Day 16

U.S. History frightens me. Not necessarily the recent history of the United States, although there is plenty there to terrify. The actual class frightens me. Every B day they get stronger, climbing three stories to the top of the 900 building like suburban geckos with fashionable backpacks (well some of them are fashionable). I realize they are only getting bigger while I diminish. And yet there is more to fear. The complete lack of self-control or intellectual curiosity displayed baffles me. If the U.S. were to have a Civil War tomorrow, I assume most of my students would say "Wow, I can't believe something like this NEVER happened before."

Here is a list of all of the things I noticed or assumed they were doing during the test review. By the way, I had the test open on my laptop and I was just going question by question, but yet this is what I observed (or probably could have).

A group of children training a seal to play cards. (I may have imagined that).

Math. Lots of math. Could they do it at home? Probably, but since they enjoy hurting my feelings they waited for my class.

English. Lots of English. Why do they do this in my class? I assume it is because they once heard children can be cruel and they took it as an invitation.

Anything that is not history.

Eating their entire food supply for the day before 8 am.

Deciding on what color ink to not do their History homework in? "Let's use black ink today to not do our homework."

etc.

Then there were a few other classes I guess.

And then...Sophomore Study Hall. Today we went to get our pictures taken for new ID's and probably the yearbook. Maybe selling your faces to AI companies? Probably not. Yet.

My own picture came out nicely I think. At first the school refused to give me one, telling me I was already perfect and to not bother getting my picture taken as it would hurt the other teacher's feelings of self-worth. I understand the burden of being beautiful too well. It is a curse. Finally, for the betterment of all I chose to have my picture taken.

Beauty is a burden. I carry it so none of you will have to.