St. Louis Tops the Charts...

CNN released this morning that St. Louis is the most dangerous city in the nation... Not only do my students face educational disparities, they are also faced with the realization that their very home is unsafe. I have seen first hand were several of my students live - and I couldn't imagine even the most dedicated of students being able to concentrate on school work in such environments.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/30/city.crime.ap/index.html

The Honeymoon is Over

I've come to realize that we have reached the point in the school year when the excitement and fuss has died down, and it is no longer an escape from reality for many of my students. In just this week alone I have had four different students come to me with issues from home. I'm thrilled that my students feel that they can come to me, but now more than ever my job doesn't end when I walk out the school doors.

Yesterday was the worst. One of my students, Timmisha* (name changed), was looking very down in class, which is incredibly rare for her. I asked her if she wanted to talk so we stepped out into the hallway. She then moved her hand from her face to reveal her cut and swollen lips. She broke down and told me that her step father has been beating her for years and she just can't take it anymore. She shared with me how she comes home from school, he is usually on caine, calls her a slut, and then proceeds to beat her. Apparently when she was 12 years old she had an older boyfriend who impregnated her, and even though she has come a long way since then and realizes her mistakes, her stepfather will not give her a break. Timmisha* is an 'A' student in my class with so much potential, and it pains me to see her in this situation.

She was adamant about not wanting her parents to get in trouble, but I knew that I was bound by law to share this with the authorities. After school yesterday I set up a meeting for us with the school counselor. When that was over, Timmisha* and I went to the gym and then grabbed some dinner before she went home. We had a wonderful time together and she was so grateful. It was horrible knowing that when she left me she was no longer safe. I was talking to one of my fellow corps members last night and we both said we've had these huge urges to just adopt our students, but we need to be careful about thinking with our heads sometimes instead of our hearts. Fortunately, by handing the case over to the counselor that legalities are off my shoulders and I can just focus on making Timmisha's* school experience a positive one.

"Do the Right Thing"

One of my kids got nominated for a "Do The Right Thing" award by the police department. Check out the story from the email I got:"On 8/31, Scotty rescued a 3 y.o that was wandering the alley behind his home. After the police were called because the parents could not be located, a 6 mo. old child was found in an abandoned apartment. The parents of the children were located in the late evening and charged with child abandonment. Scotty took it upon himself to keep the children safe and provided the 3 y.o. with a teddy bear and the infant with a fresh bottle of formula and clean clothes. Scotty did not leave the children's sides until the police said it was okay to do so. Scotty is being raised by a handicapped grandmother and his grandfather (guardian) passed away unexpectedly the last week of September. Scotty could really use the recognition to lift his spirits."

Fantastic, huh!? They had a beautiful ceremony for him and a few other kids this morning - I was so proud! Scott has really struggled with school in the past, but is blossoming in class. He pays attention and adds a great deal of insight and humor - I can't wait to see how he continues to improve this year! PLUS, all the other students in my class have taken to calling him "hero", which he accepts with a sheepish grin :)

"Feel Good" Activity

The weather is now again in the 90s here, and it's making the kids a little cranky and/or sleepy. So today I decided to do the activity where each person writes an anonymous "nice" note to each of their classmates. I participated in the activity as well, and these were some of my favorites:

"is fine, smart, funny, nice, brite, yung, intellgent, will with people, who can let us listen to music"

"she alway respect to me, alway help with me, she is beauiful women, she is my teacher, from Sharday W."

"she alway respect me, she teach me suff that I didn't no, she smart, funny, friendly, lovable an beauiful women from: Tashayla" (clearly Sharday and Tashayla sit next to each other haha)

"she's an incredible teacher because she cares so much about us an our learning if i had one wish i would wish for a billion more ms borcherts thank you for teaching me what i know so far. p.s. Jarrett Johnson"

"I like your dress"

"can dress, nice teacher, down, flamin cheetos, damn"

"get an F for her teaching. I'm just playin. she a good teacher and helpful. dg"

"she is the best teacher i here now"

"she cool she hot"

WOW! Definitely pulling these out on a bad day :)