May 12, 2004

I met a school boy today

I came back from dropping Mother this morning and parked the car outside the gate rather than driving in.

I was then leaving to go to the gym, when I spotted behind me, a school boy walking down the road. I wound down the passenger side and asked him where he was headed. To Old Hope Road to take the bus. Which school do you go to? New Day All Age. Where is that? Grants Pen.

So I told him to hop in and I would take him to the bus stop. When we reached the bottom of the road where I would turn left to go to Old Hope Road and right to go to the gym, I asked him what time school starts. 12 noon. What time did my clock say? 11:28am. When he told me that he would take the bus to Half Way Tree and then another to Grants Pen, I said "I'll carry you". Surely he would have been late.

I figured that adding 10 minutes to my journey was worth it if he got to school on time.

Now I ask a lot of questions.

What time you normally leave home? 10:30
How come you were late this morning? I was doing something
What? Watching TV? No, I was making a keyboard
Oh! For IT class? Yes
What's your name? Jermaine Watson
Where do you live? Up the road and turn left
Who do you live with? Grandmother, aunt and ...
Do you play cricket? No
What! Do you play any sports? Yes, football
Why you don't play cricket? I don't watch because it's boring. (Dr D got to him!)
Who is the principal? Miss Ormsby
Oh, I know her sister. Did you do GSAT? Yes, but they say I didn't pass.

(He didnt do well in Math)

(I had to make conversation while I drove, ent?)

I asked him if he realizes that he could walk to school. He says he does that sometimes. The bus fare is $30 each time ($15 to HWT, $15 from HWT to New Day) so $60 per day. I showed him how he could save nearly $300 per week.

He was very quiet and seemed shy. He is 13 and is light brown in complexion with a bit of curly hair, about 5 ft 4 in tall, had on a white shirt and khaki pants.

When I dropped him at the gate, I told him to make sure and do well in school. I didn't get a chance to add "that's how you will be able to do well in life".

Every time I have such an encounter with a child, I wished that I had gone on to do initially what I have always wanted to do, from since I was a teenager, that is to teach kids.

Another time I'll tell you how that came about.

Posted by yamfoot at May 12, 2004 08:10 PM
Comments

Good for you. Though it was never my goal to become a teacher, I do teach now...medical students, Nurses and Physiotherapists.

Just this week, one of our chronic patients with a genetic skin disorder (if I were to show you a pic of him but can't for medico-legal reasons, your heart would be broken...his skin looks akin to a reptile) came to clinic. He is now 10. I met him about 4 yeras ago. He wasn't sent to school 'till 'bout 6 on account of his skin...assumed to be 'catching'. (Everybody feels any skin thing is! Sigh!)

We wrote a letter saying he should be allowed to attend school normally. Now, him nuh speak well at all, but has come a far way.

I have great respect for his father, he is far better than the 'usual' Jamdown father. Lots of men that had a kid that looked like this boy would probably disown them....which is basically what his mother has done.

I gave him a little reading/writing exercise while his Daddy went to the pharmacy to fill his Rx. Told him if he does not do well in school, I going come to Bog Walk and look for him to give him a kunck in him head! Have to put suppem in you head so dat you not chupid when you get big! He smiled.

Poor thing, he's a bright child, just a victim of circumstance......

Posted by: Dr. D. at May 13, 2004 09:15 AM

yes, so many children in our society who would benefit from some attention regarding their learning.

I dont think we have got past the stage, where anybody who dont do well in school, we call them dumb and stupid, where it could be alearning disorder that they have, or social problems outside of school etc.

Posted by: Michelle at May 13, 2004 09:51 AM