The substitute teaching was quite pleasant. The teaching assistants in the class knew exactly what to do to keep on schedule, so all I had to do was preside and keep order. The teacher returned earlier than expected. I was sent to special education.
This was my first brush with the special education folks. I was assigned to help one student, who seemed reasonably capable, so no problems there.
Then I was sent to keep watch over the kindergartners, particularly at recess. I seem to have an unusual energy with the littles. I'm less a minder than a big, clumsy, ancient playmate. They are endlessly curious about why I have a mole on my face, or hair in my nose. They try to scare me, and insist that I try to scare them. They incorporate me into strange storylines and games.
Then, as the afternoon wore on, the energy seemed to shift. The play got more boisterous. I think they were getting crankier with fatigue, as school ended and parents began arriving to pick up the kids. At one point, they snagged my iPhone and played keepaway with it. Kids began stumbling more and scraping knees.
As the number of students dropped off with various pickups, it was time to leave the playground and consolidate everyone in one of the classrooms. It was time to collect the remaining kindergartners and move on. But they didn't want to go. A group of kids gathered at the top of the playground's play structure, and started resisting.
Suddenly, a boy reached up from below and pulled on the pants of another boy, exposing his bare bottom. The boy apparently liked the suggestion, and quickly removed his pants and underwear. Since anyone approaching the school on foot could clearly see the top of the play structure, this was a significant problem. A girl quickly copied the boy and removed her tights. They were both experiencing the thrill of complete rebellion, intoxicated by defying all the rules, and challenging anyone to stop them.
I could hear the call go out over the walkie talkie, asking for assistance from the office. The kids didn't seem to understand that time was running out. I did my best to peel off the kids, one by one, and urge them to leave. A second appeal for assistance went out over the walkie talkie. The power structure was slow in responding, but it was responding. Come on kids! We're out of time! Let's go!!!
The boy heeded the call to leave at the last possible moment, and vanished, leaving just the girl. Then, suddenly it was all over. The girl got hauled to the office and suffered through the Stern Lecture.
You learn a lot in kindergarten.
No comments:
Post a Comment