In 1968 I started teaching in a most difficult high school. Lot's of the students couldn't read and there was a lot of disruption. You name it, and I saw it.
..One student in particular was very bad. She walked around, threw things, talked out, rude, disrespectful..etc.
..I went to the Asst Principal and complained. Oh, the Asst Principal said.."she likes you". I did not understand any of that. She was the worst..but she was in my class and I dealt with it.
...The next year, my 2nd year teaching..the Asst Principal calls me in for a conference, and says that .."Patty" the student's name, wants to be in your U.S.History class. (previous year..Modern History) I said to her, you got to be kidding..my class?..Yes the Asst Principal said,, "Your class" and the Asst Principal said also, "You will see a remarkable difference in her."
...So, I said ok, if that will help the school. She can come into my class..(evidently, Patty was giving the other teacher total trouble.)
...So, Patty comes into my class in a day or so, but she was totally and completely different. She wore glasses this year. And she was a perfect student. Sometimes, she did her homework, and sometimes she just sat at her desk and read comic books, but the difference was indeed incredible. It was a different person because she could see. I left her alone, trying to just comprehend the situation. Patty could not see, and her family was so poor that they could not afford glasses. (the Asst Principal..helped her to get glasses, she knew)
...I was so happy about the change that I tried to urge her to do her homework, but I basically left her alone. I knew she was trying to cooperate in her way. Never a disruption, never getting up and walking around, never a bad word or throwing anything. Perfect quiet and obedience. After a few months, Patty got pregnant, and left the school. I never saw her again. That is it. She is now in her mid 60s..??
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