‘Daisy is waiting for punishment, but she won’t get it’
Image: Unsplash
A teacher tells Kek Mama what she is experiencing. This time: Teacher Brenda (42) teaches Madelief in group 7.
Thursday morning. My class is doing an essay. At least that is the intention. Madelief throws her pen through the class, Tijke catches it and throws it to Joost, who throws it to Madelief, who throws it to Nima again, and so the pen continues throughout the class. “Stop it, boys”, I say weakly. “Give that pen here!”
cauldron
I might as well have said nothing. It is now half past nine and I am already exhausted. In my class it is more often a witch’s cauldron. No dog to listen to me. It all happens under Madelief’s leadership; everyone does what she says, including the boys, who are generally in love with her because of her blond curls and blue eyes. She’s smart, but she doesn’t do anything in class.
The fact that I have no dominance is due to the fact that I have too little experience. (At least I hope so.) I’m a lateral entrant, fresh out of teacher training. Immediately after graduating, I was accepted at this school. I was initially looking forward to the challenge, but it seems a size too big.
Also read – Miss Malti comes up with this genius trick to silence the class – and it works too >
Respect for the teacher
After school I have Madelief stay in detention. She hangs in her chair and looks at me with disdain. “Daisy, why aren’t you paying attention?” I ask. “If you don’t listen to me, you can’t go to eighth grade.” She stares uninterestedly through the window. I think of myself at that age. I was also quite rude to a teacher then. A teacher who taught boringly. I suddenly realize that I probably do that too, out of my insecurity. On a whim, I say to Madelief: “You’re right, by the way.”
“How can you respect a teacher who can’t?”
She looks surprised. I say: “How can you respect a teacher who can’t do it? I can’t handle the class. You know what, you go home, I’m going to think about how to make sure you pay attention in my classes. So that you can pass.” Madelief looks even more surprised now. She walks hesitantly to the door. She waits there, probably because she expects punishment, but she doesn’t get that. I let her go quietly.
Still a lot to learn
In the evening I prepare for the next day what I hope is an exciting lesson on ancient love stories. I study Orpheus and Euridice, Paris and Elena and Caesar and Cleopatra.
The next day three boys frolic in front of the classroom so I can’t pass. Then Madelief’s voice sounds. “Hey, cut it down, you see that teacher wants to go through.” The boys look just as surprised as I do. They walk right in. “Guys, I understand you’re not listening to me,” that’s how I begin my lesson. “I’ve been teaching far too short to do well. But if you help me, I will learn.”
“If you help me, I will learn”
The children look at me fascinated. And they go quiet. When a few boys laugh they get a comment from Madelief. “We’ll do our best, miss,” she says. Now I start about the old loves. Everyone pays attention. I don’t care if it’s because of Madelief’s strict regime or because of my lesson. I intend to do everything I can to captivate my students in the future. They deserved it. Daisy first.
This article can be found in Kek Mama 07-2022.
More stories from The Miss? Read the previous episodes here.
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