For my last three years of teaching I had 37 students plus or minus two or three in my classes. I had only 34 desks as the room was too full with 37 desks.
Quite often, for the last period of the week I would have a 42 minute reading period and sometimes we did cross word puzzles. We did one puzzle as a class and the second puzzle they could find a partner and do the puzzle with someone. The crossword puzzles as a class were fun. I would say one across and someone would shout out an answer. This continued and then some little guy would get behind in filling in the answers and I would repeat the answers which added to the mayhem.
When all students were present I had to improvise for space. So kids could always sit on the back counter. They liked sitting at my desk. And sometimes kids would sit on the floor. I didn't use the desk during class time. I had a stool and lectern at the front of the room.
One day the principal came in the room. This was quite common. This time there were six or seven people who followed the principal. The Education minister was in town and requested a school tour. The minister and his assistants were brought to our school. The Principal obliged and took them on a little school tour. Nothing was preplanned. They just went all over the place including my classroom.
So the kids were quiet and reading. One little guy was on the floor. Who did the minister decide to interact with but the little guy on the floor. The minister knelt down beside the kid and began to talk to the kid about his book.
The whole group breezed around the classroom for five or ten minutes and left.
The superintendent was the last to leave and quietly said to me, "He didn't notice how crowded your classroom was."
Maybe your over crowded classroom was ignored on purpose. At least he talked to the child on the floor. Take care, have a great day and happy week ahead.
ReplyDeleteOn this day, I wonder would they have noticed how crowded your classroom was if one of the students was sitting at your desk! Surely that would have been a sight for them to see, or maybe they would have ignored it.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't seem to get it. They probably didn't want to get it.
DeleteGreat story! That was the reality of teaching back in the day.
ReplyDeleteI love your posts about your teaching days. You are a good writer!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment but my writing is somewhat suspect. My daughter is My critic and she's tough.
Deletei can't imagine the parent's complaints if their child had to sit on the floor due to not enough desks in today's age! Back then, parents thought sitting on the floor toughened them up and built character.
ReplyDeletesitting on the floor was somewhat acceptable . As you say, someone might take offense today.
DeleteSounds like you were a wonderful teacher, Red. Those students were lucky to have you!
ReplyDeleteWell, I tried hard. If you kept them busy with interesting work things went OK.
Deleteand he didn't even ask why the child was on the floor...not very observant.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't think he wanted to see much.
DeleteI cannot imagine an inspector failing to notice that there were more children than desks! But it sounds like you were a teacher who enjoyed his kids...and those kids enjoyed your classroom!
ReplyDeleteThis was worse than an inspector. this was the minister of education. Our superintendents were up on things.
DeleteYes, bureaucrats seem to have blinders on most of the time.
ReplyDeleteYou would know very well that they try to manipulate the story so it's in their favor.
DeleteToo bad he didn't notice but what can they do.
ReplyDeleteThey want a good news story to take away so they will tell a wonderful story about kids reading.
DeleteI had a visit like that while teaching my 20 struggling first graders. They were in a group on the floor and I was leading a lesson. One little girl kept wantng to show off her shoes. No one notice how hard I was working to keep them all on task. They just commented on how cute they were.
ReplyDeleteYour comment makes me laugh. They were completely off the topic. They only see what they want to see.
DeleteI had a stool and lectern, too!
ReplyDeleteI liked to wander around the classroom looking at kids working.
DeleteYours sounds like a relaxed classroom. I cant imagine there would be unplanned inspector visits these days
ReplyDeleteOur guys were called superintendents. Teacher evaluation was handle by Principals and dept. heads.
DeleteHow nice it was such a normal, learning day that the observers didn't find it offputting.
ReplyDeleteYes, I look back and the kids did not get thrown off their game but kept reading.
DeleteNot noticing may have been intentional. You had a good plan for Friday, however.
ReplyDeleteAt least the class wasn't criticized for how it adapted to the large number of students.
ReplyDeletei can imagine how he could not notice the room was crowded as students were reading quietly wow it seems nice to imagine even dear Red
ReplyDeleteyou indeed were wonderful teacher and you still inspire so many through your great stories
bravo!!!
Red, I remember those visits by the Principal well. I was never lucky enough to have the Super and/or anyone from State come by. Your story here is interesting and illustrates that classroom visitors often come away with what they want to see and not necessarily what’s most important. Thanks for sharing. John
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOSH! 37 kids in your classroom! Wow! You were an amazing teacher to handle all that so beautifully. In fact, so beautifully that the Education Minister didn't notice. That's incredible! I wish I could have known you then.
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