“The Headmaster should discipline his family plus the wife because they are unruly and she likes to disturb students.”

This found on one of 250 anonymous student evaluation forms that I have spent the last two mornings reading through and taking notes from. I always knew I would be labeled unruly one day. The wonder is that is has taken this long!

The real joy is that these students, of course, don’t know that I am the one who asked for the their opinion. And while I have gotten depressed reading 200 angry and discontent series of fifteen answers; I have hope too. Many students gave really helpful ideas and comments and I sense that we are so much closer than we were six months ago to understanding what they want, what they need and how to bridge the gap between those two.

I’m a people-pleaser by habit, though, so I fell into a bit of a funk yesterday until a Senior 6 (oldest and ready to graduate) student came by in the afternoon to say goodbye to me and I asked him what he thought we were doing wrong. “Madame,” he said, “we students are very stubborn. It is when we leave Christ School that we realize how much we love it. For me I don’t know if I will ever be as happy as I have been here. This is my best family.”

Well! That makes it all worthwhile; at least until I read another student evaluation form and learn that my husband has no understanding because he “values discipline instead of always forgiving.” Oh well, tomorrow is another day.