Friday Afternoons

What is usually thought of as the best part of the work week, Friday afternoons, I start dreading beginning on Thursday.  Let me explain.  I teach first form, which is the equivalent of Freshmen.  There are 4 classes in first form.  2 boys classes and 2 girls classes.  They are divided so as to be beneficial to the girls education, which I believe it is.  There are 39 boys in one class and 36 in another.  We've had 2 boys withdraw so far this year and usually by this point in the year they've lost or gotten rid of about 10.  Okay, so, each class I teach 4 hours a week and one of the times I teach them it's a double period, meaning two periods back to back.  I am lucky enough to teach these wonderful children for 1 hour and 40 minutes straight.  It just so happens that the class that is the worst I only have in the afternoons, never in the mornings.  I say they're the worst only because they've had several suspensions for fighting, they are so awful in class I can't teach, and they drive all the teachers crazy, not just me.  This class of young men, the worst class in the school, I have been given the opportunity to teach for a double period on Friday afternoons each week.  I try to think of it as an opportunity.  I honestly spend about 50-70% of the class disciplining.  I can't teach anything and I'm surprised they can learn anything.  After each quiz I shake my head in disbelief when I see how good their grades are.  Another teacher asked me if I thought they were all cheating.  Which is funny, because I did think that at first until I graded the other boys' class and they did well also.  How is it possible that they are actually listening and learning while their behavior is so awful?  It's got to be the grace of God, there's no other explanation for it!
I get all kinds of questions and ridiculous things happening in class.  Some are just like high schools in the states, like the spitballs in today's class.  But others, like 'stoning' each other with beans you wouldn't see in the states as much.  And many times it takes everything within me not to laugh at them when they say ridiculous comments or crazy answers to my questions.  On Wednesday one of them said he would be the father of my baby and all the other boys responded "whe-la!!!!!" (which is their version of 'woah' or 'wow') and started laughing.  I could barely keep a straight face.  They ask me if I'm Jamaican, if my parents are from Belize, if I have a husband in the states, and if we can go hang out with the girls' class.  When discussing concupiscence, original sin, the garden of Eden, etc. one of the boys asked "So, when a man has sex with his wife it's a good thing?"  This boy is usually very quite and doesn't ask questions.  When I answered 'yes' you should have seen his face, a huge smile spread across it.  It was quite humorous.
As you can see, teaching high school here is like teaching high school anywhere. . .  tough.  There are always double periods on Friday afternoons when you give 6 detentions in one class and want to strangle every one of them.  (Today one of the boys took off his belt and told me to use it on the other boys, they all agreed it was acceptable here, but I decided not to... for now!) And then there's the opposite, the times when you realize "They're really getting this information and understanding it!" and it feels so nice to look out into the classroom while you're lecturing and see all eyes fixed intensely on you and listening to what you're sharing with them.  The more I get to know them the more I love them.  I still want to beat them, but I love them :o)