I got chased by a child with a bat

Posted by S. , Monday, September 13, 2010 6:42 PM

I am completely and entirely out of my teaching comfort zone. I think that while there are elements of life up here that frustrate me (the lack of organization, the fact that life is largely devoid of convenience), and some elements which I love (the politeness and friendliness), and some that I am uncomfortable with (being one of the wealthier members of society and living on the white side of town with all of its advantages)... I have not really suffered any culture shock yet. Except for in the classroom.

Sure, I may have had to run home from the Healing Centre (Clinic) to get slippers as you have to take your shoes off, as with most places here, to enter. And adjusting to the lack of opening hours at stores (the store, I should say), and the fact that some things are readily available for purchase one day... and then disappear for a week.

In the classroom, however... wow. To start with, there is the positive point: none of this Ms and Mr business. My elementary kiddies call me Sammie, the high schoolers call me Sam.

Cree children are raised differently, and have a different history from the white children of the South. I've never taught elementary school before, however there was the day camp this summer in which I worked with the same age group as I deal with at Annie Whiskeychan School. At first glance (and after being chased by a 4th grader wielding a bat)... I was shocked by the lack of discipline. I remembered day camp, taking the kids downtown, on busses, to the nature centre... none of this rock throwing, rolling down hills, catching animals, or climbing over any and everything, construction zone supplies included.

Frustrated and shocked? Yes. Dismayed with, despite 2.5 years of teaching experience, and a teaching degree that I couldn't control them? Yes.

Upon reflection: discipline is not the same idea here. Different culture, different history, rammed into a euro-centric schooling model that, in all honesty, I think still has a long way to go. After taking the weekend to reflect, I realized that I need to learn somehow to work with the way they are, and not expect and discipline as I would in the South.

Teenagers, however, are teenagers regardless of culture, language, etc. I think it might be the most cross cultural element on Earth: the teen years. Going back to the school issue... the North has schools set up on the same course selection, scheduling models, building style as down South....and yet devoid of any sense of "fun". There is nowhere for kids to sit in the halls (no benches, no areas to hang out)... I understand the lack of necessity for a cafeteria, and the cultural uselessness of lunch time activities... but I feel that we expect them to conform to the strictest, more boring parts of our system without providing the parts that teenagers might actually enjoy and appreciate. I guess, as the staff member responsible for the high school's student council I might be able to do some eeny weeny little work on that this semester...

And now, back to blowing my nose and despairing over the germs I caught from my roommate.

Oh, hey, I've been in Waskaganish for exactly 2 weeks to the hour ... NOW.