Today was a bouncy day. Unfortunately, I had to leave school for a bit today to go for a consultation at a doctor’s office so I missed a few hours in the latter part of the day. I made it back to school just in time for dismissal. Usually I stand at the door in the morning and afternoon for the arrival and departure of each student. It has always been my practice as an administrator to meet and greet each staff member and student in the morning. Whether or not the student responds (most of them do) is up to them, but their school day starts with my smiling face greeting them when they storm off of the bright yellow buses. What a great way to start, right?

I think s0, as well as a great way to end the day. As each bus is called and the appropriate students leave the building, I find it important to wish them a safe and happy evening and wish to see them the next day. Usually that is met with less enthusiasm than the morning salutation but I just know that deep down they appreciate the care and effort. This afternoon, however, I heard a staff member say something that I need to think about how to address. I am perplexed.

Granted, our students are not the easiest population to work with. I have already shared with you some of the backgrounds of our students so I’ll save you the repetitive details. Needless to say, they have all been diagnosed with some form of emotional and/or learning disability that materializes in some form, mostly angry or physical outbursts. Many of our students are simply attention seekers who will do anything for attention, positive or negative. Others will be very time consuming as they will take every moment of our time in restraints or constant redirecting of their behaviors. Others are just plain difficult. The staff tends to take much of it in stride and some have even gotten injured from student encounters and still see this work as rewarding. At dismissal today, as one of our most ‘needy’ students left, I shook his hand and escorted him to the bus so he wouldn’t run away or get on another bus. As we were walking, I heard a staff member say “some kids are just not worth the effort.” That stung me.

I am a stern disciplinarian. In just two months, the students can attest to that. I hold students and staff accountable for their actions and work tirelessly through the day to assure a safe learning environment where teachers are able to teach and students are able to learn. We are not a private preparatory academy with the luxury of entrance exams and placement tests. We often are given broken children, crying out for the emotional needs they have been deprived of for many years. Sometimes the amount of time we spend with them is not enough to make a marked difference for the growth that is needed to “save” a child from criminal behavioral choices and so we do lose some. But that is not without an effort. To immediately write off a child – and I use the word child because that is what they are emotionally and intellectually despite their big bodies! – is just as bad as enabling them to move in a wrong direction. And, trust me, the students know who has faith in them and who is simply going through the motions of the day.

So when I heard that statement it bothered me for at least two reasons. First, if I could hear the comment, the student I was walking with definitely heard it. And second, what type of interaction am I to expect in the future between this staff member and this (among other) students. This bothered me and I will address it tomorrow. Time will give me the opportunity to think about the scenario and develop an approach that will state my point with as much energy as this blog entry contains, without offense but also without muting the point I am trying to make.

These kids have already been failed. Many of these kids fail themselves each day by not making the right choices each day and night to reach the goals they have set for themselves in therapy with our counselors. Their lives are full of disappointment and the one place I want for them to be safe and relaxed with a focus on self improvement is our school. What to do, what to do.

Regardless of each child’s background and despite the many challenges we face each day, the work we do is always worth the effort. If that is not a shared value then the disconnect will only damage the child further. How do I bring everyone together in this shared value during the most difficult part of the academic year? Time to brainstorm! Any ideas?