Drama Club - 5/28/08

Today was my last day of teaching Drama Club. It was all very strange. First of all, my announcement to the kids didn't go as I had planned. My replacement came in to observe my class. I chose to wait until the last possible moment to tell the kids that I was leaving. I thought that would make it an easier transition. I also didn't want to undermine my own authority. However, during snack time, my supervisor made the brilliant decision to introduce my replacement to the school nurse as MY REPLACEMENT. IN FRONT OF THE KIDS. He's a nice guy and all but give me a break. Why wasn't he thinking?! He soon corrected himself saying, "I shouldn't say that in front of the kids?" ( YOU THINK?! ) So there I was dealing with a bunch of jaw-dropped kids wondering if this news was true. I deflected the question until club officially started. It was a gorgeous day so we most definitely went outside. I broke the news to them there. I explained that, as they knew, I am a professional actor and that I had been offered a role in a Shakespeare play in Baltimore and that it starts next week. I also let them know that I had planned to return in the Fall. There were some groans of disapproval. There were many questions. There was a very brief sense that I wasn't in charge anymore. (I quickly put an end to that) There was a lot of jockeying for position to buddy up with the new teacher. I have to admit that I felt a little jealous about that. Oh how quickly their loyalties turn. We moved on to a classic beanbag game using the Hamlet speech. Then we went on to rehearse the show. Once again it was a 15 minute process that took about 35 minutes. We also played this cute little game to help the new teacher learn the kids' names. Each kid would say their name and then make a physical gesture. Then everyone had to repeat it. That was actually kind of fun. After that was done, the kids had about 15 minutes to play. After I brought them back, I gave the kids lollipops to help ease the pain of my departure. Just when my heart couldn't break anymore, as I was leaving the school, little Ashlee gave me a hug goodbye. I reassured her that I would be back in the Fall. Which, of course, would be a total lie if I make it big. Yes, I realize that you see through my jaded facade.