Today is the end of Teachers’ Week. I recently extended an invitation to them to share these beautiful stories that we often experience when we practice this profession. More than ever, we need to talk about it. Because, despite everything else, which is sometimes at least beautiful, magnificent things happen in education.
I was planning to tell a few of these stories today. But the response was so great that I will finally devote two columns to it. In our pages, Teachers’ Week will therefore last two…
When the class, moved, applauds (by Michel Laforge)
This is a science class for hangers-on. One of the students comes from Syria. His entire family was killed in an attack. He escaped, miraculously, he assures us, the bullets whistling around him without hitting him.
He knows thousands of decimal places of Pi by heart, got 100% in his grade 4 history exame secondary school… even though he knew nothing about Quebec before arriving here. A genius, no one in the class doubts it.
That day, in the lab, he had to light a gas burner at a temperature of 3200°C. Who knows what memories this awakens…
“He stood far from the burner and hesitated before approaching it. You could see the fear in his eyes. Spontaneously, a young woman from Djibouti noticed his distress. She looked back at him full of tenderness and took his hand. “I will help you. We’ll light it together.” I witnessed the spectacle unfolding before me.
What beauty, what tenderness, what a look. I was speechless, as was the whole class, who applauded him. This is why I teach. »
“Since recently, it’s me who’s been crying” (anonymous)
A teacher of 2e secondary school asks its students to write a text about themselves, talking about their qualities, their faults, their hobbies, their family, etc.
A student says that her mother has left, that she lives with her father, with whom she has a bad relationship. Concerned, the teacher shows the text to the special educator, who meets the student. When reading this text, red flags went up. The teacher reacted.
The DPJ, alerted, takes the student out of her father’s house and places her in a foster family.
“Today, end of class. The bell rings and my student leaves the class. I pick up my gear and see her in the door frame. She enters the room and closes the door. She walks towards me and I notice that she is crying. I put down my equipment and look at her carefully. She said to me: “Thank you, madam, for understanding that I was beaten by my father and that I could no longer live with him. I didn’t know who to talk to about it.” She bursts into tears. I give him a huge hug and stroke his hair. I said to him: “Cry kitty, cry.” Since recently, it has been me who has been crying, because I am moved and grateful that she had confidence in me. This is one of the reasons why I will not leave teaching. »
“The letter is posted on my class bulletin board” (by Luc Lapierre)
It was 20 years ago, in a primary school. The teacher, as usual, gives his students Quebec poems to learn. Leclerc, Vigneault, La Bolduc… A student returns from the holiday break with a two-page letter signed by his grandfather.
“Words filled with love, joy and memories. Because during Christmas, his grandson had recited texts from his time and it had greatly moved him. The whole family seemed to have had an unforgettable time. The letter told me how important it is for teachers to sometimes think outside the box regarding the famous “knowledge” to be taught. Since that day, this letter has been posted on my class bulletin board. When times are difficult, I sometimes reread it. »
“I wish him all the happiness in the world” (by Louis Beaudoin)
A primary school music teacher, he has a particularly talented, even brilliant, sixth-year student: incredible mastery of technique for his age, great ease in improvising and composing. But he is going through difficult times in his life and has undoubtedly found refuge in music.
Together, after school, he and his teacher recorded his compositions. For the pleasure of making art.
“Then I decided to organize an evening recital in the school gymnasium. It was packed and the audience was impressed by his talent and madness. I did his first part on guitar, he did his show on piano, then we improvised a few pieces together. This year, this student is now in high school. He came back to jam with me at school, for fun. I wish him all the happiness in the world! »