Lessons and Milestones

Sometimes I approach Tuesdays and Thursdays with a little dread, aware of some unknown soul-trying challenges lurking in the seemingly benign corners of Na Bpong school. If I'm luckily, they're usually the predictable classroom chaos, unwelcome fondles from innocent first graders, and uncooperative 5th grade boys with growing egos. Last week however, was just one of those days that made me want to cry on the spot, swear  I would not step foot in the 5th and 6th grade classrooms again come hell or high water, even if it means I won't get my stipend.

This year, I have tried my best to inculcate the value of working independently, regardless of whether or not a worksheet or a test receives a hundred percent. But because the prevailing academic mentality here is perfection, it does not matter whether or not a student produced his or her own work. As long as there are perfect answers, perfect lines with dotted i's, they are safe from the policing of the teacher stick (yes, it's a hitting stick.) But this teleological, deeply flawed approach has prevented my students from summoning up enough confidence in their intelligence to fulfill their work (or I suppose, the diligence to finish it themselves.) Last Thursday, I caught one of my better students giving out the answers to the class bully like it was an infectious disease, in order to win some social favors. In retrospect, I realized my mistakes in approaching this problem:

a. I was marking off finished worksheets at a corner in the room, where we track students' progresses. When I saw this happening, I pointed it out to the entire classroom, and the entire class lost some of their stars.

b. My explanation for the consequences of cheating were probably inadequate, as I got flustered and visibly upset

c. I made the incredibly regrettable mistake of saying that in America, it was strictly forbidden to copy each others' work. Instead, I should have said that in every school, cheating is strictly forbidden because it hinders learning and personal accountability.

To this comment, my best student responded by saying "this isn't America. this is Na Bpong school" in Thai, which of course, I can understand. That comment gave me a huge reality check, a slap in the face, and collapsed my hubris. Of course, how could I make this egregious, irrelevant and inconsiderate comparison? I hurt their feelings, but I didn't recognize it at the time so I quietly collected my things and walked out of the classroom.

This week, when remorse settled in, I got numerous apology letters, and affirmations of friendship from my 5th and 6th grade class. Here's an example:

It reads: "Ud sorry. Ud love Teacher Coconut"

On Tuesday we had a brief discussion on why it isn't good to cheat and why it hurt my feelings. I am impressed by their genuine and immediate apologies, and how much they were also willing to forgive my mistakes. These are the occasions where I am so deeply humbled by this tough profession. It is a reminder that while I have acquired some finesse with teaching, I have still much to learn.

On the other hand, today is also an occasion to celebrate student milestones! In my 6th grade class at Thai Samakee, we worked on hobbies and the triumvirate of speaking, listening and writing by interviewing everyone in the class about their favorite hobbies. I have a student Jack, who started off the year behind his classmates and who hung out with a couple of boys who have now dropped out of school. He was timid, recluse, and did not like to participate in our activities as much as the other kids. Now, he is the source of praise (the only initial student who could recall "dragonfruit" in english!) and has become more and more confident in his abilities. Today, I was amazed at how he asked "What do you like to do?" to all his classmates so confidently and nonchalantly, as if he were telling the time. He may have finished last, but I was so proud to see how his hard work has paid off. Even during lunch time, I heard him asking puzzled students what they like to do. All in all, the progress these 6th graders have made since the first time I saw them has floored me. I was a very proud teacher today, sneaking off wiping a tear or two maybe, as I heard them chatter "I like to cook food" and "Joom likes to dance" all day.

Here is a copy of Jack's work, with correct grammar and dotted i's.