Since the beginning of the school year, the teacher that is suppose to be my mentor has been running her classroom like I imagine basic training for the US military (no I haven't been through it, but she did show a video to the class!). It's been riddled with punitive consequences, usually unrelated to the offense. She calls the team leaders, herself and the pricipal terms that relate to the hierarchy of the military. I could go on and on, but I think last week I talked enough about it.
Today, oddly enough, she seemed softer. The entire day, I was trying to figure out what the difference was. The kids weren't being any different, in general, that I noticed. The fiddlers were still fiddling. The 'I have to get a drink' -ers were still 'I have to get a drink' -ing. The kids that like to share their reading and writing with each other were still sharing. Usually, this kind of behavior (this AWFUL behavior) isn't tolorated. She usually makes a big spectacle out of anyone that accidentally talks when learning, let alone needs a drink or twists their hair when they concentrate. (She once told a kid she was going to have his dad shave his head if he didn't stop twisting his hair! I still get a kick out of imagining what that dad would have isaid f she actually would have called him..haha)
Anyway, today she was being softer, or more lenient. I did notice that she was wearing black pants and a gray sweater (she usually wears skirts), but didn't think anything of it. I was baffled, especially when she told me that she was stressed out. Usually when she gets stressed or overwhelmed, she gets shorter, less tolerant, and less understanding toward the kids.
I got over my bafflement (is that even a word?) quickly and just enjoyed the calmness. It's so nice when she isn't being so....whatever it is that she is. I guess mean. It's nice when she isn't being mean. The kids show this brilliance that never gets a chance to show when they are under her constant direction or criticism. I actually got to hear their discussions instead of her lecturing. I loved it!
So the day ends, without any complaints from me. Once the kids are gone, she tells me that she has to rush off to a funeral. Ding. It couldn't be.
Could it be that the feelings of sadness and hurt that this death evoked caused her to rethink her cruelty to ten year olds?