THE ALIAS!

Once again Friday, and the weekend has come upon us.  And, once again, tests were given.  The usual task of a Friday in my classroom.  With giving a take home test in Science on Thursday, I was curious to come on Friday and see who actually did work on it, since the had their books, notes and internet to help them.  When I arrived at school, only one child brought his completed, in which he got a 91% on.  I was very pleased.  Another student brought his halfway finished, while two didn't even bring back the test, and one didn't show up to school.  Wow!  What an awesome turnout on the easiest 100 points they will ever be given in their lives.  For actually trying and bringing back the test, I let the one boy finish while I was out in the lunchroom, doing my other duties.  I really want to try to get these boys grades up before the final grades go out in a week, but I do not know why I am the only trying to do this.  Not the boys, their parents, or anyone.  Only me.  So, I gave him a second chance.

While I was out tending the small children spilling milk everywhere and doing everything else first graders do, Mr. Samir popped his head out in the lunchroom and told me he needed me.  I came in to find my one boy with his face down, as Mr. Samir held onto his unfinished test, and someone else's test as well.  "Ask him what I caught him doing," Samir said as he turned to my student.  Of course there was no response, so Samir told me anyways.  "I caught him digging in the other boys file to find his completed test, and he was copying down his answers."  He was actually cheating on an open-book test.  This is something I had never heard of in 22 years.  It blew my mind.  I gave him many opportunities and this is how he reacts.  I think 50 pages, front and back, of "I will never again cheat in Mr. Isaac's class again" over the weekend ought to teach him a lesson.

This week has been a stressful week for me, the boys and the people in school.  It was just one of those weeks for everything, as things got stressful with grades coming out shortly, but this occurrence really set Mr. Samir and myself off.  We had a nice little conference with the boys, explaining to them where their lives are headed with actions like this.  They now understand they are on their last straw, and they may not be coming back to school next year.  At least not to YLC if this behavior continues to happen.  As Mr. Samir blew up on them, he told them that they have had plenty of teachers come in to help them, but they have ran everyone off, and now that they have me, they are trying to do the same thing.  He said, "Just take next week off Mr. Isaac to show them what it will be like when you aren't here anymore."  (They are clueless that I am going to Haiti for a week anyways)  This got the boys going, as they know next week will not be easy for them at all.  They will soon appreciate how easy they have it with me.  The rest of the day they were apologizing for their behaviors and asking me to stay.  I played it off pretty well.  It was glorious.  If only I could see their faces on Monday when I am not there.  

Today was very lazy, as I prepared to leave on my trip.  Getting my oil changed, pack bags, get money, and get medicines were all on the agenda for today.  As well as driving up north to see my brother Nathanael.  He flew in about 45 miles north of me today, so I drove up and spent the evening with him, and another one of the pilots that was along for this trip.  It was fun to go around the city with them, and catch up again with my brother.  We enjoyed driving around, going shopping and eating some amazing sushi, followed by a fun movie in the hotel room. (Since it was the same price as one ticket at the theater.)  He will be coming back to Miami this coming Thursday through Sunday, however, I will be getting back from my trip after he will be gone.  

In about 5 hours, I will be leaving for Haiti, where I will basically be out of touch with America, unless I really need it for an emergency.  Knowing my past, I will most likely need to get ahold of someone, such as Mom and Dad for an insurance card or something, but hopefully I will get along fine.  Malaria medicine, pepto bismol and other necessities have been purchased and packed to help prevent any types of sickness.  Hopefully they will all do their jobs just fine.  However, I wish there was a pill to prevent being hot, since the 7-day forecast for the next week is 100 degrees and rainy.  Please pray for our group as we depart the States early in the morning, and pray that our ministry will be welcomed gratefully by the citizens of Haiti.