Today was one of those days that left me feeling disheartened and disoriented. Are we failing America’s students? Am I really making a difference? Is it too late for a career change? Should I consider therapy? What will happen if I blog this?
Can you locate the lie?
1. A student being arrested for threats against me and the principal became combative with the police officer and was pepper sprayed for biting the officer twice while in handcuffs. The school was in lock down mode for one hour to clear the cafeteria of the harmful inhalant.
2. A supportive parent and I spied on his truant son behind a bush, busted him trying to leave campus before the end of the day, walked him back to class, and announced to his classmates that students who get caught ditching will have their parents escort them to class as well.
3. A student who farted in class and was laughed at by his classmates was referred to the office for classroom disruption. He wrote on his witness statement that the cafeteria manager should be fired for selling “bean burritos that made me fart.”
Meanwhile … a local high school made the news for having no heat today. Their poor students were cold and could not concerntrate. It’s not effin’ Siberia here, but this administrator is feeling cold. Our mandated focus is No Child Left Behind, but I have to wonder about NDLB (No Dean Left Behind). Maybe it’s time for Winter Break. I think it is only 13 more days, but who’s counting?
Ooh…these tales are all delicious! I think number one is the lie…perhaps the student bit the officer three times, or maybe the school was in lock down for longer than an hour….
I love them all! Hang in there, it’s almost winter break.
I’m in a cynical mood, so #2. I don’t think any parent would hide behind a bush with you. They’d expect you to do it yourself.
#3 is the partial lie. The kid did fart in class, and the teacher did call it a classroom disruption. However, he was too embarassed to blame it on anyone, cried when I tried the “Everybody Poops” speech, and had to be sent to the counselor’s office to calm down. Sixth graders are so sensitive.