SNAPSHOTS 3: Unveiling the Classroom of Life - Softcover

Maraj, Frank

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1490746994 ISBN 13: 9781490746999

Verlag: Trafford, 2014

Inhaltsangabe

In Snapshots 3, Maraj carries the reader into the recesses of his mind in his search for identity. Trapped between two worlds, both physically (Canada and Trinidad) and ideologically (Hinduism and Catholicism), Maraj attempts to reconcile the conflicts. Not only is Snapshots 3 an excellent read, but it could also be a philosophical teaching "textbook" for teachers. It reminds teachers how important words and attitudes are-teachers can speak life into students and inspire them, or they can destroy them with one small slip of the tongue. In Snapshots 3, we see Frank Maraj, the professional teacher, from the first days of his teaching career to the last days. His anecdotes highlight the joys and trials of teaching with reflective insights that challenge the philosophical underpinnings of the educational system.

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Maraj was born to Bissondaye and Boodram Maharaj of Trinidad in 1940, the fourth of ten children. Before completing elementary school, Maraj was apprenticed to a local mechanic, crushing his secret dream of attending high school. After overcoming many obstacles, he eventually achieved that dream. Upon graduating, he was offered a teaching position with a salary of $15 per month. Following the death of his father, Frank joined the Civil Service briefly, went to England to pursue his studies, but had to return home shortly thereafter. He taught high school in Trinidad and in 1967 came to Canada to attend University. While there, he met and married his wife of 49 years, Diana. Maraj dedicated 33 years of his life to teaching in the Rainy River District. After retiring in 2005, he continues to share his stories with family, students and friends in Trinidad, the United States, and Canada.

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Snapshots 3

Unveiling the Classroom of Life

By Frank Maraj

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2014 Frank Maraj
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-4699-9

Contents

Part One: Re-adjusting to Canada, 1, 
Chapter 1: Ms. Jillian H, 3, 
Chapter 2: Voices from the Past, 12, 
Chapter 3: The Melting of Decades, 15, 
Chapter 4: At Miami, 18, 
Chapter 5: The Evening Stranger at the Bay, 21, 
Chapter 6: Striking Resemblance, 23, 
Chapter 7: A Journey with Pa, 25, 
Chapter 8: Mr. Lazee, 28, 
Chapter 9: A Journey of Discovery, 35, 
Chapter 10: Trinidad Bound, 45, 
Chapter 11: I Will Not Hire You, 47, 
Chapter 12: Renewal, 49, 
Chapter 13: A Promising Phone Call, 54, 
Chapter 14: Rental It's Doable, 55, 
Chapter 15: Failure Looms, 57, 
Chapter 16: Not another Car Transaction!, 62, 
Chapter 17: The Family Grows, 64, 
Chapter 18: Go Home: Go Back Home, 67, 
Chapter 19: You Did Not Get the Job, 72, 
Chapter 20: A Routine Visit Or?, 75, 
Chapter 21: The Tide Begins to Turn, 76, 
Chapter 22: Habbie Jassram: His Moment, 78, 
Chapter 23: At Last Stability, 82, 
Part Two: Finding A Path, 83, 
Chapter 24: A Much Needed Resolution, 85, 
Chapter 25: Smoking Dangerously, 89, 
Chapter 26: Troubles in the Kitchen, 92, 
Chapter 27: Expulsion from "My" Own, 99, 
Chapter 28: The Rambler Ford Exchange, 102, 
Chapter 29: An Accounting Challenge, 105, 
Chapter 30: Hunting for a Home, 109, 
Chapter 31: Half-Day, 114, 
Chapter 32: Sudden Sadness, 118, 
Chapter 33: Classroom Antics, 119, 
Chapter 34: Searching, 122, 
Chapter 35: A Calculated Move, 125, 
Chapter 36: High Hopes, 129, 
Chapter 37: A Sense of Optimism, 135, 
Chapter 38: The Calm before the Storm, 138, 
Chapter 39: A Swelling Tide, 142, 
Chapter 40: A Door begins to Close, 146, 
Chapter 41: As One Door Closes, 151, 
Chapter 42: Saying Farewell, 153, 
Chapter 43: Reflections 1974-1975, 154, 
Part Three: Entering the Elementary System, 155, 
Chapter 44: Half Day's Pay, 157, 
Chapter 45: Respect, 161, 
Chapter 46: The Unthinkable, 162, 
Chapter 47: Truth Directive, 166, 
Chapter 48: Emerging Insight, 169, 
Chapter 49: Two Misguided Friends, 173, 
Chapter 50: An Unselfish Request, 177, 
Chapter 51: Precedent Setting, 179, 
Chapter 52: I Become the Student, 183, 
Chapter 53: Soccer on Ice!, 186, 
Chapter 54: Putting my Dream on Ice, 188, 
Chapter 55: Modest Gains, 190, 
Chapter 56: Life's Interconnectedness, 191, 
Chapter 57: The Good Neighbour, 194, 
Chapter 58: Settling In, 196, 
Chapter 59: A Class Trip?, 197, 
Chapter 60: The Lesson, 199, 
Chapter 61: An Afterthought: Falling Short, 201, 
Chapter 62: More Adjustments, 204, 
Chapter 63: Baby Steps, 206, 
Chapter 64: Disarmed, 208, 
Chapter 65: Spike, 210, 
Chapter 66: Operation Citizenship, 213, 
Chapter 67: New York Beckons, 215, 
Chapter 68: No Discussion You Listen, 217, 
Chapter 69: My Turn, 219, 
Chapter 70: Presumptuous, 225, 
Chapter 71: Good News--All Around, 228, 
Chapter 72: Magical Memories, 230, 
Chapter 73: A Sobering Reality, 232, 
Chapter 74: I Want to be Wrong!, 234, 
Part Four: Returning to the Secondary System, 237, 
Chapter 75: Another First, 239, 
Chapter 76: Colossal Error!, 241, 
Chapter 77: A Bad Seed?, 245, 
Chapter 78: Standoff, 248, 
Chapter 79: Adjustments, 253, 
Chapter 80: The Evaluation, 260, 
Chapter 81: Voices, 265, 
Chapter 82: Just an Illusion?, 269, 
Chapter 83: Nothing Ventured, 272, 
Chapter 84: Teachers are Students too, 274, 
Chapter 85: Humour in the Classroom, 277, 
Chapter 86: Marking Woes, 281, 
Chapter 87: Judgement, 285, 
Chapter 88: A "Quick" Dimension, 287, 
Chapter 89: Fears Dispelled, 289, 
Chapter 90: Life's Lessons, 292, 
Chapter 91: Claimed, 294, 
Chapter 92: Who Is Teaching Whom?, 298, 
Chapter 93: One Student's Conviction, 300, 
Chapter 94: And Mr. Bright Takes Over, 304, 
Chapter 95: More Change, 308, 
Chapter 96: The Race, 312, 
Chapter 97: Temper, Tempered, 316, 
Chapter 98: Final Moments, 319, 
Part Five: Retirement and Identity: Philosophical Musings, 323, 
Chapter 99: Change, 325, 
Chapter 100: A Realization, 328, 
Chapter 101: Reuniting With, 330, 
Chapter 102: The Past Is, 337, 
Chapter 103: Affirmations, 342, 
Chapter 104: Fallout, 345, 
Chapter 105: Currents, 347, 
Chapter 106: New Memories, 350, 
Chapter 107: Swept Away, 353, 
Chapter 108: A Lost Soul, 357, 
Chapter 109: Two Different Dispositions, 361, 
Chapter 110: Multi-Generational, 363, 
Chapter 111: More Pressure, 366, 
Chapter 112: Becoming, 368, 
Chapter 113: Developing Roots, 370, 
Chapter 114: Without You, 374, 
Chapter 115: Gandhi Ever Present, 376, 
Chapter 116: On Ma, 381, 
Chapter 117: On Mr. Mandela, 391, 
Chapter 118: Pa's Gift, 394, 
Chapter 119: Witnessing, 399, 
Chapter 120: Jailed, 407, 
Chapter 121: Reflections on Identity, 413, 

