Smartypants Loses It

Workday - 8:15am-2:30pm

Fortunately, I didn't have a full-on blow out or anything. Being sick, I just didn't have the energy to tolerate that smartass kid in my math class, so I sent him out.

Before the end of the morning anthem, he'd already put up two arguments. I had to ask him three times to stand up as the anthem was playing, then another three times to stand still while the anthem was playing. He never did stand still, and as soon as he was done doing what I'd asked him to stop doing, he sat down (before the anthem was over). What's even more lame is what he was actually doing during the anthem: chasing a girl around the classroom to steal her chair. They both wanted "rolly chairs", and they both got them. Except the guy announced he wanted the blue one, and rolled himself over to the girl to grab it. After a brief chase, she gave it up. This chaos all happened while the national anthem was on.

I know he was just looking for an excuse to get into one of his usual entanglements with this girl -- it's his way of hitting on her, really. It sounds "so grade 5". I thought the gangstah guys were supposed to be all smooth with the ladies, but he's always pulling these stupid moves with both of the girls in the class.

It bothers me even more to see these two girls just give in to everything he demands. Of course, I know they (like myself) don't want to bother fighting with this guy either. Part of why they relent is because he intimidates them, I believe. But the main part is this culture of guys and girls, both in their age group and in the whole "hiphop" culture. Guys are the "big (badass) daddies" and girls are just supposed to be hot and submissive. In the past month and a half I've watched this kid demand walkmans, CDs, a piece of gum, some food, and more from either of the two girls. I put up with it, because a) again, I have to choose my battles and, b) the girls don't act upset (of course, why would they? They know this is all "flirting", too). They just roll their eyes and giggle.

Back to the battle I did choose, however. I could have just sent him down to the office, but that's counter-productive.

I said to him once the anthem was over "(Name), I'd like you to work in Academic Resource this period."

The girl beside him said "ha ha!" and he snickered. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to realize I was serious.

It's a good thing these kids who cause trouble are always identified in special ed., because it gives them an alternative place to go and work when I don't want them in my classroom. The A.R. room was just down the hall, so I walked in to let them know I was sending him over and they said it was fine. I came back to my room and told the guy he could go down and they were expecting him. He refused.

I told him straight out that he was causing a distraction and he would also get more done if he worked somewhere alone.

I was met with more arguing.

Finally, he got "the choice". The choices I give are usually similar: comply with what I ask, or go hang out in the office instead. And I don't really want them to go to the office. I also don't want them to go to the office as any sort of punishment, either. I just want them out of my hair.

Upon hearing "the choice", this guy exploded and went around the room saying "fine! I'll go to the office! I don't care about going there! I'd rather go to the office! Buzz down now, tell them I'm coming! Go on, buzz the office!" And he left.

Of course, he left for academic resource. He just wanted to put on a big, bad daddy show for the ladies.

Sick

Workday - 8:15am-5:00pm

I hate being sick and going to work. However, I feel too guilty to take days off (especially more than one day). I used to try my best to be "on", even though it took all my energy. Now I try to rely on students' sympathy to get away with doing less. Unfortunately, not all students are very sympathetic. I try to tell my classes I can't talk over them because I have no voice, and they forget by the end of the next sentence.

Despite how I feel, I made it to both choir practices tonight. I ran my full half ("full half"? I know, it sounds like an oxymoron) of concert choir, followed by a shortened jazz choir rehearsal. Hey, I'm not superwoman. I got almost a half hour of jazz choir in, too (when I told them it'd be 20 minutes, tops). I'm just happy to have been productive.

Tomorrow I'll be less productive. I'm definitely going to leave as soon as fourth period is over. Thursday is parent interview night, so it's going to be a long day. I have to take the time off wherever I can.

Shall we take bets on whether I make it through the week? How about bets on precisely when I'll lose my voice completely? I came pretty close today by about 4:30pm. We shall see.

The Opera Trip

Workday - 8:15am-2:45pm

This was a long week. In addition to the Monday night band practice until 6pm and Tuesday night choir practices until 5:30pm (I started a jazz choir at my school, and it meets for an hour after the "regular" choir), I went on a trip to the opera on Wednesday. We didn't get back until 11:30pm (we took transit, and it takes over an hour to get downtown). Then we waited for all the students to get picked up and the last one's parent didn't come until sometime after midnight! And then, I drove my colleague to the subway (it's funny, we were in opposite positions last year. Now I get to return the favour). It was almost 1am when I got home and I was just exhausted. I still haven't quite caught up on the sleep I needed.

I mean, this wasn't just any ol' opera trip. We had to haul ass around the city on foot for most of it. Not realizing this, I had worn some seriously uncomfortable shoes. Opera = fancy attire, I assumed. How silly of me -- times have changed. You can wear jeans to the opera now, if you like. Some people in the audience will look down their noses at you, but that's about it. We took a lot of kids in jeans.

Before the actual evening performance, we had an afternoon workshop with the opera company. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. It definitely made the story easier to follow for the kids as they watched that night. Yes, ok, it also made it easier for the teachers. I'm not very familiar with most operas. Even my colleague who was also there (and is familiar with most operas) didn't know this one.

Today I asked this colleague if we're going to send the opera company some sort of thank you. He said "we thanked them as we left!". Typical guy response, with the lack of courtesy. I then pictured us making up a big, poster paper "thank you" note as they do in kindergarten when the class visits the local pizza restaurant. Of course, all of the students have to sign their names at the bottom. Here it would be, in all its large-perfect-letter-printing-with-a-squeaky-red-marker glory:

Dear COC,

Thank you for teaching us about opera. We enjoyed being able to act out some of the scenes ourselves. It was funny to see our teacher act like the priest. We also thought the music sounded pretty. Our favourite part of the opera was when the woman went crazy and killed her husband.

From,
The Grade 11/12 Vocal Class
(signatures)