I have a confession

Here it is: My line is not silent.  Maybe you students are blessed with someone to talk to.  Someone to tell their stories to.  And maybe their weekends aren't filled with stress and uncertainty.  At our school many of our students aren't so lucky.  The problem is, we have SERIOUS learning to do.  For these kids could not afford preschool and many of their parents did not read to them, and when they come to school their minds are only half focused on learning.  So we talk in line.  Of course I teach them about being quiet and respectful to other classes, but without fail I am ALWAYS talking to a student about his/her weekend/worries/excitement/questions/dreams...etc.  Yes we get sideways glances from staff.  But here's my opinion: when did you, as an adult, ever walk in a single-file line, silently going from one place to another?  Others are amazed when our sometimes blobby line composes itself to become restricted to the right side of the walkway to make room for passersby, not because they were trained to walk in a line, but because they were trained to pay attention to the needs of others.