So who is this Stam anyway?

::Blows dust off blog::

I've been...um...rather lazy about keeping up with this blog-writing stuff.

(Fortunately, I've been less lazy about clearing out the spam that keeps accumulating.)

Anyhow, I owe someone a post. Not sure if it's myself, or everyone who drops in every so often just to see if Stam's gotten off his butt and written, or just on general principles...

Anyway. Since my last entry of substance (Long-lost Update), what's been happening...?

First and foremost, in June I got laid off from the school I'd been teaching at. They'd just moved to another campus quite a ways from where I'd been leaving. 45 mins travel time as opposed to 20-30 mins, that is.

Anyway, that meant that myself and one of the other teachers - the one I'd been getting a lift with - would be travelling 1.5 hours for 3-3.5 hours of teaching. Neither of us were particularly thrilled about that.

The director of the school had other ideas. Lay off one teacher, employ the other twice the hours - instant solution.

(Needless to say I didn't think much of it. The reason I was given for being laid off was that they couldn't afford to keep another teacher on - so when I saw that the other teacher was now doing twice the hours, I thought to myself, "So much for any element of truth in that statement!")

Anyway. After a term without a steady job (but with the usual tutoring students) I was offered a job teaching a remedial class at the local Chabad (one variety or 'sect' of Judaism) high school. It was closer to a preparation-class, really - these were eight of the grade 7s and 8s who had almost no Jewish background. Then, almost immediately afterwards, I got another temporary-but-good job - teaching holiday classes to the grade 5s and 6s during the autumn holidays.

That was an educating experience. Holiday classes are both better and worse than regular ones. Most of the kids who show up are there to learn, although some come because their parents want them there. Discipline is easier and harder, too - carrot and stick style, mostly. Prizes offered for raffle for those who've been participating, and a quick exit out the door for those who prove they don't.

Then it was on to regular teaching, with boys just at that awkward age. They're a really, really mixed bunch. Some are mostly good and studious by nature, some are more slackers. Every single one's got a whole story behind his behaviour.

(I found that my coping abilities gained from the holiday classes came in very handy. And I've been getting advice from all sorts of areas, even some rather odd ones.)

Gummy candy works really well - specifically something chewable and in a 'fun' shape. Slurpees, too.

Anyway, the year's winding down now. I even had to set an exam on what I'd taught; it wasn't too hard to write and won't be a tough exam (but will be for the kids who don't study!)

Posted by adam at December 7, 2005 05:42 AM