Especially the high school.....
I swear, I think I taught about 50% of the faculty.
And it's a damn good thing Buna has alumni, for if not, they wouldn't have teachers. It was a little like this when I roamed the halls of Buna HS, but just a little.
Today, it's a lot of Buna kids.
Govteach, Kerry, Kerry Don, Mr. Thomas......Is that bad?
Not really.
It is actually good that a former student wants to be in Buna.
I've been in school districts in which for whatever reason the alumni either don't, or can't get a job with the district.
Heck, I even ran into it in my professional career. Then, again, as I've said for years, I wasn't supposed to be where I wanted to be, I was supposed to be in South Jasper County. I am convinced of that.
But, as per norm, I digress....
Buna teachers.....You start tomorrow. I know it's hard, I know there will be stress, I know you'll wonder if it is worth it?
Is it worth it? While there has been this idea that somehow teachers are evil, and want to corrupt kids, morally, politically, however, 99.99999% just want the best for the kids. They want the kid to become a meaningful member of society.
Teachers, and this is important....Be fair. It is hard to do, but be fair. Whether you know the kid, or their family, or don't know them from Adam, be fair to them all, and there will be people who want their kids treated better than everyone else......You can't. You just can't....
Teachers, do your best. I know there will be days you'll be worn out, especially the first two weeks and school and then toward the end of the Spring semester. Keep plugging away. The first two week, you literally have to get back into what I called " teaching shape" after you've been off for the Summer Break. It was a thing. Lecture like I did, 6 periods, 6-7 hours, your voice, your back, your mind, has to build up endurance again.
If you have seniors, don't treat them like little kids. When I had you , I had married people, seniors with grown ass jobs, grown ass problems.the longer I had you in class during the year, the more I tried to treat you like a grown up.
Remember teachers, while you are there for the kids, this is also a job. The district will throw you under the bus, let you go in a heartbeat. Watch yourself, and even then, you can get into trouble and not even try. It's just the nature of the business.
Guys, ladies, and I wrote about this earlier, watch yourself around kids of the opposite sex. Don't put yourself in a place that looks bad, and certainly don't ruin your life over some 16 year old.
I hope you have a good year. I really do, in 2025, I could not do it. A combo of today's kids and I'm old enough that I remember Augustus Caesar as an undergrad.
You never know what you're going to get in class. In 2009, my 5th period class was all male except for two girls. Bunch of knotheads. Thought I was going to hate this bunch......It may have been my favorite class of all time. Hell, it WAS my favorite class.
Again, enjoy the year, and if your like me, have fun with your kids. It makes the class something for the kids to look forward to...
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