Au Revoir Les Enfants

This is going to be a very brief blog entry, but I felt the need to share with all of my wonderful friends who have been so incredibly supportive throughout this entire school drama. Today will be a sad day for me, as it is my last day at “super school.” For those of you hearing about my leaving for the first time, I didn’t get fired, nor am I quitting because my students are hellions who shoot me in the eye with spitballs or refuse to do their assigned anything... On the contrary, my students are the only reason that I stayed as long as I have. The reasons for my departure are financial, and that’s as far as I’m gonna go with the explanation. Yesterday was a glimpse into the cryfest that will be today, as my basketball players, who are going out of town this morning, came in for their final farewells. I was amazed to see sadness manifest into streams of tears running down the faces of these brilliant young men, who, on a great day, hover over me at 6’5 and up.  Their unashamedability to show affection in a most personal way had me sobbing openly, thankful and pained all at the same time. I will truly, truly miss them.

I know that I will be in the classroom again, for this is one of my passions. I know that these boys will succeed wherever life may take them, as their hearts and minds are focused and true. I also know, however, that all of the above is not going to make this day any easier.