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A Soul’s Worth
From: Sylvia Grimes [grimes.sylvia@middleschool.abc]
To: Jennifer Sayers
Subject: Chat
Date: 12/9/07
Hi Jennifer,
How’s your morning going? I’m lucky to have my planning after 3rd period. Amanda is in that class and she really knows how to push my buttons! Today she was dressed in her usual black pants, black tee, and combat boots. However, the hair is no longer stringy black; it’s now stringy red! She paid no attention in class. I saw her taking lengthy looks into her backpack. I imagine she was checking her phone for text messages. I ignored it. I wasn’t up to having those black-lined eyes rolled at me again. Christmas holidays, oops, that’s winter break in politically-correct language, can’t get here soon enough!
Hope your classes are going well.
~S
From: Sylvia Grimes [grimes.sylvia@middleschool.abc]
To: Jennifer Sayers
Subject: Chat
Date: 12/10/07
Hi Jennifer,
Amanda was written up in 2nd period for stealing a bag of candy that was on Mr. Nicholson’s desk! She said she was going to put it back, that she was just looking at it. Uh, huh. I’ve heard that line before. What bothers me most about Amanda is that Kellie Donaldson has started hanging with her. I wonder if Kellie’s parents are aware of this. I don’t know her parents very well, but Kellie is quite active in our church youth group.
Four more days till Christmas holidays!
~S
From: Sylvia Grimes [grimes.sylvia@middleschool.abc]
To: Jennifer Sayers
Subject: Chat
Date: 12/11/07
Hi Jennifer,
Amanda is in In-School Suspension for two days—her punishment for the candy incident. I averaged grades last night and realized Amanda has a 76. She is already on probation because of her low grades last quarter. If she doesn’t get her average up to a B by December 14th, she will be out of the gifted program. I stopped by the ISS room and explained this to her. She will have to do all of her work and score well on the final exam in order to stay in the Excel Program. She didn’t seem concerned. Maybe she wants out. Oh, well. I tried!
Three more!
~S
From: Sylvia Grimes [grimes.sylvia@middleschool.abc]
To: Jennifer Sayers
Subject: Chat
Date: 12/13/07
Hey Jennifer,
Amanda was back in class today. I haven’t received her work from ISS, but she told me she did it all. We’ll see! By the way, do you know when our grades are due? I think it’s by 4:30 tomorrow, but I’m not sure. My final exam will be tomorrow and I plan to use the scantron to grade the papers right after school. I hope there’s not a line! I’m going to be cutting it close.
~S
From: Sylvia Grimes [grimes.sylvia@middleschool.abc]
To: Jennifer Sayers
Subject: Chat
Date: 12/14/07
Hi Jennifer,
Amanda did not do any of her work in ISS! Can you believe that? It doesn’t matter what she does on the final, she’ll have lower than a B in my class. I guess it just doesn’t matter to her. Whatever! My 3rd period will be a lot easier without her. I’ll take that as an early Christmas present!
~S
From: Sylvia Grimes [grimes.sylvia@middleschool.abc]
To: Jennifer Sayers
Subject: Chat
Date: 12/21/07
Hi Jennifer,
Tonight when I was loading the dishwasher, I heard a group of carolers out front. When I turned on the lights and opened the door, I saw our church youth group in a semicircle at the porch. The kids looked so angelic standing in the cold, noses all red, singing of the birth of Jesus. As I scanned the group, I realized Amanda was standing there beside Kellie. Amanda was actually singing. It’s the first time I have ever seen her participate in any group activity. Although she was still dressed the same, she didn’t look as hard as she does at school. Her eye liner was smeared as if she had been crying.
As the carolers moved on to the next house, I heard the echo of their voices: "Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth."* Jennifer, when did I let difficult students cease to be people to me? When did I begin to see them as obstacles in my path? God forgive me for not recognizing the worth of each of my students. Jennifer, I’m going to stay in contact with Amanda. Maybe, just maybe, God will give me another chance to help her realize her true worth.
In repentance,
Sylvia
* O Holy Night (Public Domain)
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