The Roots of Community Education

It’s been quite a roller-coaster ride this past week. As many of you know, I accepted a one year contract teaching grade 9 English, Foods, and Phys. Ed in my home town of Fort Qu’Appelle for the year. Unfortunately though, our enrollment numbers dropped by around 70 students from last year and the administration was forced into having to transfer 3 teachers from our school in two positions in Balcarres and one in Kelliher. Given that I was only on a replacement contract, I was one of the teachers that had to be transferred. So on Tuesday, I was informed that I would have to leave my position at Bert Fox and begin teaching an entirely new set of subjects next week in Kelliwho? Kelliwhere? Kelliher.

I was not happy with the idea of communting 45 minutes a day for the remainder of the year and so I gave the administration a heads up that I might resign from my contract at some point during the year and do something else with my life. For instance, I’ve always wanted to spend a winter working and skiing in the mountains. So they looked into other options for me and luckily there is a two month replacement contract at Fort Qu’Appelle Elementary right now teaching mainly grade 6’s as well as grade 1 and 2 phys. Ed. So, on Thursday I happily accepted the offer and will begin teaching over at the Elementary School until sometime just before Christmas. I am sad to leave my grade 9’s as I was just beginning to make some really strong connections with them, but am happy for the opportunity to continue teaching in this community and then be a free-man after Christmas.

It’ll be a busy weekend trying to move stuff out of my classroom at the highschool and getting myself set up over at the elementary school but not as crazy as moving everything up to Kelliher! Deep breath. Heading home for a night of relaxation. Nobody said this job would be easy…