By Mary Beth Peabody
During the 15-plus years he practiced criminal law, John Clement never liked it. In his early 40s, the search for a more meaningful career led to teaching, and he knew he had found his calling.
“I fell in love with the connections I was making with students,” he said.
As the sole instructor of Religions of the World at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, Clement is in the unique position of teaching every senior. He also teaches two law courses, for a total of six classes.
Clement said Holy Spirit was well prepared for the adjustment to remote learning, with a decision to use Google Classroom across the board. Still, he said it took some trial and error to find the right apps for his courses and class load. Now he is comfortable with the rhythm and routine of remote learning, but he admits it’s hard being away from his students.
“The reward for me of teaching is the connection. … It’s difficult to not be able to look [students] in the eye, or shake their hand or pat them on the back and tell them I’m proud of them,” he said.
On Saturdays, Clement videotapes his lessons for the week. He’s online by 7:30 a.m. on weekdays and posts his lesson for the day at 8 a.m. Emails and assignments arrive throughout day; he reviews work and responds in return. If he sees a pattern of something that students have not grasped, he will adjust his next presentation.
With assignments and attendance due by 6 p.m., Clement spends until as late as 8:30 p.m. reviewing work and reaching out to students, whose needs he has come to understand in a new way.
“Some of the students have distractions or obligations I don’t think I really considered,” he said. “They’re de facto babysitters, or they’re sharing computers with siblings. If students reach out to me and I feel they’re doing their best, I’ll let them turn things in late or I’ll set up personal Zooms and try and reinforce a lesson.” Clement said he uses Zoom for individual and small group conversations, but he found it to be too social for content presentations to the entire class.
His students report attendance by answering a daily question, for example, “Are you watching any good TV shows?” A simple “here” in response is a cue for Clement to check in.
“Once I pick away at that little paint chip, it all just comes crumbling down,” he said, adding that students will open up about their anger, frustration and disappointment over all they have lost in their senior year. He said it’s hard not having answers, but he tries to acknowledge their pain. “I think it’s comforting just to have someone other than Mom or Dad, an adult figure that they’re able to [talk to.]”
Clement said he gets a good turnout when he invites his students to Zoom meetings, just to chat. He’s hosted “bring your pet” night and watched an old sporting event with groups of students. He hopes to gather one more time in person with his seniors for softball, Wiffle ball or a picnic, but he said they all know it’s a plan that’s contingent on many factors.
Clement describes Holy Spirit as “a world where everyone builds everyone up,” where the idea of school as a family isn’t a selling point or a tagline; “it’s completely true.” He believes from this period of separation will come an even greater appreciation for personal connections – the kind that led him from the courtroom to the classroom.