School of Hard Knocks...

I’m sitting here on the porch of the little house at the school. Some of the 4th & 5th grade boys are playing catch out in the front “yard” area. They’re tough kids…throwing as hard as they can at each other and those that weren’t lucky enough to get a ball glove, are catching the zingers with bare hands. I can hear the ball smack against their skin.
The ball hit against the edge of the glove of one of the boys and it bounced up and whomped him a good one on the chin. It made my eyes sting just watching him. He kept rubbing his chin and when I asked him if he was okay, he barely nodded his head yes. He kept looking at me but didn’t want to engage in conversation. I realized he didn’t want me to embarrass him in front of the guys…moms remain moms regardless the location, regardless of the parentage and regardless the number of years that have passed since last giving birth.
It’s been quite a morning so far. One of my third graders, Henry, was caught with some alcohol a few weeks ago and was suspended from school for several days. He’s never returned. When I asked about him this morning, the students told me that he’s now working at the panaderia (small bakery) in one of the pulperias (little street-side store) here in town. They said he’s colored part of his hair red.
I asked Pastora about him. She said that his family has lots of problems. Truth be told, it seems like all the families of the students here have lots of problems. I asked her why he’s working instead of attending school and she said that the family has too many children and the father needs him to work. This broke my heart…he’s a smart boy and has a lot of potential but he’s already starting to make wrong decisions. He’s just one of many…
Joselving is hungry today…he’s anxious for the free school lunch to be ready. Things are difficult at home again. I can tell by his behavior in class this week…he’s restless and easily agitated by others.
Tony has been dozing in class. He has been tired for the last few weeks. When I asked him why he’s so tired, he just shrugged his shoulders and said he’s not been sleeping good at night. He’s normally my best student in 6th grade…usually straight A’s. He received a 70% on our test the other day. Something’s not right at home.
One of my favorite students in fourth grade, Jean Carlos, has been gone for a week from class. I saw him out on the playground this morning and told him I had missed him. He smiled. When I asked him how he was feeling, he looked puzzled. I repeated the question, thinking perhaps he didn’t understand Spanish. (joke) Again, I received a puzzled look. I then asked if he just didn’t want to come to school but I smiled when I asked it. He silently nodded his head yes.
It was with a sudden awareness that I quietly asked him if he was having problems in his home. He solemnly nodded his head yes. I told him I was sorry and that if I could help, I wanted to do so. He looked down at the ground, slightly nodding his head in acknowledgement and barely breathed, “Gracias”. Then he raised his eyes to meet mine, smiled just the slightest smile and off he went.
I’ve been watching him this morning on the playground. He’s playing with his buddies and for the most part not acting like he has a care in the world. But occasionally, I’ll catch him standing off to the side and gazing off in the distance. He’s too young to carry the weight of the world on those small shoulders of his. Again, I feel immense sadness. I just looked up from here and saw him playing soccer with some other boys. Life goes on. These kids attend school here but I think that most of them are getting their education at the School of Hard Knocks.
Oh, Jesus…help me know what to do…help me be your hands and show your heart today. The battle rages…the children are the casualties.