I was working at a middle school, back in the 80s, as a teacher's aide, while I attended school to become a physician's assistant. I, truly, thought my great love was in medicine, and I wanted to be a part of that field. That is until some very unusual things occurred. Things I could not control, and things that changed my life forever.
One particular year, I was helping out on the first day of school, and I met this young man I will call Lupe. He was a cute, macho type kid, and I chose him to help me carry books back to the classroom from the book room. While walking in the hall' I asked him the usual questions: "Do you like school? Do you make good grades? What do you want to do with your life?" He told me a little of his family and what he liked to do and said he did not like school and NO he did not make good grades. I mentioned that he looked like an A student to me, and he laughed, "Not me ma'am; I never make all A's." My reply, of course, was but you could. I asked him to please try, and I got a reluctant, "I'll try."
That first six weeks, I reminded Lupe of his need to do well and he really tried. All of the class papers were kept in folders in the classroom, and I saw that none of his grades fell below 90. I was so proud of him and his willingness to try. As the grading period came to an end, I averaged the grades for the teacher, and Lupe had a 96. Way to go Lupe! I gave the teacher the grade book and she took it to look over. When I got
it back to put the grades on the report cards, I noticed that Lupe's grade had been changed to an 86. WHAT?
I questioned the teacher and she said, "You don't understand. He's an (last name), and they do not make A's." I felt like I had been hit in the gut... When I handed out the report cards, I apologized and he just hung his head and said, "Don't worry about it. I told you I never make A's."
He continued to do well in that class and, of course, he never took home the grade he actually made. My heart broke for him! Why was this happening?
During that same year I witnessed a young man being picked on by some of "the school's finest." When the young man I will call Felix hit back, several teacher's jumped into the frey and took all the boys to the office. I went to the defense of Felix and was told that in reality he had started the fight. I knew better. Felix was expelled for a few days for fighting, but nothing happened to the real perpetrators. WHY?
I decided at the end of that year that I would get my degree to teach. I told John of my decision, and he said, "Go for it Mom. You can do it." I knew students in my classroom would not be mistreated. Students in my classroom would be safe.
The next few years were really rough. John went home to be with the Lord my first year in college; I worked full time and went to school at night, and my husband began to exhibit signs of leaving, However, God was with me, and I finished classes in less than four years and began my career as a high school English teacher. I loved it! I learned so much from my students and they kept me on my toes. Life was good. Thank you to all who filled a desk in my classroom. You gave this teacher more happiness than you could possibly imagine.
What of Lupe and Felix you might ask? Lupe dropped out of school at the end of his freshman year and was later killed in Harlingen, and Felix left Texas at the end of that horrific year. Life for them was not good... To them, I owe my life as a teacher. Thank you Lord for putting them in my path.
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