The next decade....what's in store?

The Primary School Teaching Experience: Field Trip Update

I wish it could be October 1st right now. That was the first day I met the Grade 4 students. That was also the start of an experience which has had a profound impact on me. If you haven't read the other two entries, perhaps you should scroll down and find them before continuing.

And then because this is kind of a reflection, it will be long. You have been warned!

It might sound cliche to some, when I say this has had a profound impact on me. But here is the background to these feelings.

When I was about 13, my mother shipped my sister and I off to my brother's private primary school (we call them Prep schools), to help the Grade 6 teacher during Summer School. We would help to write lessons on the board (I think we used to 'fight' over who would do this task!), mark classwork, and generally assist her with the students. Ziggy Marley was in that class. One day, he had difficulty with a Math problem. I told him if he stayed behind when break time came, I would explain it to him. So he stayed back, I helped him, and the look on his face when he "got it", has stayed with me forever. From then on, to create understanding in people has been my passion. I just love to help people to learn more than they already know. In doing so, I learn also.

From that experience, the first thing I wanted to be was a Primary School teacher. But the profession wasn't looked on very favourably, so that thought went through the window. Thirty years later, I get the opportunity to be a Primary School teacher. Priceless!

So, on to the Field Trip. You read that it was supposed to have been last Monday. However, plans changed and we had to have it today. I went to the school the Friday before, and didn't have the heart to tell the students myself. I told the Principal and 2 Teachers, and asked them to pass it on. When I went to class last Tuesday, one of the students said "Miss, ah did vex wid yuh." I told them that sometimes in life, there are disappointments, but it is your thoughts towards them which determine how you view them. I asked them what was happening last week Monday around the time we were to be touring the resort. It was raining!

Today it was bright and sunny, and not just the weather. The students brought light to my day. They came into the Conference Room as quiet as mice. Clearly the teachers had warned them! NPH had bought some labels for me, so I wrote their names on them and the teachers put them on their shirts. I wanted to show them what happens when tourists are people who come for a conference. Our screen comes down from the ceiling, so I put it down while they were in the room. "Miss, di ting come down from di sky!"

I showed a DVD which the Tourist Board would use on overseas promotions. All throughout the DVD, they were saying "that's is St George's", "diving!"....in other words, they were doing a running commentary, even though it was narrated. So at one point, I muted the speakers. A few seconds later, one student said there was no sound. I said yes, I turned it off since they were talking. So they stopped......but it was shortlived!.

I had done a Powerpoint presentation on the importance of Tourism. As I advanced each slide, they just started reading all together, without me prompting them! I would stop and ask them questions, which most could answer.

My little one who had the accident, was in the front, and her hand went up very often when I asked questions. Of course , she couldn't join in the reading, since she cannot recognize words and letters. But she doesnt have a problem answering a question. She understands.

After the lesson, it was time to go on a tour. When I told them they were going to see the swimming pool, they were ecstatic. We broke them into groups of 3. The Spa, Gym, Kids Centre and two bedrooms were visited. My group had the Troublemakers.....Mr T and Mr D. I wish I could ask the Principal to get the Counsellors in, She is new, so maybe I will. Mr D is openly defiant, and you could just see a bleak future for him as an adult, without early intervention.

Lunch was next. Chicken, rice and peas, vegetables (broccoli, squash, carrot, cristophene) were on the buffet. I wanted them to have the experience of a Conference participant, so they lined up with their plates and were served from the buffet. When they got to the vegetables, some recognized the broccoli. Others didn't. We made all of them take everything, so they could try it. Some called me over to say they didn't like it. "Miss, di broccoli taste like leaf." I didn't force them to eat all.

The menu also included cake and ice cream, so there was a dessert spoon on the table, in addition to the knife and fork. But by the time I got to the tables after helping to serve lunch, they were mostly all eating with the spoon! That's what they are accustomed to you see. So I went from table to table, holding their hands in mine, with the knife and fork, and showed them how to use them. Some tried. When it was taking too long to get the food in their mouth, they went back to the spoon. A couple of them asked for more food. And more food. I then asked "oh, you don't want any cake and ice cream then?" Then they didnt want more chicken and rice again. Cake and ice cream always gets kids.

The things of fascination were the salt and pepper mills which were on the table. I showed them how to twist the top to get the black pepper out. Soon, everybody wanted pepper, just to be able to use the mill. I moved from table to table, making sure they were alright. During my stop at one table, where the boy to whom I gave my apple was sitting, he said "Miss, is just us alone in the restaurant!" I said "yes, because you are special." Big smile, then he continued to suck his chicken leg in glee.

Next, it was the bathroom stop. Some didnt remember they had to flush the toilet, so had to monitor that. Others didnt know they should look for soap to wash their hands. Still others didn't know how to turn on the tap. I tell you, all these things we take for granted, we don't know how many people don't know.

By this time, we were running late. I had to message the bus owner and ask him to come later. He donated his services free. That was very nice of him. It was then back in the Conference Room to find out how they thought the tour was. "Miss, I like everything". One asked if we take other students on tours. I said yes, but they don't get food, just a drink, cause they're not special like you.

I had invited my boss, the owner and his wife in. The owner told them about the importance of Tourism, that they could get good jobs from it, and that they had to study hard so that in two years, they could get one of the five scholarships he gives to that school every year. They are supported for 7 years of high school and college (their equivalent of 6th Form). He told them they had to be serious about their school work. And then he spotted The Troubled One (Mr T) sucking his thumb. "Young man, why are you sucking your thumb?"

It was then time for thank you's. The kids said thanks to the owner, the Principal said thanks to us, and one of the students came up and said thanks to me and gave me a card. I was touched. When I was telling them thanks for making this the highlight of my week every week since October 1st, I felt a lump in my throat and I had to pause and take a breath.

Although the day was fun-filled and happy, there was just a tinge of sadness. Before they left the school, I had called the Principal to find out which students had not come. Mr Attention Seeker (Mr K), was the only child absent from school that day. My heart literally sank. He always misses school because he says his mother doesn't always have money to send him to school. How could she keep him away on a day like this? But did she have a choice? It's households like that I'd want the Social Services to go into and find out the true situation and rectify it. I gave the teachers their homework and a test for them to administer to them tomorrow. I have to pick it up at some point this week, so I will get to find out from Mr K what happened. Maybe I will arrange to pick him up one day and take him to the resort so he can experience what they experienced today. Yes, I think I will do that. Will have to speak with his mother.

Tomorrow's Tuesday will seem strange. After 11 weeks of being at that Primary School from 9:20 - 10am, I will be thinking about them at that time, when I will have a training session at work. One of the reasons I would love to be involved with kids at that age, is because that is the age when I can help to get them on the right path, so that when they become adults, they are well socialized and adjusted, and very exposed to more than just their surroundings.

The experience has further helped me to understand that when candidates come for interviews, are selected, and start working, I must not take for granted, simple things they should know or be able to do. The Principal had told me that she believes that field trips are sometimes more beneficial than what they learn in the classroom. From the reaction I saw, it seems that this was a very big deal. One of the students told me she enjoyed everything.

After having to get cross with some of them for pushing to get back into the bus, they hugged and kissed me and wished me a Merry Christmas. There's that Rock Star feeling again. You gotta experience it.