The kid who almost drove me to distraction with his game-playing cursing paper-wadding arguing self left today. Six weeks ago, if you had told me this child would be out of my room, I would have been singing and dancing in the streets. It was bad. It was so bad that I had him sitting directly underneath the camera. Grown men in my program warned me about being alone with him. Now he is finally gone.
Before he left, I said, “Hey Mark, I have something for you.”
He approached my desk, obviously expecting the piece of paper that formally states that he has been released and can return to his home campus.
I handed him a Reese’s cup. He asked about the paper. I affected a confused look and said, “They didn’t tell you?”
I let those words hang in the air for a few seconds. The kid’s face began to lose its hopeful expression.
Then I shouted, “Ha!” and handed him the paper. I said, “Mark, remember when you used to not do your work and pretend that you didn’t have a pencil? Well, this was payback. I had to do something, right?”
“Right. You really got me, Miss. Aw man!” We looked at each other for a while and just busted out laughing.
He was still laughing as he walked out the door.
I have goosebumps.
(I hope you’re keeping notes about this whole teaching experience, because you will have LOTS of fodder for a great book!)
I agree with Tonya. He sounds like a real “charmer.” Yikes.
Hey, a human moment shared! I hope that helps him, at least a little bit.
Apparently, revenge *is* sweet!
Ah, the joy of returning a tiny part of the torment a student has inflicted upon you. Karma is a wonderful thing!
I have one that just left and will face the “panel”. The last time I saw him, he was walking with the administrator to his office. His face was screwed up in mock anger; he’s such an actor. Literally – he was in the drama club at school! All of us teachers are relieved that he’s gone, not necessarily happy. He made his bed, and we hope it straightens him out.