The Here and Now

I have successfully completed my third week as a real teacher.

The weather, in all its windy, rainy, cold, and cloudy glory, speaks volumes to my day.

It all began as a typical Friday in my world.
I woke up late, the coffee maker was empty, and I had left my raincoat at the school.

I got to work with a song in my heart and swing in my step.
(the song was "So What," from Metallica and the swing had something to do with a sharp pebble in my shoe.)

Class work began as it should.
Kids listening.
Kids working.
Kids quiet.

Math, my favorite class, started the downhill spiral.

Now don't get me wrong.
I know I have spoken often about the terrors of teaching, but I do love my job.
For the most part everything is going great.
There are just two students that have a habit of driving me nutty.

In math one of my students decided to skip.
I guess learning the finer points of Mean Median and Mode did not intrigue him.

Almost a half an hour into class he was caught by the principal, slouched into the classroom, threw down his books, and collapsed in a heap on his desk.
Head down.

So, far I have said nothing.
His head is buried in his arms, feigning sleep or apathy.

"Sit up Student," I say, mid-sentence.
The rest of the class giggles.

I continue with the lecture while standing dangerously close to the offending child.

"Sit up Student," I repeat in a louder voice.
The rest of the class giggles again.

"Last chance," I attempted again, this time trying out my teacher voice.

Still his head remains pressed firmly against the surface of the desk.
His arms creating a pillow.

The class is slowly losing respect for my.
I can feel their urge to disobey my growing.
Instruction is slipping away.

I move in front of the student's desk.
"Alright, here goes."
I pull the desk forward several feet.

He starts at the sudden lack of sleeping surface.
He looks at me scowling.
The rest of the class howls with laughter.

I am the teacher. You cross me, you lose.

In defiance he tilts his chair back against the wall.
"You want to lose that too?"
He knows I'd do it.
He relents.

I win.


True to the cliché’ form, you win one you lose one.

In a later class I allowed a Student to scampered into the library for a new book.
A few moments later The Principal motioned me into the hallway.

The Student was caught talking trash about me, in Yu'pik.

There is a Yu'pik word that is vaguely similar to my name.
It has a meaning that is related to a female body part.

Another teacher whispered the word to me.
It's one of those words that you just don't say out loud.

I believe it's pronounced "oo choo"
Now you know a Yu'pik curse word.