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My years of substituting at the Forest Hills Community High School, FHCHS, in West Palm Beach, FL. were the best years of my life. It started in 2006 and ended in 2010, however, during this time, I substituted at other schools, but the one I remember the most is Forest Hills High in West Palm Beach.
Its location is just 2 miles away from my house. Very easy access. The administration is outstanding. The school is a paradise. A enormous kitchen, various garbage cans all over the place, for students to make use of it. The place is clean. Classrooms are neat. There is a patio where students can sit outdoors, even during the rain. The design is extraordinary. From various points you can see the entire out-side area of the school. It is well patrolled by security, and every student needs a pass to leave the classroom.
Students at FHCHS are from different ethnic groups, and they get along very well. Yes, there were a few fights throughout the years, but nothing major.
For a period of 4 months I substituted for students who needed special education. Although, I had no training, I copied others teachers . One Student got my attention, and he was the reason why I decided to stay longer. His name is Maynor, and he was 16 years old at that time. He had speech impairment, along with autism, and muscle dystrophy in his back making him look up sideways while walking. Maynor was very loud, and mumbled his words with different pronunciation, but clearly stated. I learned his language, and was able to communicate with him, read his intentions and even smile when I caught him trying to disrupt others. Maynor loves to touch people while he is talking. Some teachers did not like that, and tried to tell him many times to keep his hands to himself. Maynor could not draw, but he did it anyway. Lines crossing each other, and some bad shaped circles, mixed with what could be a head. When I asked him what was in that picture he said that it was what was written in the card for him to draw. He pointed each item, and for whatever reason, a semi circle was the coca-cola can. It was as if he could see half of the can from the top, and a dot was the straw. I memorized his drawing and placed every one's draw on the wall. Robert, 17 was Mynor's best friend and colleague. He was able to communicate better and they were inseparable. They always walked together, and did everything together. It was great to see their friendship. Robert was able to understand Maynor 100%, and he translated to me many times what Maynor was saying. They sat together, and on bad days, when one of them was not feeling well, they could exchange words that only they understood, but it was loud enough to ask them to cut it out.
Every day at 10 Am, after they had placed their belongs into proper shelves, returned their homework, placed it inside their folder for the teacher to check it during the class period, they would line up to take a walk at the soccer field.
We did all sort of work inside the school, such as pick up the garbage and place a new trash bag inside each container, clean the cafeteria tables, picking up whatever other students left behind. It was all scheduled during the day, who was going to do what. No one dare to separate Maynor and Robert. They both resented the cafeteria job, for both wanted to stay outside, but they took their turn. All this work was to make them feel responsible. They loved to go outside and do their shores. It was not too much. It took a lot of work from us teachers to get them ready for something that would take no time if done by the proper people. I have to say that at FHCHS they have staff to do all the work mentioned above. They were always present while we were "helping". They understood it. Sometimes they did it all and when we got there we had a free time. The staff knew every student by name, and referred to them properly. Maynor was the most popular, for he knew everyone, and talked to everyone, with Robert always translating.
Inside the classroom they had computer time, where they would do their lessons online. After they would play word games or anything in that program. They washed their hands constantly, and teachers were aware of everything. There were teachers that took care of only one child. I had a chance to be with every children, and my memorable day was when a few graduated. They were in the age to graduate and leave the system for reaching 18 years old. They did not complete all credits, but they got their diploma, they attended to prom, and they participated in the school album as well. I took 2 of them to the prom and we had a ball dancing. Everyone took our pictures, and some even cried watching them having fun. A teacher later told me that she thought I had done something extraordinary by taking the girls and dancing with them. We actually stayed in the dancing floor all night.
Every day before the class was over, we would go to each classroom and pick up the attendance sheet. I would take a group of 6 students, and divided into 3 groups of 2 and watch them ring the bell and ask for the attendance sheet. For them it was a party, to enter into a classroom and see other students.
I command FHCHS for this work and I highly recommend this school.
Milton
PS. One day a teacher asked- What is this on the wall? referring to Maynor's drawing mixed with everyones. I said, well, I see here a can of soda, and over here an eagle, and she looked at me strangely, while Maynor and Robert got up from their seat to show her the other 3 pictures. She looked at me and said that it was nice. Maynor then asked me: Mr. Milton, Maynor pan dan the gom now? Yes, Mr. Milton, Yes? Yes? - I said - Not now Maynor, but when we return from our walk, I will let you use it for 15 minutes. He smiled and said OK. The Teacher later asked me what he said, and I told her that I alowed him to play with the video game for 15 minutes after his walking. She was happy that while I was there we all got along well.
