Before leaving school yesterday, I decided, on a whim, to make a phone call home to an exhausted grandmother who is not only raising her granddaughter, but is also caring for her elderly mother all while she herself is partially disabled. Now, I’ve called this woman many times before. In fact, as recently as last week (and the week before), I was calling this woman everyday to have someone come and pick up her rude and defiant grandchild. This student had not always been that way. Sure, we had the usual few weeks “honeymoon” period when she first arrived at the school, but then she began a swift, downward spiral into rumored drug use (I say rumored because staff never found out if it was indeed true) and confusion regarding her sexual orientation (that’s a whole other post). But, somewhere between last Friday and Sunday something just short of miraculous occurred.
On Monday, I was expecting for said student to come in and refuse to do anything but eat and sleep and curse and complain in between eating and sleeping. I expected to have to call her grandmother to come and get her or send someone for her, before the morning was even over. But nothing happened. To my surprise she came in and did as I asked. She had a few problems with other teachers throughout the day and refused to participate in P.E., but she got through it. On Tuesday, she had what we call a “perfect day.” I lavished praise on her, told her that this was the girl I once knew and told her to keep it up. Same thing happened on Wednesday. She even wrote an essay and typed it up – something she wouldn’t have done the week before. So yesterday, after re-arranging books, organizing folders of schoolwork, after wiping down and straightening rows of desks, before shutting down my computer and walking out the door, I glanced at said student’s desk and then picked up the phone. The phone call went something like this:
Me: Hi, Ms. Grandmother?
The Grandmother: Yes.
Me: This is Ms. School Teacher, from Wonderful School, X’s teacher? (like she doesn’t know who I am)
The Grandmother: Oh yes.
Me: Well, I’m calling because I wanted to report something good for a change. I know I’m always calling you to tell you about all the bad things that X does, but I wanted to let you know that she’s had a very good week.
The Grandmother: (sounding relieved) Oh, that’s good! Oh, thank you, thank you. You know she’s been doing better at home too.
Me: Well that’s good to hear. She’s done well in basically all of her classes this week and completed her work, and it sounds to me that her behavior at home and at school has gone hand-in-hand.
The Grandmother: Yes.
Me: Well, let’s keep praising her for it. I gave her a hug and told her that I was proud of her. Hopefully it will continue.
The Grandmother: Hopefully.
Me: Well, take care and enjoy your weekend.
The Grandmother: Oh I will and you too!
Me: (smiling and slightly laughing) Thank you. Goodbye.
I shut down my computer, grabbed my bags, turned off the lights and walked out the door. I looked up; the sun was beaming down on me and walked to my car. I felt good! I had just delivered good news, the sun was out and most of all, I wouldn’t have to come into work the next day. As Bill Withers sang, “Then I look at you and the world’s alright with me. Just one look at you and I know it’s gonna be – a lovely day. Lovely day, lovely day, lovely day, a love-ly day . . .”
Note: The grandmother didn’t say a whole lot because her English is limited.
Posted by School Teacher 
