When the Kids Don't Come

         

Introductions in 4th grade

          The first week of school is supposed to be a time to meet new students, welcome back the returning ones, and embark on new adventures.

            For that to happen, though, the kids need to come.

            And ours didn’t.

            Well, some came.  The first day we had five kids until 9:15 when the students from Notre Maison arrived. By Friday we had about 10 kids and the Notre Maison kids.

            I learned this week that Haitian parents often don’t send their kids to school the first week.  Why?

            No one really knows.  It’s just tradition.  Go figure.

            I’m hoping that tomorrow all—or most—of the students show up!

            The week did have its upsides!  We had our first day of music classes ever—the kids loved it as did the adults.  We don’t have many instruments yet, but the teacher did a great job with what we have: a couple of recorders, some rhythm sticks, a set of drum sticks, and a couple of drums.  

Kindergarten class--Day 1

            Music is one of the areas where the teachers and administrators plan on growing the school very quickly when I am content to go slowly.  The music teacher is already talking about trying out the older kids who show some talent on different instruments.  Don’t know what different instruments he’s talking about because we don’t have much!  And, the principals are already planning a big musical extravaganza for kindergarten graduation.  

            I need them all to watch What About Bob?  Baby steps are okay!  

On Being the Boss

            Being the boss is hard.  It’s constant decision making.  It’s constant problem solving.  It’s constant question answering.  It’s constant everything.

1st grade

            And, I often don’t know whether I’m making the right decisions or finding the best solutions or handing the problems correctly.  

            This week I had to share principal responsibilities with the two principals so that they were filling their day with work not other stuff.  I have to sit with one of the teachers and encourage/tell her that she will need to do things differently this year even though she doesn’t want to.  I have to sit with another teacher and talk with her about her under-the-breathe comments about whether one of her students can learn. 

Parachute fun!

            I am not looking forward to doing these things.  It would be hard to do in English, and I get to do all this in Creole. Unfortunately, that sometimes means needing the translator to be present, which I don’t like because it interferes with confidentiality.  

            I continue to balance wanting to do things my way with making sure we have a shared vision that the school can grow into.  Balancing what I believe is educationally best based on American schools with respecting Haitian tradition and culture.

            I learned a lot about Haitian culture this past week, not only about parents not sending kids the first week, but also about the importance of raises and what is seen as respectful/disrespectful to Haitians and honoring Haitian laws even if the government doesn’t.  

There are days when I am completely overwhelmed by how much I don’t know about Haiti.