"Sometimes you make me smiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiile..."

Today in my 3rd period class I was asked by the umpteenth student whether or not I'm coming back next year. Usually my response is a comical, "yes, I'm going to be here next year. I'm going to be here forever and take (insert adminstrator's name)'s place. I'll teach you this year and next year. I'll teach your kids years later. I'll be here forever." Or something to that effect. Of course I'm not fully sure of this and I am looking at teaching in various other school districts in the state next year but I don't want to have the impending departure of Mr.Amutah hanging over my students' heads. Other teachers have been very vocal to their students that this is their last year in Humphreys County. I appreciate honesty in all its forms but I don't think that this is best approach for obvious reasons. Anyway, to each his/her own.

So when my 3rd period class asked me whether or not I was returning today I said that yes, I was going to return. I was expecting sighs (sometimes sarcastic, often genuine) and exasperated looks all around the room but the response was quite surprising. A number of my students said, "Woo! I'm a take yo' class again next year then. Make sure you request me when you making yo' schedule next year, Mr.Amutah." I told my students that I was considering getting re-certified to teach English as well and referenced my summer of '07 teaching middle school English in Holly Springs and a number of students said, "yeah, you might as well. You teach us mo' English than our Language Arts teacher." As if this wasn't enough positive feedback, my aforementioned student, LL, flatly stated, "Mr.Amutah, we love you."

I almost cried in front of my kids.