"why don't you tell them the story about how your brother took up so much space in utero that the doctors couldn't find your heartbeat and assumed you would be stillborn?" that advice, i decided not to take when beginning this blog...no...wait...i guess i inadvertently DID take it.
damn.
forced under the terrible, pretense-inducing glare of introspection again, this time by the final assignment to clear my teaching credential. hmmph. the end of the school year is approaching, bringing with it a less satisfying sigh of relief. this is because the year wasn't NEARLY as stressful as last year, so i guess i should be grateful for that. tagging along for the ride is a mild anxiety about my assignment for next year. i virtually fell in love with the process of teaching the freshmen this year. they are old enough to get excited about challenging philosophical and literary issues. they are old enough to reason with. they are old enough to appreciate the emotional impact of really good writing (despite the fact that school board relentlessly chooses the same easily-digested pabulum year after year). they are old enough to be...earnest.
...they are still young enough to scare.
the woman who teaches the honors students here has been *cough* asked to "step aside". my department chair jokes that, "it is because (i) want her job", and jokes that he told her so. true enough. i relish the opportunity to take everything that is good about teaching freshmen and compound it with a slightly higher ability and/or sense of intrinsic motivation. all year i have been using grammar as the light to which i hold the kids to see where they need mending. the random succeses i have had with the freshmen has made me look forward to next year...even if the former teacher, "is, like, TOTALLY gunning to destroy (me)."
bring it. i'll slap you with a beautifully placed appositive phrase. go ahead. dangle that participle. meet me at high noon, and don't forget to bring a body bag...
I am glad to hear that this year is not as stressful. You beautifully pinned down exactly what makes freshmen so great! However, you have not had random success. It is because of you. Give yourself some credit. I will do so at least.
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