Freshman math. It was the math class that used to be called algebra 1. Now it's a combo of algebra and geometry... Anyway, the students had the class for two periods because they needed extra assistance.
I offered to help them with their assignment. It was the review for their test the next day. Did they take me up on my offer? Nope. Instead, most found "other things" to do.
Like, one boy decided that he'd rather be drawing. (They have little white boards that they use for problems that the teacher assigns in class.) Only, he got out his Sharpie instead of a dry erase marker.
(Dry erase markers wipe off. No harm done. Sharpies, on the other hand, are permanent. Even on white boards.)
I don't know what he wrote, but he found a way to obscure it when he discovered that it wasn't going to erase. Then he put the board back under his desk...
Not so fast, bucko. That's damage to school property. Somehow, he seemed to think it was no big deal.
Well, I thought it was a big deal. I retrieved the white board and I left a note explaining exactly what had happened to it.
The next day, I was in the library on an unrelated errand. The boy stopped me.
"You were my sub yesterday."
OK. Didn't ring any bells.
"You got me in trouble for writing on the white board..."
Oh, OK, now I know exactly who you are.
What? He thought I was going to let that pass. Ah, freshmen. So naive.
Hopefully he learns early.
ReplyDeleteYou got him in trouble for something he did. I love it :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Ugh! I probably would have done something that stupid--not in defiance of a teacher, but just writing on a white board with a Sharpie!
ReplyDeleteI've done it too. It wasn't the Sharpie thing, per se. It was the way he just went "meh" when I called him on it and then hid the evidence. If when I said something he had immediately apologized, it would have been a different story entirely.
Deletelol wow, what did he think you were going to do?
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I guess he thought I was a sub so he'd get away with it.
DeleteBonehead. He should've used the dry erase markers.
ReplyDeleteI hope they made him pay for the board. But I will bet nothing at all happened!
ReplyDeleteIn that case it wouldn't have been too bad. Those boards aren't that expensive.
DeleteAh, cause and effect.
ReplyDeleteYup.
DeleteIt's funny that students don't think a sub will tell.
ReplyDeleteI know, really. Apparently he'd never had me in class before. Otherwise, he'd've known that I tell all.
DeleteHe got himself in trouble for writing on the whiteboard. But I guess that's not something a freshman would be cognizant of.
ReplyDeleteOh brother...that kid was trying to inflict blame on you for his mistake. talk about not taking responsibility
ReplyDeleteWell, that's kinda normal for freshmen, really.
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ReplyDeleteI’d like to say it’s imperative we teach students to take responsibility for their actions (words, etc.). But it’s such a fine line! Once they tune you out, you’re nowhere.
VR Barkowski
Oy vey. It amazes me how many people like to pass the blame.
ReplyDeleteGenerally these are the ones who continue to goof off. One hopes that one day they'll figure out that they need to take responsibility for themselves.
DeleteYeah, I think you got yourself in trouble, buddy boy. He should have to stay back at recess and clean it off with elbow grease.
ReplyDeleteNo recess. But that's one of the reasons I did leave his name. So he could try to fix it.
DeleteDoes Windex clean it off?
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I didn't have any, anyway. (Some teachers keep cleaning stuff. Some don't. As I don't come back to the same classroom, I won't be able to. And I'm not going to carry that with me on the off chance that someone is going to do something like this.)
DeleteSometimes Germ X will clean those sharpies off white boards if you catch it right away.Yes, keep him in at recess. Oh, wait, do they have recess in ninth grade? :)
ReplyDeleteGood to know. I don't think there was any in the room, but if this happens again, I'll make sure to look for it. And make him clean it up.
DeleteAnd no, no recess for 9th grade.
Was he threatening you?
ReplyDeleteNo
DeleteWhy did he stop you? …
ReplyDeleteOne of the kids I watch once used sharpie on the wood floors in her house. That was fun to get up. Lots of googling took place that day. Neither of us wanted her to get in trouble. And we got it up! Yay google! (Not something you have time for during the school day. Especially when the kid is being a spoiled brat and not wanting to face consequences for his actions.)
Yeah, if he had acted more contrite, I wouldn't have been nearly as upset. I get the oopses. I've made mistakes like that myself.
DeleteApology goes a long way, for sure. What a punk; I hope you don't endure retribution from him or his cronies.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't sound like it. We'll see what happens the next time I have him in class, though.
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