Take three boys. In any class, at any time, pick out three boys. Here, I'll help you. Now
pay attention, there will be questions at the end.
He looks like a lovely boy. I can see why you've picked him. He's working hard, he has his pencil case and all the right books out, and he's quietly trying to ignore the fuss all around him. He is a little shy, but he's also very keen to learn and eager to please, and these traits are what lead him to always raise his hand in question and answer sessions. Sure, he gets called "swot" and other names, but he tries to ignore them. He wants to do well, and hopefully he will.
Let me tell you more about this boy. A year ago he couldn't speak English, let alone read
or write it. He has seen war, famine, and brutal murders at close hand. The memories still
seep into his dreams, but he has taken the opportunity to rebuild from the chaos, and knows
the value of working hard. The fights in the playground are nothing compared to watching
his home burn down, to seeing flies swarm over butchered bodies, to retching at the stench
of fire and flesh.
He is shocked occasionally, and he has much to learn. His eyes flash open wide when told to write in bullet points instead of full sentences for one task. It's not an ordered list he is thinking of when this phrase is used.
He wants to be a doctor. He wants to help people and heal people and stop their pain. It's unlikely at the moment because his grades aren't good enough, but he is so quietly determined that it might just work. His father was clever too, working as a civil engineer before the troubles forced them out. But now he mops up on hospital wards, bearing the demotion with grateful dignity, and learning from his son as best as he can.
Ah yes, this boy seems like a good choice too. He has an answer for everything, doesn't
he? Cheeky little scamp. He is very quick, very bright, and should really be in a higher
set where kids like him are challenged and encouraged to do their best. Of course, we try
to challenge him here too, but he prefers to languish with his mates. He didn't want to be seen
as a swot, so took the matter into his own hands, and mucked up his exams on purpose. He's
very used to seeing the phrase "not fulfilling his potential", but what's the point of
getting those bits of paper if none of the girls fancy you and none of your mates think
you'd be up for a bit of joyriding?
Every now and again, when he's shouted out the answers to a few too many questions, he has to assert his non-swotty self in the classroom by smacking one of the kids near him around the head or hurling some abuse at the teacher. He knows his mates appreciate his quick mind when they all want to skive, so he'll join in class debates by asking questions which are not entirely relevant, but which the teacher feels obliged to answer.
For him, it's about the camaraderie. Every month, when he sees his dad, that's when he
learns is important. It's about fitting in, being a lad, having enough cash in your pocket
for a pint and enough wit to stay one step ahead of the rest of the pack. His dad's done
alright and he never got on at school. His dad loves to hear how the lad has got one over
on those stuck-up teachers, especially the old ones that he used to have teach him. He
slaps his son on the back and buys him another shandy at the bar.
Oh, you've picked a quieter one this time. This one is known as a plodder to some. He's a lovely boy, but we know from his cognitive ability tests that this is going to be as good as it gets. He does the work, makes mistakes, has it explained to him if the teacher has time, then makes the same mistakes. He would really benefit from having somebody working with him all the time, reassuring him and helping him, but you can see that the learning support assistant is over with somebody else who is on the special needs register.
This boy used to have special needs, but apparently he's over that now. He had very
poor literacy skills. He was removed from the register after a sudden progress spurt. It
was lovely to see the penny finally drop, and he works slowly but surely through the exercises
now, and usually finishes first because it doesn't take him twenty minutes to find a pen
and stop messing about with his mates across the room.
He may well improve some more, but we're all happy with how well he's working. His parents are very proud of him. He's happy too, now that he's been moved out of the special needs classes, because he used to be teased for that. He's never top of the class and so the louder boys save their name-calling for other kids who do better than they do.
So you've chosen three boys. Which one would you want to spend your precious classroom
time with? Who would benefit most from your help? Who needs your time more than the others?
And the final question of this pop quiz: who do you think actually takes up all of your time
at the expense of the others? Answers to the
usual address, please. Seriously - I'd like to know!
added 23/5/04
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