I’ve been teaching high school English for 17 years, and it wasn’t until senior newspaper features editor Noah Friedman asked me to shadow him for the day that I was able to catch a glimpse of what a typical day at Wootton looks like from the student perspective.
My main takeaway is that all teachers should have this experience. From the time I met Noah at 7:30 a.m. at “The Pillars,” we were on the go. He had missed a day earlier in the week and had to miss the following day on behalf of his role as class president. Before the 7:40 bell, Noah had already checked-in with his math and science teachers to get caught-up, and then we were off to the gym for team sports. I hadn’t had time to finish my coffee before we were playing hockey. I scored an assist before taking a stick to the shin, which I still think might have been on purpose. I broke into a sweat and limped to second period AP Lit.
If the intensity of the game was any indicator of the day, it was going to be fast-paced and tough. I don’t think this comes as a surprise to any readers: Wootton is academically rigorous. I was equally impressed by the level of work being completed by the students, as I was by the flexibility and instruction provided by the teachers. Senior planning class was busy preparing for the talent show and the buzz of collaboration and leadership was a special treat aside from the core classes.
This school hums when everyone comes to work and learn. This school also has a bathroom issue. Five minutes of passing between classes provides little time to find an open bathroom. Sometimes it’s on the other side of the building. And through the busy halls? Five minutes? Tough decisions must be made. Lunch, maybe?
At one point during the day, within 10 minutes, Noah was asked to shift from analyzing WWI-era primary sources to applying statistical tests to hypothetical situations. All I could think about was how my shin hurt and I was getting hungry. Then we were off to APES to learn about nuclear energy. I wonder if students see the themes and connect the dots sometimes, or maybe I’m just an English teacher.
The day wrapped, and as I walked to my car, hungry and tired, but nevertheless, with my contusion slowly fading, I felt recommitted to my profession, my colleagues and not just my students, but all the people in this building who make my work here so enjoyable. I want to do it again but next time I’ll be sure to bring some aspirin.
A huge thank you to Noah for the invitation, his teachers, Common Sense Adviser Evva Starr and the newspaper crew for welcoming me, as well as teachers Steve McMahon, Zack Lowe, Amy Pollin, Victoria McCarthy and Keith Schwartz, Chris Shreckengost, and James Forsberg for your hospitality and your willingness to let a feral teacher into your classrooms.
