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The Kindergarten Teacher-- I tried to draw the mother in our class into conversation about the experience in the park and school yard and into the writing of her story. She remained resolute that there had been some danger but that "nothing had happened." Her calm resolve left me feeling as if I was being paranoid or responding out of proportion to the situation. I had been overwhelmed that day, and I was changed by the incidents and by my reflections on them. Gossip? The day's events greatly lent themselves to embellishment. Certainly, word had gotten around quickly that year that the yellow paint we were painting with "would not wash out, no matter what that man teacher says." But the mothers didn't tell me. As a teacher I have taken more ownership of the playground. I've become and activist for safe conditions on our school grounds and, in writing this article, and advocate for parental involvement in the classroom. The mother who accompanied us on the class walk that day still visits our room and our school. Had she taken a critical stance about the events, would she feel so welcome? As a teacher I am learning how to work inside a school, and so, I believe, is she. |
