I need to make everyone aware that all names have been changed in this blog to protect the identity of all involved.
I received a phone call from the principal of the school I'm working at. The principal's name is Joy.
Joy began the phone call by saying
"Richard I don't know how to approach this subject so I'm just going to come straight out with it.". "After the children met with you they went back to their grade 5 classes and were saying some terrible things. Can you tell me what was discussed at the meet and greet?"
I knew where this was heading. It seems like this is the first time Joy had experienced anything like this. She was clearly uncomfortable. From my observations and experiences Joy is an excellent Principal. She is very efficient. Absolutely dedicated to the school and the students. She is very supportive of the staff and leads the teachers by encouraging innovative 21st century teaching methods.
I told Joy that I knew what she was referring to. I explained how one of the children's Mum's had met myself and my partner before. She asked me what my partner's name was and I told her. At this point the rest of the class realised I was in a same sex relationship. I explained that no other details were discussed and it was not my intention to bring this up at our first meeting.
Joy explained to me that my private life is my private life. She gave me an example of when she taught she only told students very minimal details of her private life. In some cases she didn't even share that she had children. I didn't ask the question "Did you tell the students you were married?" I'm sure that would have come up in conversation when she met the students.
I told Joy that I understand her concerns. I explained again that it wasn't my intention and that it took me by surprise. I told the students the bare minimum that they needed to know and changed the subject back to our class and our learning for 2011. However the fact their grade 6 teacher is gay was obviously all they cared about now.
Joy was a bit unsure of what to say now. She explained to me that this is something that I need to deal with in class. This would be a challenge for me. I told her I understood that.
This phone call reminded me of the days of being called into the Principal's office. The churning feeling in your stomach and the feeling that 'I've done something wrong'.
At the moment I am regretting telling the students I have a male partner. I am regretting not stopping the conversation and I think I have created a really tough year for myself and for the school I'll be working for.
I can't sleep at the moment and its on my mind constantly. I need to talk to someone about this.
Monday, December 20, 2010
"What's your partner's name Sir?"
Welcome to my blog.
The reason I began this blog was to write about my experiences of my first year of teaching. I have just finished my Grad DipEd and have been employed in a primary school as a grade 6 teacher.
The town I'm working in is a regional Victorian town with population of around 30,000. The town also services the surrounding area of around 60,000.
My background is that I'm 41 years old. I have been in a professional career for the last 21 years. I have been involved in the creative industry. I was married for 15 years, I have 3 kids and came out to my wife approximately 6 years ago.
Since coming out to my wife we tried to make our marriage last. Then after some time we decided to end our relationship. Our relationship now is pretty good. Its about as good as you would expect. We share responsibilities of the kids and they stay with share the care 50%. My eldest is 18, female, then male 16 and my youngest is male 7.
The global financial crisis hit my business pretty hard. I thought two years ago that I need to plan to give myself some more security for the next 20 years. I decided to top up my undergrad qualification with a Grad DipEd. My undergrad was a visual arts degree. The course I completed was wonderful. It was a Grad DipEd (Middle Years) teaching qualification. This course included a lot of 21st Century teaching and learning strategies and methods.
My aim was to apply for a secondary school teaching position in Visual Arts, Visual Communication, Photography areas. I have applied for a full time teaching position in a local secondary school and the vacancy was pulled.
I was then approached to apply for the primary school position. I interviewed and received the position. It was grade 6 which I was very happy with. If I was going to teach primary I felt I could receive the most feedback from upper primary school students.
Last week I met my class for the first time. It went well. I introduced myself, gave the students and idea of who I was and what my background was. I also gave them a copy of my welcome letter. This letter outlined my ideas about our classroom and the learning that would happen in our class next year. I gave few details about myself and a contact email for all students and parents.
We played a drawing game, its kind of like chinese whispers but in a drawing game. We were just about to finish and one of the students looked at the pic on the welcome letter of myself and said "my Mum knows you and your partner". I said "Does she?". She said "Yes, what's your partner's name Sir?". I answered "My partner's name is Matthew".
The girl that asked the question did not have a problem with that. The two girls next to her began to giggle. The girl sitting next to me moved so far back under the table that I could no longer see her. The boys on the other side of the room said "What our teacher is gay?".
Students from other groups were beginning to head back to their classes after meeting their new teachers. I said to all the students that it was wonderful to meet them all and they began to leave the room. The girl under the table made her way out of the class while keeping her distance from me and said "Thank God we can get our of here now".
This is how I met my grade 6 class for 2011.
The reason I began this blog was to write about my experiences of my first year of teaching. I have just finished my Grad DipEd and have been employed in a primary school as a grade 6 teacher.
The town I'm working in is a regional Victorian town with population of around 30,000. The town also services the surrounding area of around 60,000.
My background is that I'm 41 years old. I have been in a professional career for the last 21 years. I have been involved in the creative industry. I was married for 15 years, I have 3 kids and came out to my wife approximately 6 years ago.
Since coming out to my wife we tried to make our marriage last. Then after some time we decided to end our relationship. Our relationship now is pretty good. Its about as good as you would expect. We share responsibilities of the kids and they stay with share the care 50%. My eldest is 18, female, then male 16 and my youngest is male 7.
The global financial crisis hit my business pretty hard. I thought two years ago that I need to plan to give myself some more security for the next 20 years. I decided to top up my undergrad qualification with a Grad DipEd. My undergrad was a visual arts degree. The course I completed was wonderful. It was a Grad DipEd (Middle Years) teaching qualification. This course included a lot of 21st Century teaching and learning strategies and methods.
My aim was to apply for a secondary school teaching position in Visual Arts, Visual Communication, Photography areas. I have applied for a full time teaching position in a local secondary school and the vacancy was pulled.
I was then approached to apply for the primary school position. I interviewed and received the position. It was grade 6 which I was very happy with. If I was going to teach primary I felt I could receive the most feedback from upper primary school students.
Last week I met my class for the first time. It went well. I introduced myself, gave the students and idea of who I was and what my background was. I also gave them a copy of my welcome letter. This letter outlined my ideas about our classroom and the learning that would happen in our class next year. I gave few details about myself and a contact email for all students and parents.
We played a drawing game, its kind of like chinese whispers but in a drawing game. We were just about to finish and one of the students looked at the pic on the welcome letter of myself and said "my Mum knows you and your partner". I said "Does she?". She said "Yes, what's your partner's name Sir?". I answered "My partner's name is Matthew".
The girl that asked the question did not have a problem with that. The two girls next to her began to giggle. The girl sitting next to me moved so far back under the table that I could no longer see her. The boys on the other side of the room said "What our teacher is gay?".
Students from other groups were beginning to head back to their classes after meeting their new teachers. I said to all the students that it was wonderful to meet them all and they began to leave the room. The girl under the table made her way out of the class while keeping her distance from me and said "Thank God we can get our of here now".
This is how I met my grade 6 class for 2011.
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