TH: Challenges

First, I connected with section 22, in Teaching Hope, the entire challenges chapter presented quite a few very emotional stories between teachers and their students who both struggle with traumatic or difficult circumstances. The complexity of the situation makes me wonder what I would do in a similar situation. I’m really not sure if I would try to share some kind of similar experience with my student and try to create some kind of deeper connection so I could convince them to find help or if I would immediately shepherd them to the counselor. I am certain though that I would not be able to turn my back on them or try to push their problem to another teacher or guardian.

Similarly, I also connected with part 26 for the same reason. Instead in this section the teacher chooses to keep their student’s problem confidential, resulting in their absence on the final day leaving the teacher to question what happened to their student, and if they had done the right thing. I certainly do not think the teacher made the “wrong” choice, they made a judgment call in a situation where alerting the police could have been more damaging and disruptive to the student’s life and education, but at the same time they are mandated to report the incident, and  their student’s absence on the last day leaves them questioning their decision.