The Big Show

Usually there isn't much pressure on me in the classroom. My boss trusts me to do my thing and he only peaks his head in the window from time to time. The classrooms are all fitted with cameras for the mothers to watch their children but I doubt many do. I haven't heard a complaint yet and, as a rule, no input at all means you're doing a good job. It's usually a casual thing but last Monday we had Open Class where the mothers attend class and we all try to look dignified. This was my 4th open class so I wasn't fretting as much as others but it's still 45 minutes you can't wait to be over. Also, I wanted to put on a good show for the Illinois Class' mothers because they've been here for three years and will soon be graduating our kindergarten program. These kids never speak Korean in class and their even able to argue with eachother in English. (At one point in the class, Amy was reading and Ann started reading too. Amy looked at Ann with the meanest 6 year old scowl and said, "Stop Following Me!!!")
I walked in the class and opened the floor for them to ask me some questions. The ability to ask questions is something not many of the children have because most teachers just ask them questions all class. I'm trying to move them beyond that level. Pint-size Brian raised his hand and said, (in these exact words) "Daniel teacher, why did you shave today?" The mothers laughed, I blushed and said, "because your mothers are here today and I want to look pretty." The class went smooth, I was able to make them look smart and yet obedient.
These mothers are picky. If one student doesn't participate as much as the others, mothers have been known to change schools. All based on one 45 minute class, insane. But Illinois class were all showing off and the mothers, like me, were visibly proud. "Teacher, I can spell communication." "Teacher, I can spell your name backwards." "Teacher, this story is just imaginary, it's not real."
I listened to them and couldn't stop thinking about how far they'd come. As babies, they were led into Swaton, given English names and struggled with ABC for a long time. The class ended in miraculous fashion: I said close your books, collected them and grabbed the last one as the bell rang. For us teachers, that's like Jordan hitting the game-winning shot as the buzzer goes off. I knew I killed this test and, unlike before, didn't feel the need to ask my Korean co-teacher what the mothers said about me. Without looking for it, I got some reassurance the very next day as one of the mothers came into Swaton just to give me a 100$ bottle of wine and chocolate. She can't speak English so I guess she wants the present to do the talking. I drank it last night and felt very satisfied.