On Tuesday, there was a student, A. C., that got kicked out of the science exam for having an electronic device on her. The teacher that caught her felt that she deserved to be booted - she is very distracted in class and is hard to work with even in a one-to-one setting. Often, she is looking at her phone.
Today, I messaged her and told her all the requirements for summer school. I told her it would be the best option for her and encouraged her mom to talk to the guidance counselor. I have done this for another student, J.P., who also does not work hard in class. I believe he skipped the exam, not realizing how important it is and is using the excuse of calling in sick. I made sure he knows it's a big deal he missed the exam and that he should try for summer school.
Remember, It's not up to us to bring judgement on these students. Just because they don't act focused doesn't mean they don't deserve to know their options. We do not hold grudges against them. Realize that these students may have personal issues going on at home; their parents may be splitting up, their younger sister may be terminally ill, a family member may have recently passed away, they may be the victim of sexual abuse or assault - and we have no idea. We do not know what goes through their head that causes them to become distracted. And we will never know.
Therefore, we fight for them until the end. Even when the teachers don't want to.
That's the difference between most of the teachers and what we do.
We go the extra mile.
Addendum: I'd like to add that by this time next year, whoever gets to work with me in Waskaganish has to do this all this "fight the extra mile" stuff because I will be emotionally exhausted and too grumpy to go the extra mile. But I know my company will look out for my future students when I am too tired to.
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