The Order of Nature by Josh Scheinert

Author:Josh Scheinert [Scheinert, Josh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-10-19T06:00:00+00:00

They didn’t see each other that week.

Andrew and Mr. Jalloh worked into most evenings on a presentation the two of them were giving as part of an education ministry workshop the coming Friday. Originally, Mr. Jalloh was going to make the presentation with another colleague but decided that since Andrew only had a couple of months left in his placement, it might be a good opportunity for him to showcase what he had learned. He wanted Andrew to talk about how he formed such strong connections with the students, something Andrew didn’t know how to explain. He’d just shown up in class and over time earned their respect. He didn’t know how to describe disposition. Mr. Jalloh suggested he give examples of all the different group assignments Andrew assigned in class.

“Your students enjoyed the group work very much. I saw for myself how enthusiastic they were,” he insisted. “So much of our focus has been on individual learning. But I think there is tremendous potential if we incorporate group work into our teaching. So I think you can talk about that and give examples.”

The workshop took place on Friday at one of the larger schools in Banjul, which had been closed down for the day. It always amused Andrew how casual and last-minute schools could be about days off. He assumed the students were only told about it the previous afternoon.

Andrew began his presentation by addressing what he thought was one of the biggest challenges he faced in the classroom, the wildly divergent levels his students were at. He didn’t want to teach at a level that left many behind, but nor did he want to teach at a level that left the top students bored. He decided group learning, where students of different levels were placed together and forced to collaborate, would be a way to move the class forward relatively consistently and inclusively. There was no grand pronouncement or passionate proclamation. No claim to be an expert. With an understated demeanor, he gave a number of examples of successful group projects his class undertook and explained why he thought they had been a success and were worth emulating. After speaking, he took some questions from interested teachers and administrators and then sat down to applause and a giant smile and handshake from a beaming Mr. Jalloh.

That evening, he went to see Thomas at the bar. He was looking forward to just sitting and relaxing. He didn’t want to discuss the growing homophobia. Andrew ordered two rum and cokes, and Thomas was generous in pouring the rum.

“You trying to get me drunk?” Andrew asked.

Thomas giggled and Andrew looked around at the empty pool area – the pool, palm trees, neatly organized lounge chairs, the manicured plants that spilled out from the earth onto the walkways. None of it moved. Even the fountains had been turned off. The stillness of it all gave it the look of a photograph, a postcard. It almost looked pretend to him. It was spring,

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