What grade should you teach?

I used to tell people that I would most like to teach troubled Junior High kids, and they would recoil in shock and terror. One of my favourite practicums *they're all my favourite* was in a Young Offenders Remand Center. At first I was afraid of being stabbed with a pencil, but I was accepted after playing volleyball with the boys and establishing trust. Even if they were drop outs, they were forced to take distance learning classes. This was good because it gave them the chance of a high school diploma, able to transfer when they get out of jail. This was bad because most kids were only in for short times, and did not have any motivation towards their education.

I was once told that if you know what to teach, teach high school;
if you know how to teach, teach elementary.

Just like nature & nurture and black & white, I believe strongly in both what & how.
Hypocricy, contradiction, balance, equilibrium.

My second practicum and third day with my grade ones has convinced me I want to teach elementary. Mostly because I enjoy choas and flexibilty. Also because of what my carpool told me on Thursday: after one day (and orientation) with grade nines she will never again teach junior high. Of 32 students, over 20 have IPPs. It scares me. But something still holds on to the notion of getting a Masters in Counselling Psychology. Just not for a long time.

I starting thinking that if you want to teach people who are aware of life without school, yet choose to be there, teach high school. If you want to teach people who are aware, and really don't want to be there, teach junior high. If you want to teach people unaware of life without school, teach elementary. There is something powerful in rows and authority. Despite my anti-conformist pickets and banners I still believe in uniforms in school.

Plus grade one is just so damn cute. I love reading picture books and making art with little kids.