Demoralized!

This one will be short.

Today during lunch I was on playground duty. This is mainly to make sure that one kills anyone else while fighting over control of the soccer ball and/or soccer field. Anyway back to my story...I was on duty on the playground when one of my students pulls up some pavement next to me. It was her birthday and I thought that I was making it a good day for her, when she tells me, "Mr. Tim was more good than you."

And he takes one to the stomach!

One of my students blatantly comes out and confesses her desire to have her old teacher back. I was not too offended considering they had him for two years and probably do not remember the first two weeks of 3rd grade when he sucked too. But still, that sucked to hear.

I asked her why he was better, to which she replied that he helped her with his homework and he let them play soccer. THIS GIRL DOESN'T EVEN PLAY SOCCER! The helping with homework thing I understand. So I responded, "Ashley, have you asked me for help on your homework?" She hadn't. So I told her all she had to do when she needed help was ask and I will be there for her.

5 minutes later another student comes up to me and clears the whole thing up.

"Mr. Tim did everything for Ashley. She never did anything herself. Mr. Tim was not perfect."

I feel much better. Mr. Tim was not perfect, but amongst BECA teachers, he did do his job well and connected with the students. If Mr. Tim wasn't perfect, I'm alright not being perfect.

Note: Mr. Tim has been tremendously helpful to me in these first few weeks. He has been my steady email correspondent. Much praises to Tim, except for the part where he left me a turtle without so much as a note.