Earlier this year a fire nearly destroyed the school. The school had just been painted a beautiful, subtle cream. Along with the new paint job, many books, computers and rooms were destroyed in the fire. After the school was cleaned up, the administration decided to paint the entire school pink. Two shades of pink, to be exact, with a third shade for the new vertical blinds. I felt like I was walking through a large pepto bismol bottle or a Mary Kay mansion the first day I returned to the school. I've been told you don't notice it as much over time. I hope so. Pink has become a very popular color here and adorns the facades of many homes. Families use bright colors partly in reaction to the drab colors used under Saddam's time. Color is a sign of freedom. Even older women who typically wear all black or brown after 40 or so are wearing brighter colors.
The first day of school went well, although the school decided to stagger the starting date so this morning classes began only for grades 5-10. When I was here before we had about 150-200 students in the building; now we have over 400 in grades pre-K to ten. A marked difference, though, is the level of control the teachers are able to maintain. As I walked by classrooms full of students in their seats, raising their hands, and waiting until they were called on to speak, I was amazed to see the worst kids from three years ago behaving.
I spent my morning working with the first and second grade math teacher (school for those grades begins tomorrow) helping her set goals for the year, prepare lessons plans, and go over activities she can use in the classroom. Tomorrow I begin observing some teachers in the classroom.
More later. Electricity is going off and then on again. I need to post this and head home. Hwa ha fees. Good bye.
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