A detrimental deficiency demands diligence and determination in order to overcome the difficulties and reach the final destination. In any society, children are the most lucrative assets. Children are people who exist in a microcosm of society, namely school, as well as the wider society of their environment. Their world is creative ,wild, and free. In this make- believe world, the geniuses of future societies are formed. Of course, the negative impact and influences of childhood may develop the criminal mind. The survival of the fittest is a lifelong reality.
Alexander Pope said that the child is father of the man. This profound statement is often overlooked in the rearing of children. In Proverbs, Solomon calls for training of children in the ways and attitudes rhat will enrich their life in the future. This discipline is the same that is used for artists, writers, musicians,Olympic medallists,scientists, homemakers,carpenters and those with other technical and vocational skills. Writng manifested in my life when I was nine.. However, my niece, Richette, mocked my singing when she was six months old! She was the only baby who insisted on listening to ten or more songs from my repetoire before she decided to sleep. Today, singing is a significant part of her life.
Education is not limited to academic accumen. At one time it was reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic. The twentyfirst century child wants a more challenging existence. Arcade games are the mainstay for many children; and with computers readily available in schools and homes, learning is as near as the fingertips. When adults enter the domain of a child, it can be a rude awakening experience. One time I played a Street Fighter game with my nephews and discovered that it took seconds before I lost the game. Finally, I asked what was the purpose of the red line. Blood. Blood? I believe that the Blood of the Lamb brings victory; so after that revelaion, I never lost another game! However, there are many games that I will lose until I understand the modus operandi.
One detrimental deficiency that I faced as an educator at the beginning of the 2003-2004 academic year was insufficent furniture in the classroom. One class on my timetable had thirty eight students; but I did not have thirty eight desks. At first, students borrowed desks from neighbouring classrooms. Then they had to go further afield. Class time was wasted because of the interruptions and having to review information for the students who had to search for a desk or chair. Having insufficient desks invoked the presence of a monster that demolishes the success of any lesson. Discipline. Instead of a seating plan, we played musical chairs. Students squabbled for the right to a desk or chair. Diligence reached an all time low. Could students in 2003 and now 2004 be expected to work at optimum proficiency without a desk? Yes. Durung my early school days, teachers had classes outdoors; and there were no chairs! Students had to improvise; and nobody complained about the difficulties. What empowered students to excel during that era without modern technology?
Shakespeare in As You Like It declares," Sweet are the uses of adversity..." James in his epistle says to adopt a positive,,joyous attitude during unsavoury experiences and hardship. In spite of the vicissitudes of the first semester 2003, my students improved in Literature. The Language Arts results were abysmal. About three percent passed the Language Final Examination. The three percent came from the class with thirty eight students for whom there is insufficient desks! This revelation made me think. My students are not duncy. But, when ninety seven percent of students fail an examination, many questions surface. Other students passed the examination; and my students are capable of excellence. What factors prompted their failure?
In December 2002, during a fireside chat with God, I was given a seven point plan which I have dubbed Ripple Of Love. The poem that preceded the plan mentioned a ripple; and the last line concluded with an invitation to watch the power of the Dove. The Ripple Of Love plan was revealed after more than one hundred of the one hundred and forty seventh graders that I taught failed the Literature Final Examination in December 2002. A literacy deficiency is only the tip of the educational iceberg. Many students, I discovered, need diversity, a catalyst to jumpstart diligence and discipline. The work ethics for many students is influenced by lack. Textbooks are not a part of their reality; and some do not possess a pen or a notebook that is for a specific subject. Forgetting a notebook or having the school bag stolen is an everyday event. For some students, school is simply a social event that is on their activity calendar each day. Parents sentence them to the educational institiution and a somewhat dreary existence; and their reluctance is evident in their gross failure. Why is there only thirty four Honour Roll students in a school of almost 1300 students?
What could I do to change the environment? After some searching, I discovered a variety of products I had on hand and which could be used as rewards or prizes. I showed them to my classes. Some students were interested; but I knew I needed a wider range of gifts if I wanted to get their attention and maintain it. The next answer became evident the day that the photocopier at my school broke down and work I was depending on for a lesson was not ready. Even a photocopier can protest hardship. Necessity forced me to think quickly. Discovery.com has a puzzlemaker on its website. My lessons would embrace puzzles! I chose the crisscross puzzle and prepared a lesson for my weakest class. The results were astonishing. Besides. working quietly and helping each other, the scores were dramatic! Only two students scored a D. Four students scored an A! This encouraged me.
How could I deal with the literacy dilemma of my seventh grade class? When the teleplay drama The Different Ones by Rod Serling was chosen again for the seventh graders, I realized that my set ( the last one at the third level) could have some problems reading it. In addition, it has seven scenes. When the suggestion to write a play that was suitable for seventh graders was given, I accepted the challenge. The Department reviewed it and found it ideal for the ninth graders because of the issues presented in the drama. I tried again; but the second play was rejected too. Some teachers had started to teach The Different Ones. The Department 's critics suggested a revision of the first scene. Meanwhile, ninth graders have found the play to be relevant; and they have told me that they enjoyed it. Their positive response has indicated that youth need meaningful experiences.
Puzzles, which have included Word Search with a message, have changed the climate of my classroom. Students are excited about the prospect of solving a puzzle for a grade. However, puzzles are only an opening wedge - a doorway - to basic skills and information. For example, a research project on Langston Hughes incorporated the use of an encyclopedia and the internet. To complete the crisscross puzzle, they had to not only read but discriminate in order to find the precise answer. A recent project requires them to find five seeds and write at least five facts about each one, The seeds have to be mounted on cardboard 5x 81/2 inches. I showed them a model; but I know some students will produce work that is more ingenious than mine. Resources in the community - not the encyclopedia or internet- will be used for this project. Ripple Of Love is beginning to make sense.
Students still squabble over desks and chairs but it is not as aggressive as in the past. They know that if they are too late to claim a desk, they can use a chair and their lap or sit on the floor and press on a chair. We have an ultimate destination:- academic success. Only deterrmination in spite of difficulties will get us there.
