Walking to the library during a free period, I spot three twelfth grade guys hanging out with two new kids.
"I can't believe you're teaching them bad habits already," I say.
"Oh, come on," one of them says. "What can I possibly teach them?"
I stop. "Now that you mention it," I say, "you're right. You can't possibly teach them anything."
He laughs, and I go off on my merry way.
Today was the first day of school. I got to meet a whole new batch of kids. And so far, the kids are alright.
The eleventh graders are hilarious, because they've heard all sorts of things about me.
During one class, after explaining the syllabus, I asked, "Any questions?" Nobody moved. Nobody looked my way. So I waited. That's one of the questions about teaching, I guess. Can you wait long enough?
Finally, after an uncomfortable 45 seconds, a hand went up slowly. "Yes?" I asked.
"I heard you are a strict teacher," the new kid said. Where did he get that idea, I wondered.
"That's not a question," I said and stared him down.
"Sorry," he said, "someone told me you were strict." He looked at me expectantly.
"So what's your question?" I responded.
"Are you a strict teacher?"
I laughed. "I don't think so. But why don't you stick around and find out for yourself?"
"I can't believe you're teaching them bad habits already," I say.
"Oh, come on," one of them says. "What can I possibly teach them?"
I stop. "Now that you mention it," I say, "you're right. You can't possibly teach them anything."
He laughs, and I go off on my merry way.
Today was the first day of school. I got to meet a whole new batch of kids. And so far, the kids are alright.
The eleventh graders are hilarious, because they've heard all sorts of things about me.
During one class, after explaining the syllabus, I asked, "Any questions?" Nobody moved. Nobody looked my way. So I waited. That's one of the questions about teaching, I guess. Can you wait long enough?
Finally, after an uncomfortable 45 seconds, a hand went up slowly. "Yes?" I asked.
"I heard you are a strict teacher," the new kid said. Where did he get that idea, I wondered.
"That's not a question," I said and stared him down.
"Sorry," he said, "someone told me you were strict." He looked at me expectantly.
"So what's your question?" I responded.
"Are you a strict teacher?"
I laughed. "I don't think so. But why don't you stick around and find out for yourself?"
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