Eighth grade English. It was the class that stole my clock. On a Friday. With an assembly scheduled.
Basically, I was doomed from the start.
I had gone over what their assignment was. They were doing the settling in thing, where they get their work out, they figure out what they need to do, and they get started. I turned away for a second (I think I was getting the roll sheet or some housekeeping thing like that), and that's when a sharp "pop" sounded.
And the class reacted to the stink bomb that someone threw.
Chaos ensued. Those closest to the offending smell fled the room. Others complained about the smell. Someone pulled out their perfume and sprayed. (It never fails. There's always someone who does this, and I always go after them as we don't know who might be allergic.)
I called security. (Well, I called the office and they called security...)
Victoria arrived. She got the class back in their seats and told them all to write down on a sheet of paper (without putting their names) what they knew of the incident.
While they were doing this, Anisha warned them not to be "snitches" and say anything.
Whether they listened to Anisha, they didn't know anything, or they just didn't want to say, it's hard to tell. But every single page had a variation of "I know nothing" on it.
Victoria pulled three students from class, one of whom was Anisha.
Upon Anisha's return, she informed the class that one of the boys who had been pulled had "taken the fall" for the incident. Apparently, he had stink bombs in his backpack. But it was clear that Anisha was telling the class it wasn't actually his fault.
I kind of wonder who the culprit is. Although, I was more concerned with getting the class back to some semblance of proper classroom behavior. This did actually occur, but only after several students who couldn't stand the smell fled.
I rather think it was one of them.
Those who remained were nose blind to the smell after a short while. And they know what's coming to them upon their teacher's return. They rather think they deserve whatever is coming.
What is your vice of choice after a particularly hard day? What is one way you tortured the substitute teachers you had in your classes?
Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...
I went to a tiny, poor, catholic school where the subs tended to be our own mothers - we were angelic.
ReplyDeleteWell, that's one way to keep a class in line ;)
DeleteThere was a short time when I was in high school that my mom worked as a substitute teacher. The day she wound up in my Social Studies class ... there was a boy named Bruce, I was t his friend but his mom and my mom were friends. He gave my mom a hard time,kept asking her for a library pass. He never did that to another sub.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the other side of being well-acquainted with the subs.
DeleteI think we just sort of talked too much during classes with subs. One sub, however, was also a PE teacher & some sort of coach. His younger very popular sibs attended our high school. We zipped it and worked when he subbed.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. When I hear "PE teacher" I assume the class would not work.
DeleteMy vice of choice was a glass of white wine. Maybe two glasses.
ReplyDeleteI did not misbehave at all, honest. College was my goal, and I would not take any chance of otherwise. Subs liked me.
I've been in those classes. Obviously, those classes rarely make the blog.
DeleteHi Liz ... I'll join Susan - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIf the kid had stink bombs in his bag, he was at the very last involved with setting it off. But I'm sure he wasn't the only one.
ReplyDeleteLOL. Loved the read. Eighth Grade--what a gas, or in this case--stink bomb. Fun age. But more glad it was you and not me. 😉
ReplyDeleteFun age? Have you met many 8th graders? ;)
DeleteI must be an anomaly, I was always kind to subs, but I know my son/his friends were at times a bit "mean" to them and I'm sure they paid for it the next day when the teacher arrived back. You would think by 8th grade they wouldn't resort to such tricks like stink bombs?
ReplyDeletebetty
My vice of choice is food; white chocolate, nacho cheese Doritos with guacamole, peanut butter milkshake, etc, really whatever sounds good that day, but always something unhealthy. Yes, I'm overweight. :-(
ReplyDeleteI was home schooled (NOT a fan) after the fourth grade, so I didn't really have much experience with having substitute teachers. I do remember trying to go home sick whenever there was a sub in third grade. I adored my third grade teacher, and have never been a big fan of change, so I hated it when she wasn't there. In fourth grade, a sub was cause for celebration, and I'd always beg them to come back. I hated my fourth grade teacher. We had a student teacher for part of that year, and I remember crying like crazy when she finished up and told us goodbye.
I hope the regular teacher can figure out who was responsible for the stink bomb.
I hope so too.
DeleteIt always worries me when students are really happy to see me. It tells me that I'm likely to have a battle with them.
Good grief. I feel for you. My tendency was to always respect substitute teachers. I did disobey one once, walking out against her orders because I panicked that a borrowed book left behind in my last class would get stolen. She didn't want me interrupting another class. As I expected, that math teacher who liked me didn't mind the quick interruption but the sub was so incensed that she wanted me suspended from school! Fortunately, my excellent record resulted in just having to stay after school three days in a row. The worst part was being stuck in a room with bullying troublemakers.
ReplyDeleteSuspended? It irks me when a student leaves without my permission, but a suspension is a bit harsh.
DeleteOh my goodness! I find myself saying that a lot after reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteI was never mean or unkind to any of my teachers. I think it had something to do with being taught to respect others.
Goodness. We were pretty good. I can't recall anyone doing anything obnoxious or difficult for a sub.
ReplyDeleteBleccchhh, that stink bomb smell must have sta6ed for a long time. I bet it was a kid from the back since they had to place it there. I actually never did torment the substitute teacher but I watched her would do something but only once did I inform the teacher.
ReplyDelete