Recently, I've discovered that I am a part of my district's "Reduction In Force" for the 2011-2012 year. My greatest immediate concern is for my kiddos and how they'll react to the news. I've been torn between wanting to tell them (so that they have a heads up and don't sign up for courses solely to be with me) and keeping it from them as long as possible (so that there's minimal classroom management drama, etc). Well, thanks to some co-workers, ALL of the staff in my building knows about me being RIFed. They were able to keep it between themselves and staff members - until today.
I have a student in my 6th period who, I'm sorry to say, rubs me the wrong way. This boy to me is akin to styrofoam rubbing against itself in a long car ride ... just out of your reach. He once told me that he sleeps and causes a rukus during my class because he doesn't like me. Curious, I asked for clarification, "Just for the sake of curiosity, why don't you like me?" "Because you stand with your hand on hip. I don't like that." This was the beginning of our very special hate/hate relationship. Of course, the first student to find out was this kid.
Well, Jason came up to me today (when he was supposed to be working in his group) and said, "Mrs. Grachek - you're not coming back next year?!" Oh, crap. "Who told you that?" After naming the Chatty Cathy, I told him, "No, unfortunately I won't be here next year - but keep it to yourself, okay?"
Because it was supposed to be secret, of course the girl in the front row paid attention for the first time in a long time, "WHAT?! You're quitting! WHY!!" I tried to talk to her to calm her down before she alerted the entire wing of the school. "I'm not quitting, honey - they're letting me go." "I could see the explosion in her brain, "WHY! You're the best teacher ever!" "Because of the budget, sweetie. They had to cut someone and I'm the low man on the totem pole."
Jason piped in, "But Mrs. C has been here for only a year, why don't they let her go and then you can stay?" "It's just in my department J, just FCS."
He paused for a while and pensively stated, "I'm going to miss you Mrs. G. I feel bad for you," with a big grin on his face. "Sure you'll miss me, Jason - just like you miss a boil on your butt." It was the weirdest thing then, his grin disappeared and he looked at me as seriously as he did when he told me he didn't like me, "No Mrs. G. I'm totally serious, I'll miss you." "Thanks Jason, that means a lot."
If this is a taste of what is to come, I'm going to be in trouble.
