Meeting a Fellow on the Train

The other day we were going downtown to see my friend’s movie he and some actor friends of his made. The movie was not bad... but an interesting thing happened on the train ride down.

Soon after we got on the train, a gaggle of young, wide eyed, tired looking, bewildered kids got on. They were all talking to one another, and it was obvious to me they were all NYC Teaching Fellows.

And of course, it was pointed out to me... they all had NYCTF bags, just like the one I got last year. But I could tell without seeing the bag.

I approached one of them and said, “You must be a Fellow.” She was stunned that I picked her out. I confessed... it was the bag – I didn’t want her to think I was stalking her.

We chatted for a couple of stops on what part of the program she was in (elementary ed.) and other things. Then she flat out asked me... “What do I need to know?”

I said... “Routine. Get your routines down for your own sanity. Bathroom logs. Late logs. Get in the habit of documenting everything you can. When grading time comes, you’ll have it all at your fingertips.”

It was her stop. As the train was coming to a halt, she asked me, almost pleadingly, “Does the Fellows program teach you everything you need to know?”

The door opened. She made her way out.

“Yes and no,” I said before the doors closed. “Good luck!”

The door closed and we were on our way. I’m sure she didn’t feel any better with my cryptic answer. But it is true. They teach you everything they can, but they can’t teach you everything. EVERY experience is unique. Every school, every principal, every assistant principal, every class, every teacher. Multiply all these factors and you come up with a near infinite number of permutations. (I need to stop right there, I’m obviously tired, I’m lapsing into math terms... )