school today

on tuesday i had the most obnoxious child in my class - claimed not to have a pen cause he didn't have his stationary list yet. pain in the bum.

anyway, for homework they had to write one page about themselves. most wrote about themselves, family etc. His story well, broke my heart. I actually asked the principal about it, and was all confirmed.

basically it talked about each of the scars on his body and how they were caused by his parents - as a baby he cried too loud as he was born drug dependant, so his parents stubbed cigarettes out on him. then he has a cut on his knee from a broken window when he and his sister ran away from a foster home and broke into people's houses to eat (he was 4). the scar he has from hitting the man who was "hurting" his sister (the principal told me his sister was actually sold into prostitution as an 8 year old). he went on to say that he loves the school cause he can stay there during school time and he knows he is so comfortable and happy. he didn't like the holidays cause he had to go back to the foster family.

I nearly broke down in tears reading it, cause it was written in typical 15 year old boy fashion - very matter of fact. it took all my strength not to rush in and tell him to move in to our house.

After being so harsh on him on day one though, he has been really well-behaved since then. the principal said he has very little respect for women because of his mum,, so I needed to be really tough on him.

the teaching part of this job - it's kinda easy - it's all the other stuff that makes it hard.

That is so sad, that poor boy

OMG that's terrible! That poor little guy

he's actually really bright, but quite obnoxious. I just hate hate HATE the matter of factness - like "oh yeah, this happens to lots of people" kind of thing. kids shouldn't think like that. i've been sitting here hugging my kids thinking "how could you?" I mean, my kids can be little horrors sometimes and there are times where I could almost quite cheerfully chuck them out the window - almost...but in seriousness, how could you?

Poor guy!!

Wow! I'm stunned! So terrible for him to have had that happened to him. It's sad to think that SCHOOL was his safe-haven, going home was a nightmare - even to his foster home.

Very very sad.

Wow. Makes me wonder if he already respects you because he shared his story with you.

Maybe you'll become the one steady influence in his life.

oh that is so so sad, that poor boy. you have to wonder how many children that end up before the courts have stories similar to that one, if you knew the background would you still judge them as harshly? (general you, not you liz!)

i think it is great that he shared that with you, i hope you have a fruitful year together, he stretching you and you empowering him to overcome his beginnings.

Eeeeeek. Shivers.

Sounds like you can make a real difference - and that's what being a teacher is all about yeah?

xo