It was one of those mornings. No lesson plans after an early morning wake up call. Luckily, I found one of the teacher's previous sub lesson plans with his phone number on it. Hurrah!
I texted him only to get a call back from his wife. The night before he had gone bicycle riding, and he'd had a bit of an accident. Broken collar bone. She called me because he was asleep.
High school ceramics. The majority of the students are juniors and seniors.
I asked Mrs. P how much I could tell the kiddos. She said I could inform them of the situation.
So, third period, I started class with the story. (I didn't get a chance to talk to Mrs. P until second period.) You'll be glad to know that when I related "broken collar bone", the majority of the class winced. (It's rather scary when classes cheer injury, but I've seen it happen.)
We got on with the lesson (Mrs. P was also helpful in helping me locate lesson plans). Class ended. Then it was passing period to fourth period.
Three or four students had arrived. One boy at the back of the class spoke to a classmate. "Accident. Broken collar bone."
My thought: "Man, that was fast."
You'd think we'd need a period before students came in knowing the story, but no. I guess we can blame it on cell phones. I'm sure someone texted someone and it got back to this kid.
I confirmed his story at the beginning of class. And every period after, there was at least one student who had heard. In sixth period, the girl was incredulous. She read her text. She looked at me. She shook her head relating what she'd read. I confirmed.
At least they know the real story. Those false rumors can quickly get out of control.
Hi Liz - better it was real ... and a broken collar bone I'm sure is rather 'nasty' - thankfully I haven't experienced it. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThey might as well know what really happened or they'll start making up all sorts of crazy stories.
ReplyDeleteThat was good that the wife said it was okay to share what had happened. It does stop the rumors for sure and also hopefully create sympathy with the students (one would hope).
ReplyDeletebetty
Ouch! Having sympathy is a good sign.
ReplyDeleteIt is. Too many times I've had classes that get a bit bloodthirsty when it comes to why their teacher is out.
DeleteOuch. I wonder how long he'll be out.
ReplyDeleteBut news does spread fast, doesn't it?
Two weeks. Which seems fast. We'll see.
DeleteThere are several teachers whose injuries I would cheer. But I'm impressed that one of them actually had the incredulity to not believe it until you confirmed it.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was fast! My husband still has residual pain the collar bone area from his crash back in Feb. I hope that this particular teacher heals well.
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteI guess that's why they call it the age of information. Way too easy to get information... whether it be true or not!
ReplyDeleteAt least this time the info was good info.
DeleteOuch to the broken collar bone
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
DeleteThat poor man! I'm horrified to learn that kids sometimes cheer injuries. I wouldn't wish harm to my most despised of teachers. Hope you are well!
ReplyDeleteMiddle schoolers are ruthless.
DeleteOuch...my younger brother had a broken collar bone as a kid. Pretty painful, I would imagine probably worse for an adult who's bones are less pliable to begin with. Does that mean you now a long term sub spot? He'll be out awhile, won't he?
ReplyDeleteAt the moment he's only going to be out two weeks. We'll see if he needs longer.
DeleteThis reminds me of playing telephone line. I wonder if by next week, they will think he had a brain tumour
ReplyDeleteI've been in communication with him, so I've been keeping the classes updated. They know. Now, the rest of the school...
Deleteoof, broken collar bone. Ouch. I like to think art students are sympathetic to the pain of others.
ReplyDeleteAt least the right story spread. Remember the game Chinese Whispers? There was a good chance by the end of the day the message had turned into something like "he woke a giant stone"
ReplyDeleteMaybe they like him since they were sympathetic about the injury? That's a little scary that some injuries are cheered. Is it mean kids, nasty teachers, or a combination of both?
ReplyDeleteCombination of both. And yeah, they seem to like him.
DeleteWow. I'm surprised the actual story was passed around so quickly and not altered or changed in any way or form.
ReplyDeleteMaybe kids cheer the injury because they are excited about having a sub? As in they don't like the teacher. Not that they won't the teacher hurt. Make sense? Either way, I can see how hearing cheers after explaining a teacher's injury could be cringeworthy.
That's probably true, that they're happy to have a sub. I hope. Because cheering an injury is just wrong.
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