Looking Back

As I was compiling items for my electronic portfolio I was reminded of a time when it may have been useful to use the information I had learned during a faculty senate meeting. No more than a week after I had listened to a knowledgable speaker and had received the handbook "The Role of Educators in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect" I was faced with a situation in which this information could have been useful.

It was 9:00AM and I was walking my class to their special for the day. Before we entered the gymnasium, one of the third grade boys stopped me. He said, "Miss Streets, I'm sad today." Knowing that this young boy is always in a good mood and more times than not the class clown, I knew that I had to inquire more about what was occuring in his life. I let the other students enter the gym to begin stretching while I talked with him. He had told me that his mother was crying last night. I in turn asked what was wrong and found out that his father was yelling at her and he heard things being thrown. I asked if he was okay and he said that he was. I walked him down to the guidance office; after hearing that the counselor wasn't there I asked him if he could wait to talk after specials. He said that he could and I went to my mentor teacher for guidance myself. Knowing the background of many students in this school, I was worried. The boy decided that he would talk to my mentor teacher about what happened. She reported the incident to the principal and then called his mother. His mother stated that it wasn't something that happened all the time like one may think she would say, but she insisted this. My teacher believed she was being truthful.

I had to go to my mentor teacher for help with this problem since I am still only a pre-service teacher. This situation gave me insight to what I will potentially have to handle when I have my own classroom. I will need to know the procedures of that school district in order to best help my students. Just like this handbook, I will hope to have somewhere to go for guidance.