LA MAÎTRESSE (may-tress)
a female teacher, especially in preschool or primary school
IS IT TEACHING OR BROADWAY? by Jacqueline Espinasse
Last Friday, I turned twenty-nine. I never thought I’d get here, or more accurately, I never really thought about what it would mean to turn twenty-nine. As a little girl, a teenager, and even into my early twenties, I could only ever picture myself up to about twenty-six. Twenty-six felt like the age where my imagination stopped. In my head, I could see myself getting there, twenty-six and under, sure. But anything past that age somehow belonged to a version of me I had never imagined.
It was also the end of my very first full week of teaching full-time. And frankly, it felt like I had just finished my first marathon (one down, with thirty-six more to go). At our end-of-the-week meeting, I sat on the carpet, squeezing my class mascot, Paulette, for comfort. Paulette is a sloth, which felt appropriate at that moment. There I was, surrounded by all my coworkers and boss, glancing around the room, realizing that we were all feeling the same thing: exhausted and hopeful.
After the meeting, I had to wash a couple of glue containers and brushes at what we call “La Rivière”, a bathroom designed and scaled for children no taller than two baguettes de pain. I sat on a tiny step stool, whose primary purpose is to give kids that extra inch they need to reach the toilet. My purpose, however, was simply to rest my butt for a minute while washing that glue off. One of my coworkers—a teacher with years of experience and someone I really look up to—came in to check on me.
“How are you feeling, Jackie?”
“Tired. How do you get used to it? I’m only catching my breath now.”
After a couple of seconds, she grabbed another one of the tiny stools and sat down next to me.
“You just don’t. You never get used to it. It’s a hard job. Every day, you walk into your classroom as an actor. Not a second is left to mystery. It’s like being on Broadway every day.”
At that very moment, I realized: JE SUIS UNE COMÉDIENNE !
Thinking about it, I realized I get to be me. I can dance in the middle of my classroom, sing, paint, make a fool of myself, and somehow, all of it is part of the job—my big girl job. And most importantly, I get to teach. I get to watch a child learn how to read or write their own name for the very first time.
It’s magic.
Of course, it comes with fatigue. But it’s a particular kind of tired, the kind you used to feel as a kid after a full day of playing. It’s the good stuff.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
la maîtresse = the female primary-school teacher
la rivière = the river
une baguette de pain = a loaf of French bread
une comédienne = an actress; a female performer
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The card reads: “Joyeux anniversaire, ma chérie. Je t’aime jusqu’aux étoiles. —Pouche”
“Happy birthday, my darling. I love you all the way to the stars. —Pouche”
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Dear Jacki
Happy birthday, to you and me. My birthday is on the 29th and I will be a young 79. You think 29? is tough. 29? is . I can see your creative libra side coming out. You are so lucky to have a job that allows you so much creativity. Good luck and I wish you at at least another 50 years.
Wonderful birthday and such sweet wishes with the roses. Enjoy—
Our dear Jackie,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! and a most joyful celebration with your loving family, Grandma Jules,Pouche and Paulette!
( your class too!)
We are all so blessed to have the gift of YOU in our lives!
May God bless you with a long and happy life filled with( to quote Dolly) all the things you ever dreamed of!
Arms tight around all of you,
Love
Natalia. XO
I taught for 30 years & always felt like I was running a marathon & on stage. It is an exhausting profession & not an 8 to 5 job. The pay off is how you see these children grow & develop into valuable members of society & you were their guide & mentor. You are a powerful influence in their lives. Teachers deserve respect & recognition for this very challenging job.
Bravo, Jackie! Sounds like you’re off to a tiring but good start. I think your energy & creative ideas will inspire les petits!
Fellow teacher here of adolescents. How do you keep going? You just keep running, keeping your head above water and loving the bits of the job that give you true connections with your students. I must admit, though, that, even after all these years, I am sad at the way teachers are treated/viewed by society. PS Week One is hard. It will get easier from here. 🙂
Love your writing and vicariously being a small creature teacher!!! You are in one of the world’s great jobs…teaching young minds to think crically and choose the right path to help the universe. Of course that will NOT happen always, but live and learn. Such lucky little humans to have you, dear daughter of Kristiy.
