Description
The Mentorship Workshop
In order to build community among the class, I decided to hold a workshop at my home. I chose a date and time that would enable at least 75% of the students would be able to attend. I spoke to my principal about this activity and she agreed to attend as a representative the administration.
I had already purchased the movie “Seabiscuit” and watched it before hand to make sure that it was appropriate for the group. Once all of the boys were assembled, we watched the movie. The group took great delight in discussing the previous week’s group activity. The group consumed 6 large pizzas, 5 bags of chips, and 19 cans of soda.
At the close of the movie, we took a few minutes to discuss the important concepts that related to our purpose for the evening. The boys were enthusiastic and ready to discuss. One thing that came out over and over was criticism of a particular student who failed to fulfill his designated role the project and how others had to pick up his slack in order to complete the project. Another group of comments centered on how such an imperfect group of men transformed itself into a winning team.
Survey results are published in an accompanying spreadshee
This activity may have been relaxing for the students, but I found it very stressful. Putting my personal life on display for a class was something I had done before, but I did not have the time that I would have liked to prepare. Also, just before the boys arrived, my husband crushed his finger with a maul and my 15 year old daughter had to drive him to the emergency room. Talk about timing!
I noticed that almost all made a point to look in the refrigerator and other rooms of the house. They were very curious about my lifestyle; mentally comparing the classroom Mrs. Griffith to the home Mrs. G. One boy commented that he couldn’t believe that I was serving them on my glass plates rather than paper.
I was and am totally committed to the type of education that extends beyond the classroom, but I am certainly not finding it easy. It requires a genuineness and self-confidence to allow students to see the total you, rather than just the professional teacher. In my case, more of my personal life is on display at school than most teachers because my daughter attends my high school and has been in my class for two years. Students can view the interaction between mother and daughter as well as hear what she has to say about my antics at home.
I was thankful to them for giving up their evening to help with my research. As a result, the students understood that they were helping me as I helped them.
As we sat there, I was very moved by the thought of what these boys might someday become. We watched an angry young man, a grief stricken father, a lonely old man and a horse that no one wanted, band together to form the greatest horse racing team ever known. It strikes me that it is this vision that keeps me going....that some day these boys too will be great in their chosen fields. If I can assist them in reaching their potential in any small way, the stress is worth it!
I did worry about the two students who were not able to come. Both were African American and I wondered if they did not attend because they felt uncomfortable coming to my home. It is also possible that they did not have an interest in participating in this event, although I doubt it. I have made a note to tell both boys that they were missed – and leave it at that.