Nicer

OK, students like to talk about teachers on Facebook, so I might as well talk about students here.

Today I was minding my own business on the Skytrain, reading the newspaper and resisting the temptation to stare at beautiful women, a skill that took a long time to develop. I noticed some students from our school in the corner of my eye. I politely waved and returned to my paper. But then I heard, "Mr Mick! Mr Mick! " And Tina B came skipping and shouting to say hi.

She was obviously happy to see me and I was happy to see her, too. She was a very nice student (one of the nicest I have ever taught) who left our school to move to China, but now she's back in Bangkok.

Tina B transferred to our school from one of those notorious "minor league" (American) or "lower division" (British) international schools. On the first day of our math class, I announced things like, "of course you remember THIS from last year", or "naturally, you remember THAT from Year 5", etc. Tina raised her hand and said:

"Mr. Mick, I don't know any of this stuff."

"WHY NOT?" I demanded gruffly.

"I was at a different school. We didn't do this."

"What DID you do?" I demanded.

"You know, pretty much nothing, we just sort of chilled and talked to each other, and messed around."

I was shocked. How could such behavior be tolerated in a MATH classroom?? I realize that's what they do in Social Studies, but not MATHEMATICS!

I checked. I gave Tina an impromptu quiz. She wasn't lying. She had learned nothing at her previous school. She didn't even know how to take notes. But she just shrugged her shoulders with the sweetest smile, looked at me, and said, "sorry!"

I had two choices. I could either 1) panic, fill out forms, write progress reports, plead for help, bring in counselors, notify the parents, etc., or 2) Be nice to her, just as she had been nice to me, and say "sorry, but in this class, you are expected to study."

I chose Option 2. Sure enough, after a week, she was taking notes; after a month, she was trying really hard; after a few months, she was actually learning some mathematics. She improved remarkably. She will never be a rocket scientist, but her natural kindness and ability to adapt will carry her through school.

I am leaving this job and I will not get sentimental. But I will reflect and think about how I have changed as a teacher. In many ways, my skills have declined. Our school is so busy that I cut corners and I'm never as well prepared as I used to be. But in one way, I have improved. I'm nicer. I no longer feel inclined to be mean to students, to write them up, to yell at them or to punish them. I have learned this from the students at my school. Students like Tina B.

On another front, I went to the lawyers (Mr. Tyro calls them bloodsuckers) today. Yes, our simple, happy little family of four is about to get pulverized in the unfeeling interrogation machine that is US Immigration. They will ask embarrassing questions to determine whether we are a legitimate family. It will cost us $2000 to be legitimized.

So be it. That's the world we live in. I wish US Immigration could be nicer. I would prefer a world without borders, but it won't happen in my lifetime.