Bravo Jackie,
Your story brought back memories of teaching my native language Spanish in Ct those many years ago. I taught different levels and ages. When I taught at one of the Montessori schools pre K children, I did feel like ,une comédienne, it was the most rewarding time, at the end of the school year I used to have a fiesta for the parents to see their little ones perform, singing, dancing and reciting in Spanish. Teaching is hard work, it doesn’t end at the school, like some one said in previews commentary, not a 9 to 5 job. Each day will get easier for you, I know you will be the most favorite maîtresse❣️!
Bonne chance à vous.
What a wonderful analogy! Being authentic is a gift few people have. Many young children are this way naturally. As adults we have to learn to let go of the rules we have been taught to keep a facade at all times.
Working with children is an education in itself and requires some self adjustment. Learning to rein in some of their spontaneity while not stifling their creativity is a fine line. Finding what works for you will be challenging and very rewarding. Listen to what they are telling you. Sometimes you may be the only person who truly hears them all day. It is exhausting but well worth the effort. Find joy in their delight for life and keep growing with them. Bless you for all you do for them. They may never tell you, but you make a difference in their lives.
Happy Birthday Jackie! How wonderful to see the wonderment in those sweet kids eyes.
Happy Birthday, Jackie. I first met you when you were riding a pink bicycle around the pool at the vineyard in Ste-Cecille-des-Vignes. That was so many years ago and Braize had recently had her puppies including Smokey. Now you are living in Brooklyn Heights where I worked for 17 years and you have one of the most important careers … teaching young children. Exhausting, yes. I hope rewarding also.
Enjoy autumn in Brooklyn Heights. I always enjoyed walking during my lunch time through the narrow streets looking at the brownstones and when Halloween comes around also the decorations. It is a wonderful season in NYC.
I taught high school French for 40 years, and I still got stage fright on the first day, mostly because my 1st hour class was freshmen whose own nervousness was contagious. I’ve told lots of people that teaching was like the old Ed Sullivan act, with acrobats trying to spin plates over their heads on long sticks. The 1st couple of weeks was the hard part, each plate representing one class at a time. The effort to get each plate up and spinning was the goal, and by Labor Day the plates were up and spinning, with only tweaks needed to each one here and there. But starting from dead stop at the beginning of each year was exhausting… Good luck, Jackie. From Joan
Happy Birthday!
What a thoughtful and loving Dad! Lucky you, Jackie!
Chère Jackie,
Je voudrais te dire que ton côté comédienne fera toujours une partie très amusante de ta vie — peu importe le niveau ou même l’âge des élèves et des étudiants.
J’étais prof de français en lycée pendant la plus grande partie de ma carrière. Depuis 2015, je suis prof d’anglais (ESOL) pour des adultes immigrés et réfugiés. J’adore toujours être comédienne en classe : je chante, je danse, je joue la comédie avec une voix très rigolote, je m’amuse avec mes étudiants de tous âges. On s’amuse bien et ils apprennent mieux l’anglais !
Bon courage, chère collègue !
Donna Blanton (Atlanta, Georgia, USA)
Happy birthday, Jackie. I can remember turning 29… so many years ago. Enjoy!
Bon Anniversaire! What a way to wrap up your Twenties. On Broadway with an adoring audience of young fans who will learn and appreciate everything, and remember you for the rest of their lives! 💓
Your post struck a cord with me as well! I retired last year after teaching French for 23 years. A second career after being a CPA for my first 16. I always thought that when I retired I would become a French teacher. Thank goodness I left accounting and the business world early to begin my “retirement” career. I used to tell my accounting friends how hard it was. Like conducting 6 training sessions per day, with a different audience and having 5 minutes between sessions to prepare for the next one. Oh and, many of the audience did not really want to be there. Phew. It does get better, easier to be on your feet all day long, but your comparison to being an actor on Broadway is a very good one! Bon Courage!
It is the good stuff! Great way to say it in any language. Cheers and bonne chance.
Bonjour Jackie, I was a rookie teacher at 22. When I think of it now I cant believe I did it!? YES! You nailed it. “ON STAGE” tout le temps. My heart and mes penses go out to you ,cherie-maitresse. You’ll survive! The kids will love you if you be yourself!
Bonne Anniversaire cher Jackie.