Long Week

In the business of kids, you have to have the belief that you're doing what's best for all kids. If you don't have that belief — especially in administration — I don't think you will be ultimately successful.

Each child is different. All of them are motivated in different ways. Think about your own kids ... isn't each one unique in his own way? I bet each one has always been motivated by different things.

Teachers and principals get into the mind set when they refer to their students as "my kids." The other day, we had new teacher training at Central Montcalm and one of our retirees joined us and she said that her own children, when young, would get confused, almost upset when she referred to her "school kids" as "my kids" to her husband. "But mom," they would say, "We are your kids."

Kids can be challenging. They can be fun. Sometimes when they're challenging it's somewhat fun because you're learning. Each event is something we can learn from.

I just wonder what causes certain kids to act out. Are they seeking help? Do they need attention? Is it about power? Is it about revenge? They're motivated by different stimuli. And when you spend two hours trying to "settle down" a kid who you thought was making progress ... it's frustrating.

So, even though the week moved quickly from Monday to Friday, in the end it was a "long week" because the last two hours were spent in a battle of wills.


Photo borrowed from Subewl.