the social studies unit on the same topic.  The book contains a lot of historical facts, death, conflict, debate, and bad words.  The perfect book for any teenager; the girls even enjoy it.

The cross curriculum project is so successful that one day, a student came into class and told me in a whine, “We are talking about the same thing in here as we are in Social Studies.  The Revolutionary War is everywhere.”  Like I acknowledge most obvious comments, I wrinkled my brow and said, “That was the point.”

When students fail a grade, they get to complete the grade again with all new teachers.  One purpose for this is because if the student didn’t learn from one teacher’s style one year, it isn’t going to happen in the second year.  Another reason for this is because if the teacher fought all year to get the student to work and never succeeded, then the teacher deserves a break.

We have been discussing the Revolutionary War for two weeks now.  Even the student repeating 8^th grade is reading the novel for the first time because his first 8^th grade teacher did not teach the novel.  Although this particular student has not finished the novel, he did “learn” about the Revolutionary War in social studies last year.

I started the class in an activity where the students analyze the two sides of war and decide whether they would like to be a Tory (colonists on the side of the British) or a Patriot (colonists on newly formed Americans).  I have them locate phrases in the novel and quote the book to prove what side they would prefer to be on.   Most students instantly choose to be Patriots for the simple reason that they know that they want to be on the winning side.

The class begins hunting for their proof through the novel, and I hear a few boys in serious debate.  I take note of them; not because I want to stop their discussion, but because I like that they get so passionate about the subject.  I giggle to myself thinking that I have fooled them into thinking learning was fun.  The creative teacher strikes again!

This is when I notice what the argument entails.  The boy, who is now in his second year of 8^th grade, is debating with the other boys, insisting he wants to be a Tory.  The boys laugh at him and began to list all the reasons why he should switch sides.  The boy gets angry in the debate, probably because he realizes he doesn’t have any proof to back himself up. (Not because there isn’t any proof, just because he doesn’t know any of it.)  Finally, one of the other boys asks, “Don’t you want to win the war?”  Dead serious, the other boy replies, “I haven’t finished the book YET, how do you know who wins?”

The boys roar with laughter.  I am slightly amused, yet incredibly concerned.  How can someone sit through lesson after lesson and not understand that the Patriots have to win the war in order for us to be sitting here in the United States of America?

I just assumed kids failed the 8^th grade from not turning in their work or studying for any test.    Apparently, he hasn’t be listening at all in class, and still isn’t listening as the lessons about our founding fathers repeat themselves in two classes.  Common sense is nowhere to be seen.  No teacher is going to entertain some students enough to reach every single one.

This is the future.  Is this the teachers’ fault for not clarifying that the Americans or Patriots do win the war?  Or is this the fault of the students for being in their own self-centered little world?  Surely, I have said at least a half dozen times that the Patriots, the Rebels, the minutemen are the Americans.

Some kids are so special that they will fight education with every ounce of passion in their body.  Is that passion?  Or stupidity?  The future is near and it isn’t all the bright or motivated.  Teachers can’t do it all.

Back to Busy

Just as I expected, I caught up and then was swamped.  Spending Labor Day grading essays made me neglect all my other responsibilities.  As I tried to catch up with my friends and family (thank gawd I don’t have my own children), I ordered supplies, started both grade levels on major projects, attempted to plan a field trip, made dance plans and continued to stock the concession stand.  I fought with another union member because a three day warning that I needed his initials on some paperwork wasn’t enough for him to check his mailing address.  I met with a parent after school, graded make up work before grades were due, adjusted grades to correct a technology error by the new grading program, submitted reading goals and grades, double checked grades over and over again, and went to a union meeting. All while the newspaper asked us our opinion on the President’s motivational speech.  Something I wanted to hear, but I never did make time for his uplifting words.  I lost a student to an angry parent who cursed the assistant principal for my giving the boy detention for not bringing his book to class for the second time in three weeks.  Still, I spent all day Thursday rushing to get my last twenty-two essays graded.  .  It was four days of non-stop work.

My family is neglected even though I saw them two days in my four day week of school.  Still it is a shock to their systems that I am not as readily available.  It is a shock to my system too.  I have been working without any ME time, too.  And right now, ME time is so far down on the list, it is bound to be pushed farther down the list as Monday peeks his ugly head around the corner.  This weekend alone, I struggled to clean my house, help out various friends with long overdue work, and caught up with friends on a camping trip.  My goal is not to make myself sick from overwork.

The FOURTH week of school and I am not back in my routine YET.  This is a tough start. Next week, I have big plans.  Our advertisements for Grandparent’s Day and the Dance will be put in place.  Our first volleyball game will mark the beginning of the concession session.  Student Council elections will take place on Thursday morning.  And I still get to teach five classes a day.   The 7^th graders will be finishing their projects in the computer lab and will read a story.  The 8^th graders will finally start their novels and take a poetry quiz.  This week is going to be 50% teaching and 50% odd jobs from hell.  Just when things seem overwhelming, I get five day to complete the work.  It may be breeze.  I am be pulling out my hair by Wednesday.

Nine percent done with the school year; midterm grades are here; and we are now on the downward slide of the first grading period.  It is proving to be so much work; I hardly have time to prove how much work being a teacher involves.  When you live your life in six week increments, time flies.

LET THE PARTY BEGIN…okay the week, but the positive thought can’t hurt.