CHAPTER 1

Ms Jillian H.

The door to Mr. Abraham's office was closed. My eagerness to see the man may have been responsible for the knock which was perhaps a bit too enthusiastic.

When the door was opened, it was not the face of a Mr. Abraham which met mine. It was not the face of any man which met mine.

It was the face of a woman; moreover, it was the face of a woman decidedly displeased.

Nothing was said as she opened the door. Aside from obvious displeasure, I could read nothing else from her expression.

As she continued to look me over, my discomfort became palatable. Old insecurities wormed their way back into my brain and I wondered if there was something wrong with me. Had I come at the wrong time? Had I come to the wrong place?

I checked my memory bank; I was correct. This was the right place and the right time. My appointment was with Mr. Abraham, the man in charge of Government Housing and Accommodation. It was he I was expecting to see when the door was opened. Perhaps some expression of surprise translated to my face, but I felt that there was nothing more that could be responsible for the cool reception from the other side of the door.

"Do you think I am deaf?" she queried. Her haughty tone did nothing to put me at ease.

"Sorry."

"Well, don't just stand there; come in."

I followed her lead but stood somewhat awkwardly inside the spacious room.

"Well, sit down!" she commanded as she resumed her position behind one of the huge oak desks.

Grabbing the nearest chair, I sat awaiting the next set of orders.

After a long fifteen seconds, during which time nothing was said by either one of us, I ventured in a respectful but timid voice, "Mr. Abraham's not here?"

"Well, that's obvious, is it not? He is not here, and he won't be here. I am handling you. Now, you are applying for housing?"

"Yes, ma'am."

As she stared, I could feel both her voice and her eyes accusing me in tandem. I wondered what I had done to warrant such curtness and officiousness.

"Well, here is the application. Fill it out and return it ... at your convenience."

Those last words at your convenience would seem to suggest some effort on her part to manage a small degree of civility but the manner in...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Trafford
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2014
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1490746994
• ISBN 13: 9781490746999
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 452
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: preigu GmbH & Co. KG; mail@preigu.de; ; Lengericher Landstr. 19; Osnabrück; Niedersachsen; 49078; Deutschland