School Spirit

You hear a lot of talk about teachers through the media and your every day man on the street. Your every day woman on the street too, but I’ll use the common phrase here and if anyone gets their back up because it’s not politically correct then just substitute the gender of your choice and read on, eh?

That’s the way.

Especially now that, here in Victoria, the Government and the Union have come to terms over a new pay deal (which is still to be signed off on - no word on when that may happen, but that’s another issue I’m not interested in rabbitting on about), there’s talk about what we should also be doing to earn it. Or, what we’re already doing to earn it but what the Government wants us to do as well. I’m just going to leave this bit hanging though and say that, often, especially in regards to building a relationship with the kids, it doesn’t start and end with those two book-end bell tolls at the start and end of each day. I find it carries on, and is often more powerful, when developed outside the school setting.

And I’d like to add too that, for me, it’s just as rewarding for myself as the kid, maybe more so in some cases. At school, the relationship is always that of the student and the teacher. If you play the card right though, outside of the school setting, these kids you’ve made an effort getting to know start to move closer to equals without losing that respect for you. I know several kids who see me closer to an equal rather than just a past teacher because they saw me showing an interest. In school situations they switch back (usually, it must be said - you can’t always keep the cheek down, eh?) to that student to teacher relationship, but once outside of that again, it’s back to a healthy mutual respect.

I’m sure other teachers may disagree with this in some cases and prefer not to blur that line between the relationship, and that’s fair enough. For me though, a bit of blurring outside of the school grounds can work wonders for both parties. There’s things kids won’t necessarily feel comfortable sharing with a teacher, but if they see you as something more than that, they’ll open up if they think they need to.

Here’s where I’m going to with this.

One of my kids let me know that he and his family were off to watch the footy on Saturday night, down at the MCG. We both support the Bombers, despite their very ordinary year so far (and the prospect of much more pain to come in the near future!), and I told him that I’d be down there watching too. Well, he had to know where I’d be sitting so I showed him the back of my membership card and he told me he’d be sitting somewhere down at ground level.

‘Maybe I’ll see you there then, eh?’

By Friday they’d given me their seat number so what else could I do but wander along before the game started and say hello, eh? I’ve met with kids at the footy the odd time before (once sneaking my way into the ticketed Members stand to do so - that’s another story), and besides, this kid’s a real genuine little feller. I caught them wandering out of one of the retail shops there just before the game (there goes $100+ in merchandise right there!) and had a quick little chat with him before the match started.

Then the family coming with them appeared around the corner. Someone’s been telling stories about me because once I’d been introduced (’who’s this bloke hanging around your son?’) it was all excitement from these people I’d never met. I’ll have to ask him what was said on Monday… you shouldn’t get that excited meeting a kid’s teacher at the footy, surely?

Anyway, instead of sneaking into their ticketed area to find them for a decent chat later, we organised to meet just beyond that rail I wasn’t allowed to step beyond (but I’d have found a way…) at halftime.

Now, I know right now that this is now one family I’m never going to have an issue with, and one kid who I’m pretty sure I’ll have on my side for the rest of his primary school career. How? One little visit at a place the kid is interested in. Show you share their interests (even if you wouldn’t generally do so normally - kids just appreciate you turning up) and their trust just builds.

And what did I get out of it?

A got half an hour of quality time with a top little kid and his family and a strong little parting handshake.

Monday it will be student to teacher again, but below that facade will be a stronger level of respect from both of us.

To me, that’s something that will help the kid more than a week of schooling.

Earlier in the day, when I first thought about posting something after I got home tonight, I was planning on writing about this evening’s Parent Information Barbecue and the bits and pieces involved in this quick, annual event we hold in the first few weeks of each year. The idea is to get the parents in and talk to them as a group (the preps talk to the prep parents, the 1/2 Unit then speaks with their parents next, the 3/4 Unit does likewise and so on). To aid in getting a decent attendance, we also set up the barbecue and give out free snags to any parents and accompanying kids who turn up. Gives us a chance to meet some of the parents for the first (and possibly only) time, as well as speak as a group to those who turn up so we can all get the same message across.

I generally don’t mind the afternoon, even if it does mean we’re at work until about 7:00 PM. It’s a free feed of snags and the half hour presentation to the parents isn’t so bad when it’s split between four or five teachers. I drop a few silly lines and they have a friendly laugh and you’ve won half of them over already.

But that’s not what I’m going to talk about now. When we finished, I ended up talking for a short moment to one particular mum who’s son I’m teaching this year. I taught a daughter a few years back, and the older one was involved in the band for four years previously as well, so we’ve known each other for a while. Not to mention their mother taught me to swim back when I was in primary school myself and they intend to bring in old photos of my from this period blown up to A3 size when they eventually get around to it.

Anyway… I told her I was disappointed her husband hadn’t turned up because he has a habit of smuggling a can of beer in with him each year as well. I was sort of thinking he should shout me one as I was now teaching his final child and his only son. She just answered, ‘drop by now on your way home and drink one anyway’.

Well… let’s run through this quickly. An offer of a free beer (or bourbon) or two, possibly a meal, definitely a few laughs on the table, and the chance to rock up unannounced at the kid’s house for tea and see him squirm when his teacher appears in the hallway.

How could I refuse?

He didn’t believe his mum when she told him, but when the doorbell rang apparently he ran and hid in his room! So far, perfect!

He eventually came out again and dinner was served, then I had another opportunity I couldn’t pass up. ‘Oi, kid, you done your homework?’

He has now!

Third little gem… didn’t want to have his shower so I just casually noted that when we’re on camp later in the year and he doesn’t have a shower I’ll just grab him and throw him in myself, and if he wanted, I could start now. He had his shower!

Enough mild embarrassment and awkwardness for the poor little feller tonight though. When school starts tomorrow though, I think I might ask him to share some news with the rest of the grade… see if he’s willing to tell his mates the special guest that rocked up for dinner and a drink with dad last night.

Mind you, his mum did warn me that it could have a side effect… they all might start asking me to come round for some tucker…

Suppose then it’d depend on what’s on offer, eh?