Its location is just 2 miles away from my house. Very easy access. The administration is outstanding. The school is a paradise. A enormous kitchen, various garbage cans all over the place, for students to make use of it. The place is clean. Classrooms are neat. There is a patio where students can sit outdoors, even during the rain. The design is extraordinary. From various points you can see the entire out-side area of the school. It is well patrolled by security, and every student needs a pass to leave the classroom.
Students at FHCHS are from different ethnic groups, and they get along very well. Yes, there were a few fights throughout the years, but nothing major.
For a period of 4 months I substituted for students who needed special education. Although, I had no training, I copied others teachers . One Student got my attention, and he was the reason why I decided to stay longer. His name is Maynor, and he was 16 years old at that time. He had speech impairment, along with autism, and muscle dystrophy in his back making him look up sideways while walking. Maynor was very loud, and mumbled his words with different pronunciation, but clearly stated. I learned his language, and was able to communicate with him, read his intentions and even smile when I caught him trying to disrupt others. Maynor loves to touch people while he is talking. Some teachers did not like that, and tried to tell him many times to keep his hands to himself. Maynor could not draw, but he did it anyway. Lines crossing each other, and some bad shaped circles, mixed with what could be a head. When I asked him what was in that picture he said that it was what was written in the card for him to draw. He pointed each item, and for whatever reason, a semi circle was the coca-cola can. It was as if he could see half of the can from the top, and a dot was the straw. I memorized his drawing and placed every one's draw on the wall. Robert, 17 was Mynor's best friend and colleague. He was able to communicate better and they were inseparable. They always walked together, and did everything together. It was great to see their friendship. Robert was able to understand Maynor 100%, and he translated to me many times what Maynor was saying. They sat together, and on bad days, when one of them was not feeling well, they could exchange words that only they understood, but it was loud enough to ask them to cut it out.
Every day at 10 Am, after they had placed their belongs into proper shelves, returned their homework, placed it inside their folder for the teacher to check it during the class period, they would line up to take a walk at the soccer field.
We did all sort of work inside the school, such as pick up the garbage and place a new trash bag inside each container, clean the cafeteria tables, picking up whatever other students left behind. It was all scheduled during the day, who was going to do what. No one dare to separate Maynor and Robert. They both resented the cafeteria job, for both wanted to stay outside, but they took their turn. All this work was to make them feel responsible. They loved to go outside and do their shores. It was not too much. It took a lot of work from us teachers to get them ready for something that would take no time if done by the proper people. I have to say that at FHCHS they have staff to do all the work mentioned above. They were always present while we were "helping". They understood it. Sometimes they did it all and when we got there we had a free time. The staff knew every student by name, and referred to them properly. Maynor was the most popular, for he knew everyone, and talked to everyone, with Robert always translating.
Inside the classroom they had computer time, where they would do their lessons online. After they would play word games or anything in that program. They washed their hands constantly, and teachers were aware of everything. There were teachers that took care of only one child. I had a chance to be with every children, and my memorable day was when a few graduated. They were in the age to graduate and leave the system for reaching 18 years old. They did not complete all credits, but they got their diploma, they attended to prom, and they participated in the school album as well. I took 2 of them to the prom and we had a ball dancing. Everyone took our pictures, and some even cried watching them having fun. A teacher later told me that she thought I had done something extraordinary by taking the girls and dancing with them. We actually stayed in the dancing floor all night.
Every day before the class was over, we would go to each classroom and pick up the attendance sheet. I would take a group of 6 students, and divided into 3 groups of 2 and watch them ring the bell and ask for the attendance sheet. For them it was a party, to enter into a classroom and see other students.
I command FHCHS for this work and I highly recommend this school.
Milton
PS. One day a teacher asked- What is this on the wall? referring to Maynor's drawing mixed with everyones. I said, well, I see here a can of soda, and over here an eagle, and she looked at me strangely, while Maynor and Robert got up from their seat to show her the other 3 pictures. She looked at me and said that it was nice. Maynor then asked me: Mr. Milton, Maynor pan dan the gom now? Yes, Mr. Milton, Yes? Yes? - I said - Not now Maynor, but when we return from our walk, I will let you use it for 15 minutes. He smiled and said OK. The Teacher later asked me what he said, and I told her that I alowed him to play with the video game for 15 minutes after his walking. She was happy that while I was there we all got along well.
