Frustration

I started my tutoring program again after being asked to do so by the school director. I was quickly reminded the struggles that children here face due to uncontrollable forces and quite controllable forces.

First, four teachers (1st through 3rd) grade just didn't come to school today because one of their mother's died so they all went the funeral. This would be okay except that ES doesn't have substitutes so about 100 1st through 3rd graders were left unattended for the whole morning.

Second, there aren't extra classrooms and the classrooms don't have windows to keep out noise. So, my tutors take their kids wherever they can find a spot and plop down. This is usually a sidewalk. And, those aforementioned unattended children can pop in and out of each tutoring session just to inspect what's going on. It's usually very noisy. I had to tell the chanting kindergarteners to keep their voices down while they were waiting for their snacks...

Third, my tutors are 9th graders. They are easily distracted and the first two problems weigh heavy on them and makes it hard for me to keep them on task, much less their little one.

It always amazes me that some kids succeed out of this learning environment. I was super easily distracted as a kid. I can't imagine going to school for days without a teacher, having the incessant environmental noise pierce the classroom, or being stuff in a tiny, hot, dimly lit classroom with 30 other kids.