West Cocoa Chat

Having taught school for over 27 years has giving me some interesting stories and experiences when it comes to my day to day dealings with middle school students. I remember the first time I issued a class set of calculators back in the 80’s. I was pontificating on the “do’s and don’ts” of handling these new fangled calculators to a particular class. Of course being the dramatic guy that I am I was adding in a bit of “Drill Sergeant” routine to my speech or basically threatening to take their first born child if they damaged the calculator. I ended my oratory with the following question:

“Is there anyone who believes they will not be able to follow these rules and “regs” of calculator care as I have brilliantly and eloquently explained them?”

Of course I’m expecting no hands after my thunderous “drill and kill” speech but at the time I didn’t know Harold. Harold was a 7^th grader in my class who was a pre-cursor to “Forest Gump.” Harold with all the honesty of his simple mind raised his hand. When I asked Harold what he wanted he said, “Mr. Walker, don’t give me one of those things because I won’t be able to handle it without breaking it. It’s just too tempting.” You have to love honesty.

Then there was my “Zen student” who I met yesterday. I had just finished explaining the format I wanted assignments done in which included how to head their papers and show their work. My conversation with Susan went something like this:

Susan: “Mr. Walker, do I have to follow that confusing format you just laid out?

Me: “Why wouldn’t you?”

Susan: “’I’m not supposed to be here. I’m supposed to be at DeLaura (a middle school in Satellite Beach) Middle School.”

Me: So my Zen student, what you’re telling me is that although you’re here physically, you’re really in a Zen state of mind which puts you approximately 15 miles south of our current location. After carefully considering your request for several seconds the answer is, “No.”

For some reason I had a “Private Benjamin” flashback when “Judy” tells her D.I. that she signed with the Army that had curtains on the windows.

I must go and meditate before I head off to school. Have a good day everyone.

// posted by cwinwc @ 3:16 AM