Blog 7 - Teacher Concerns at First Faculty Meeting

Ken held our first faculty meeting of the year on the 4th day of school. It was really nice to be able to dismiss the kids early at 2 so we could have our meeting and be done by 3. Of course we went a little over. The meeting was held in the new Grade 8 classroom(constructed the week before school began, i helped to paint this room inside and out). Ken arranged the desks and chairs in a circle, I liked this idea! We began the meeting by standing up for a prayer followed by Ken explaining new procedures for this school year. He had a very detailed outline of rules from 1-12. Each teacher was given a list of the rules/procedures which were read aloud. In this way every teacher knew what was expected and there was nothing left to assume or learn half way through the year. Quotes from Ken: "It's easy to find a job, but hard to maintain a job." "Your teacher evaluation will be read to you before you receive your months pay." "Educate the children on the new rules, you can take all week if you need to." "Let's make this term serious!" "Experience is the BEST teacher!" "Please teach manners!" "Do not walk into my office and take things." "What makes a good leader?" We had a great discussion about this. Interesting teacher /student concerns: A teacher voiced his opinion and said that he had taught a grade for 3 years and he does not like that he was moved, he knows all the units to be taught. Ken: A teacher should be moved every 2-3 years. Another teacher wants to know if he has been demoted or promoted. Ken: You have been assigned, it is your assigment. A boy has changed schools already because of something a teacher said and Ken wants us to get the child back! Some parents want to know why their child is repeating a grade(this happens often if the kids do not pass the end of the year exam). A teacher wants new footballs(soccer) for the school teams and jerseys. The kids want a school choir. (They do have amazing voices) Kids do not like flies landing on their lunch, so a large bowl was suggested for each class and smaller bowls need to be purchased for each child. OK, this is the way lunch works... it is usually rice with a spicy tomato sauce, the kids line up, get their bowl, must eat quickly and return the bowl so a lady can wash it and reuse it for another child. I need to look into pricing these bowls. A teacher wants a new place for the kids to wait for the bus(mini van). The guy who drives the bus always has a smile on his face and is very commited to his job and the kids. He makes 4-5 trips in the AM to pick the kids up and the same in the PM. This means that every day at 2:30, I have a few students who leave early because they need to take the school bus to the next village over. The bus has helped increase enrollment tremendously . Our numbers are around 350. My students have names like, Fati, Abigal, Shadrock, Janet, Michael, Paagrant, Kumi, Lawrencia, Theaphillous, Eugenia, Eugene, Edwina, and Gideon. Many different personalities and academic levels! Oh, every WED AM is worship from 8-9.