Two days a week I share my classroom with another teacher. We each work with children individually or in small groups. So it is no problem sharing the classroom. Today when I was working at my desk, I overheard a conversation between the other teacher and a kindergarten child:
Child: “My dad had to move to another house because my dad was so mad at my mom.”
Teacher: “Okay, get your things together. It’s time for you to go back to your class.”
Child: “My dad loves my mom.”
Teacher: “Uh hmmm. Let’s go.”
My heart broke for the child who was expressing something important to him, and I was angry with the teacher who either couldn’t or wouldn’t listen.
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October 31st, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Oh my goodness I think I would have come across the room!! I hope someone listened to that child’s concerns today.
Thanks for the reminder that we all need to SLOW down and listen to those around us…especially little people.
:-) susan
TMS: The teacher is very young, and she has no children of her own. I believe she probably just felt uncomfortable and didn’t know how to respond to the child’s remarks. I HOPE that’s the case.
October 31st, 2007 at 9:37 pm
That sad little child obviously needed someone to care enough to listen. Divorce, so often takes the problems of the parents and puts them on the fragile shoulders of their little children.
November 1st, 2007 at 1:36 am
What a sad story. The teacher probably didn’t have a clue as to how to respond, but still, the child was trying to talk about something he was upset about.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:27 am
That teacher needs someone to clue her in on how to handle that type situation. The precious child was reaching out and needed an adult to comfort them. I hope the child will try again with an adult who knows what to do.
November 7th, 2007 (5 weeks ago) at 5:50 pm
I’m not Mr. Empathy, but even I could understand that student’s need to say something so personal and would listen and support with every fiber of my being.
November 7th, 2007 (5 weeks ago) at 6:36 pm
I talked with our guidance counselor the next day. Although I didn’t know the child, I explained the conversation I had overheard and I found out that the child had been talking to the guidance counselor. Still, I have a hard time believing the other teacher was so non-responsive to the child’s expressions of concern. However, she DOES come into my classroom twice a week and never says a word to me until I speak to her first. Now I make a point of speaking to her and making comments off and on during the day to try to engage her in conversation. Maybe someday she’ll warm up.
November 9th, 2007 (4 weeks ago) at 11:05 am
Obviously this teacher doesn’t have any clue how to communicate with a student having problems. I think I would have asked the teacher if she minded if I talked to that student on the side. I couldn’t imagine a good reason for her minding this. Maybe you could have a plan in case this happens again.
November 10th, 2007 (4 weeks ago) at 9:25 pm
November 15th, 2007 (3 weeks ago) at 10:22 pm