FREE ESSAY ON AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN

AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN

Among School Children
1. What are your thoughts about what happened to Clarence?
It is a teacher's job to try and reach all of his/her students. That is extremely
difficult with children that have no problems. In Clarence's case, Mrs. Zajac tried
everything she knew to get through to this troubled child. When it comes to the best
education of one child or twenty the choice must be the majority of the children.
Clarence's disruptive behavior was hurting the rest of the class. The only way to solve
that problem is have him removed and sent to another facility that could better
understand his problems. This is so unfortunate, but the best interest of all the
children must be taken into consideration.
3. Other than the incident with Clarence, describe an incident in the book that you are
likely to remember for a long time to come and explain why you will remember it.
The way Mrs. Zajac invited Juana, the shy Puerto Rican girl, to her classroom was a great
inspiration to me. She did everything she knew possible to make the child feel welcome
and wanted. Teachers and adults, in general, have a tendency to overlook the shy, quiet
children in their classrooms. Those children don't make noise, or trouble, so the
teacher's attention is focused elsewhere on another problem. However, Mrs. Zajac made
sure she praised Juana every day, no matter how small the task accomplished. Even though
that child had to leave, I know she left with a better self-concept due to the attention
Mrs. Zajac bestowed upon her.
4. What did you learn from the science fair that will impact you as an educator?
One of the most important factors of education that I have learned this semester is to
don't set kids up to fail. Unfortunately, that is exactly what the science fair did to
these children. It is a program that is not thought through for the children who are not
able to interpret what they learn creatively. A very bright child can be completely
without the ability to make pretty charts and graphs or water wheels and other creative
projects. I know because I was one. Children should never be forced by a teacher to
participate in a contest if there is not a significant chance that they can win. If it is
a voluntary competition, by all means, let the child compete. There can always be another
project assigned without the fierce competition ruining the glow of a finished project.
5. In what ways do you think you will be similar to Mrs. Zajac as a teacher? In what ways
do you think you will be different?
Mrs. Zajac is a very loving, affectionate teacher, even though she does get fierce with
her students on occasion. She is never cruel, and always gives her students one hundred
percent of her effort. That speaks volumes to me as to her commitment to those kids. I
believe that my love for children will compel me to be just as loving and attentive to my
kids. They deserve that from a teacher, especially if they don't receive affection at
home. I may be all they get, so that makes it all the more important to me.
Also her teaching methods are very enthusiastic and rich with drama and literature. That
is the way I want to teach, with a book for every subject and a little drama thrown in.
This makes learning so much more exciting for a child. Including literature shows kids
that there is a book for every subject they are interested in. You can't go wrong
teaching students to love books. 
As for the differences, I remember one passage when Mrs. Zajac says that she has to be
careful about the word love when she talks about her children. I am paraphrasing, but the
gist was, she just says she likes her students. As a teacher, I will love my students. I
know that before I even begin in a classroom. But I don't believe that hurts my
objectivity or my professionalism. I believe Mrs. Zajac lies to herself when she says she
just likes her students. She could be an even better teacher if she loved them.
I also noticed that Mrs. Zajac only took the kids on one field trip. I would try as many
as allowed by my school district. I know they are difficult getting chaperones and buses
and keeping all the kids in line. But children love hands on experiences, why not give it
to them.
6. Through this book you have spent a year in Mrs. Zajac'c classroom. Write her a letter
expressing what this experience has meant to you.
Letter on next page.
Dear Mrs. Zajac,
Spending the year in your classroom was the experience of a lifetime. It is important to
me, as a beginning teacher, to learn what a real classroom is like, a classroom with real
problems, real scenarios, real students and a real teacher. 
Your classroom is a place of safety, learning, and the start of a lifetime of education.
If the students haven't learned what learning is before your class, they learn when they
get there. Your caring and compassion, for all your students, not just some, is a great
inspiration to me. It will be difficult not to pick your favorite in a classroom of
little ingenues, but you have shown me the importance of treating every student, slow or
gifted, the same.
Thank you very much for a year to remember. And I will remember it, Mrs. Zajac. Your
classroom will stick with me every time I stand up in front of my students to begin a
day's lesson. Every time I have to deal with my own Clarence and every time I lose one to
moving or another reason. I know you have touched many of your student's Mrs. Zajac and
they will be better people because of you.
Sincerely,
Kelly Yates
7. What are the other options a child has of showing that they learned something in their
science lessons, without having to suffer the humiliation of a compulsory competition?
The science fair, in itself, is not a bad thing. The child can still compete in a science
fair, just not be forced. It must be a voluntary exhibit that a child feels strongly
could win the competition. However, for those children who do not wish to compete, there
must still be a way to determine their understanding of their lesson. The alternative
that I have come up with is to have those children, not competing, observe the science
fair entries. One way is to have them act as newspaper reporters. They can interview the
contestants and ask them about their projects. Then they can rate them on their
difficulty, student's effort and whether they truly represent what they are supposed to
be. This allows the students to interpret what they know of certain experiments and
elements of science but what they don't know they can learn with the questions asked. I
like this way, because it will get a reluctant child interested in the aspect of science
with out having to actually participate in the event. After the winner is announced have
the reporter to write why or why not the child won. Then write an article to their
newspaper on their commentary of the fair.