School

Although I have only had 2 days of actual classes, I can talk in generalities about the school.

Cihtong Middle School has 880 students. Frankly, I don't know where they come from -- there sure aren't 880 houses around here. The school has 3 grades, 7,8 and 9. It is the highest level these kids can achieve in Cihtong, ater this they must leave town to go to school.

The students are quite well behaved compared to American students this age, but it is a squirrelly age at best, both here and there. The first class I had was so similar in makeup to the first 9th grade I taught in 1969, that I had to laugh. One big loudmouth kid, 6 "most popular" girls, one heartthrob, etc.

Students wear uniforms, 2 actually. If there is the slightest excuse for doing something physical (PE, sports, whatever) they can wear shorts and a polo shirt with trim to match the shorts -- navy for the boys, maroon for the girls. It seems it doesn't take much of an excuse, since I have rarely seen the real uniform. I can also see why. For girls it is a truly ugly color blue pleated skirt with a pink blouse with the blue trim. Boys wear blue shorts and a mint green shirt. Grim.

I have 520 different students each week! That is 8 8th grade classes and 8 9ths. Each class is 45 minutes. The other teachers are wildly jealous of my "light load". They don't face as many different faces as I do but they often have 20-22 classes. For me, though, if I give up on trying to learn their names, it's pretty easy since so far it is only 1 prep. Eventually it will be two but, hey, no tests, no homework to grade, etc.

The principal is a young fellow who seems nice but speaks n0 English so we haven't spoken much. He has a passion for badminton and there is a pickup game every day after school for him, teachers and students. I may join them later but right now I can't get too excited about playing killer badminton in an unairconditioned gym when it is about 95 degrees.

They serve a catered lunch to the teachers every day. Not bad for less than $1 a day, paid monthly upfront.

One thing I find interesting is that the students are responsible for building maintenance. Good idea since it keeps them neat and makes them a part of the whole school deal. The sports teams maintain the playing fields. Others mop floors, wash windows, clean restrooms, etc. Everyone has a job and does it, probably without much enthusiasm but no overt griping either.

Other interesting points: each grade has a "sports class". These are kids who are showing some special sports ability and have been culled out for special treatment. They even wear a different uniform. For the teachers, it makes for at least one small class, the sports classes average about 18. It is somehow difficult, though to picture the next Michael Jordan coming from Cihtong Twp., but they think it is possible.