The Visitor

In seventh period there are two students enrolled who have not attended since I took over the success seminar class. So, last Wednesday when a new-to-me student showed up and sat in one of their seats, I assumed he was one of those students. 

"Visiting" is something that only really happens to subs. A student who is not enrolled in the class shows up, pretends to be a student in the class, and plays around. 

The day's lesson was on digital zombies. It hadn't gone well all day. (Too many of them displayed the traits we were discussing in the lesson, ignoring the whole point.) But seventh period...

Someone started whistling. I'd stop talking, the whistling would stop, so then I'd restart what I was trying to say, and then the whistling would start up again. 

They were throwing things. Someone played a high pitched tone on an electronic device (computer or phone, I'm not sure). And then there was the usual inattention and talking over me while I tried to go over what they were supposed to learn. 

It was a long, hard day. 

Somehow, me and the visitor (Kevin) got into a conversation about grades. I went to look "his" up, and he let me know that who I was looking up wasn't him.

That was his mistake. 

Because now I knew he didn't belong in the class.

He swore up and down that this was his class. A couple students chimed in to say that it was his class. But he wasn't on my roll sheet, and he'd been a major disruption, so he had to go. He begged. Couldn't he just stay today? 

I said his seventh period teacher had to be missing him. Where was he supposed to be? He didn't know, he claimed. So, I told him he had to go to the guidance office so they could tell him. 

Oh, he didn't want to leave. But finally I persuaded him to go. Only, he wanted a paper pass. I didn't have any. With the hall pass app, passes are all electronic. I got his "barcode" (but he made sure to put his thumb across his name--not very subtly) and input an office hall pass. 

And then I went to look up his name. The barcode is the student ID number, but it inputs in the system with a name. That I can easily access. 

Kevin returned. He "remembered" that he had dropped his seventh period so he no longer had a class. I told him to leave. He resisted, claiming a sun allergy. 

He left when I promised that I would next be calling security to have him removed. 

After doing a bit of research, I learned that Kevin was well-known to the office staff. Also, he's a BEST student (this used to be called opportunity, but basically it's a self-contained class where problem behavior students are segregated from the campus at large, kind of a precursor to the alternative education center). And he never had success seminar. 

So, I reported his antics to his BEST teacher, to the discipline office, and to Mrs. B. Mrs. B remembers him from her days working the discipline office, so when he tried this game before, she didn't let him in. 

And they looped in his basketball coach, the athletic director, and his mom. 

I doubt I'll see Kevin again (unless I pull a day covering the BEST class). 

Play stupid games, "win" stupid prizes. 

Trying to Return

It was 5th period on my second or third day in Ms. D's class. I called out the names of those I was marking absent. The class informed me that Diego was no longer a member of the class. I checked the online roll sheet and verified that he was no longer listed. (I was taking roll via the seating chart.)

I talked to Ms. D a few days into her absence. I had a couple questions about other things. I mentioned in passing that Diego was no longer in period 5. She was quite happy about that. She explained that he was the most difficult student in that period. I was just happy that he had been pulled before I began covering.

Then on Tuesday, my fifth day in the class, I had separated a couple students who had been verbally sparring, taking advantage of the open seat Diego had left. Only, there was Diego, claiming his seat.

He informed me this was his class. I said I thought he had been dropped. But, students are removed and returned to class without me being notified all the time. (I'm a sub. I don't get the official emails.) So, I said I'd double check to see if he was back on the roll.

I logged into the system. (The online computer attendance is always up to date.) No Diego enrolled in period 5. I turned back around... And Diego was no longer in the room.

Ah. I see. He was trying to "visit". That is, he was going to play like he belonged in class. I know that game.

I don't want to imagine what ruckus he would have caused. Period 5 was difficult enough without him riling things up more.

The Visitors

Monday. 8th grade English. They were to read quietly. And I had no issues with the classes until fifth period.

As I compared bodies to the seating chart (a couple of them were not where the chart said they should be), I discovered two more students than I should have.

"We belong here. This is our class. We were suspended for a month, and we've just returned..."

But their names weren't on the new class rosters, nor did they have a change of schedule form. So, they were lying.

The rest of the class, however, backed up their story. "They belong here..."

Sure they do. (I wasn't 100% sure they didn't belong. Only 98% sure.) Since the class was fairly settled, and calling security was just causing commotion (oh, how they vehemently insisted--the whole class--that the boys belonged when I tried that!) I decided to play along, making sure to add their names to the class roster.

Is it too much to hope they gave me their real names?

I don't know what they get out of this. They were marked absent (and it's marked as a "cut") in the class they missed. And our class was no fun. They were supposed to be reading quietly.

I made sure the boys did not sit next to each other. And remained quiet. Boring, I'd think.

Ah well. This should be a far more powerful lesson in why one shouldn't "visit" other classes. (And a lesson to the rest of the class in why they shouldn't play along.)

The Visitor

Friday. Sixth period. In the English class I'd had all week.

I took roll as per normal, but I noticed something fishy. I should have had 27 students. I had 28.

I must have counted wrong. The seating chart may have been inaccurate. Nope. There was an extra student in class.

Which begs the question: Why? It wasn't a "fun" class. The students were well-behaved. They had an essay to write, which they did.

It took me some time to identify the interloper. He sat in the corner, trying to look busy.

By this time, it was nearly the end of the period. I confronted him. He claimed to be a new student. Said his name was Ned.

(New students always identify themselves as soon as they walk in the door, primarily because they don't know where to sit. And as I had access to the online attendance, I know he wasn't on my roll sheet. Not even as a new addition.)

I have no idea what he got out of it. I know that his sixth period teacher marked him absent. So, since he wouldn't show up anywhere else on campus officially, he'll be marked truant. Which eventually will get him a Saturday detention at minimum.

Lots of downsides. I don't see the upside.

On Monday I was back in the class. "Ned" walked in again. Took a look around. "Oh, this isn't my class." And walked out.

A minor victory.