It was the last week of school. Monday. Tuesday through Thursday (the last day) were their finals. So, the Monday was all about finals prep.
Tenth grade world history. Special ed. Their final was on World War II, so I was to quiz them on what they should know.
I had been warned about third period. "All boys. Five of the six can be a handful..."
They arrived, and they behaved as advertised. Two boys sang songs in Spanish loudly. At the bell half the class wouldn't sit and let me start class. And as I attempted to get them to the task for the day, Thomas approached me.
Thomas held up his hand in the universal gesture of "give me a high five".
I'm always hesitant to high five students. It's not a natural greeting for me. And I wonder at the students' motives.
It was during this hesitation that I noticed Thomas' hand. And the tack held between his middle and ring fingers with the pointy end pointing towards me.
Thomas swore that he wasn't intending to hurt me. I'm not sure how he figured that. He can claim what he wants. Because of my hesitation, he got written up for attempting sticking-me-with-a-tack rather than sticking me with a tack.
(So many excuses/explanations afterward. He tried to talk his way out of it. I felt no guilt over kicking his butt out.)
Rotten scoundrels. The things you put up with amaze me. At least your hesitation and paranoia of motives wasn't unfounded.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that the more gregarious they are, the more likely they're Eddie Haskells. This bias has served me well.
DeleteWhat a brat! This brings back a memory when I was in grade 2. My teacher, who I loved by the way, sat down on her chair and there was a tack on it. She got up and some of the kids laughed because it was still stuck in her bum. I was horrified and felt so bad for her but I remember she laughed with the kids and told them to not do it again. and they didn't
ReplyDeleteI don't get what's funny about causing someone else pain. I never did. At least your teacher figured out how to get through to the miscreant.
DeleteOh my goodness, glad you spotted the tack! Five out of 6 are trouble makers, that's not good odds for a substitute teacher!
ReplyDeletebetty
Nope. Just imagine the hell the teacher went through all year.
DeleteGood grief! Where would he learn such behavior is acceptable. I'm horrified and glad you didn't get hurt. Even tiny wounds can lead to infection. ~hugs~ Be well, my dear.
ReplyDeleteSome kiddos... One day he'll get a rude awakening, and there won't be anyone to help him out.
DeleteWhat a dumb thing to do. I never would've even dreamed of doing something that stupid to a teacher.
ReplyDeleteMost kiddos don't. And half the class was on my side on this.
DeleteGood for you, Liz! The kid deserved being written up. I'm furious reading about it.
ReplyDeleteI hope the office staff reacted the same way ;)
DeleteWhat a jerk. I don't know how he could think he wouldn't get in trouble for this.
ReplyDeleteHe was so shocked when I called the office. Somehow he thought I wouldn't react?
DeleteGee, that's pretty awful. Glad you spied the tack there before it was too late.
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteI'm all for a some discipline in our schools. That kind of behavior is totally unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteOh yea, there are consequences...
DeleteGlad you didn't get hurt. :(
ReplyDeleteMe too :)
DeleteJerk...But I have to wonder if his parents are jerk.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
I would not be surprised.
DeleteWow. I taught briefly in a Chinese elementary and some classes were terrible, but no one ever physically tried to harm me!
ReplyDeleteThat's par for the course (there will always be the terrible classes).
DeleteI believe - I'm not sure, but it appears so - that in China, one teacher guides the same class through elementary. So they have the same students at least for 3rd through 6th grade. Can you imagine? Showing up to find out you have a terrible class and then being stuck with them for 4 years?
DeleteThere's bad and there's good. They also really get to know their students and see them grow.
DeleteYes I guess your intuition and your teacher's instinct to have 'eyes like a hawk' stood you in good stead there - glad you got the better of that situation. I hope that student gets to reflect on the inappropriateness of his actions. Mind you, feel free to go round your family highfiving them for the end of the school year!! Yippee sound like you deserve to take the rest of the summer off :)
ReplyDeleteWren x
The rest of the summer off... Ah. Yeah. About that... (I'm writing this from a summer school class. See next week ;)
DeleteI had a kid put their hand up for a high five once and then dissed me when I went to do it. Horrible little brat.A tack is taking it to the extreme.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the main reason I hesitate. Because that happened to me, too.
DeleteOh man, sorry you have to handle kids like this. Is the school providing resources on how to react?
ReplyDeleteYay for summer break, though! you are getting a break, aren't you, or are you assigned to summer school?
This is your official notice on your Liebster Award nomination :-) Congratulations, Liz!
https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/2018/06/liebster-award.html
I just kicked him out and let the office deal with him. (Paperwork trails are our friends.)
DeleteAnd summer school... Funny you should mention that...