Small victories

Posted on by Luther M. Siler

I’m not going to get into the details, because it’s a very long story and not rewarding enough for its length, but I found out about a week ago that I had to give a final for the first semester to my two Honors Algebra classes. That’s not a typo– the first semester. The one that ended two months ago, at the end of December. I was, to put things mildly, not exactly chuffed with this development, particularly since we were already behind and this was going to cost us even more time.

I am exceedingly pleased to announce that, given a total of five days of class to review an entire semester of material, most of which I had not directly taught because I did not work there when the material was presented, and a fair amount of which had never been presented since they went over a month without a teacher, of my 32 Honors Algebra students, 30 passed the exam, one has not taken it yet because she was ill, and all but about three got a C or better.

This is great for them, and not for nothing, it makes me look pretty fucking good too.

God, do I love teaching kids who want to learn.

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Luther M. Siler

Teacher, writer of words, and local curmudgeon. Enthusiastically profane. Occasionally hostile.

4 thoughts on “Small victories”

  1. “God, do I love teaching kids who want to learn.”

    I was a graduate teacher for 2 years, and that sentiment right there is why I loved to see older students in my class. The people over 30 who were taking my basic level English class where there because they WANTED to learn. They missed far fewer classes than the under 20yo’s because they had already been out making a living, and they knew the value of every dollar they spent on a class. They may not be “A” students, but they never missed turning in an assignment, and you could tell that they were TRYING.

    I absolutely hated the 18yo’s who were only there because their parents convinced them to give college a year and see if they liked it. I swear there was a student who’s excuse for missing most of my classes was because my class interfered with “peak tanning hours”.

    I taught adults (ostensibly), who didn’t have to be there. You teach kids who are required to be in class. I salute you!

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