A Bad Idea

Wednesday, ERW English 12, period two. As expected, my biggest issue was staying awake.

(ERW English is an option for juniors and seniors. It's a class that focuses on reading and writing skills needed for success in college. It's a bit more intensive, hence it's an option and not a requirement. During the year, many students complain of the work. But, the students who have graduated and returned to visit report that having taken the class had helped them so much in their college coursework that the trouble was worth it. So, the class is gaining in popularity.) 

They had been left a list of assignments to complete, and while I noted a few on their cell phones, that was mostly towards the end of the period, and I had seen pretty much everyone doing the work. While not silent, the room remained fairly quiet the whole time.

With second period over, they left. Fourth period began arriving during the passing period. While in transition Ms. L, one of the assistant principals, popped into the room.

Ms. L said she was "checking on the subs", which was odd as they never do that. (There were a lot of English teachers out for a school thing, so there were more subs than usual on campus.) Then she got down to the reason for popping in. 

Had any of the students been on the phone?

Well, of course they'd been texting...

Oh no. The school had gotten notification from the sheriff's department that some calls had been made to 9-1-1, and there was laughter in the background.

Considering how quiet the classroom had been, I was fairly certain the students hadn't made any voice calls, let alone been calling 9-1-1. 

Again, it was worse than that. The students had been making calls from the classroom landline.

To which I could confidently reply that it did not happen on my watch. Because no student had gone anywhere near the phone, let alone been using it. I didn't even use the phone during class.

Ms. L was not surprised. As soon as she saw me, she dismissed the idea that it had happened in my room. (I have a decent reputation.) But she was asking everyone.

Which begs the question. Well, several, actually. Who wasn't watching their class closely enough for that to happen? Why would any students think this was something to do? What should they have been doing? 

I mean, I've been in the room when kiddos make prank calls. (Well, one call. I shut that down real fast.) But 9-1-1? Seriously?