Thursday, May 22, 2003

A student’s mother came knocking on the door of the classroom where I was proctoring a test. Less than five minutes later another mother showed up at the door. Amazed to have seen two parents show up to class in the same morning, a student said “Oh my God, I bet my mother is coming, too!”

Later that morning, I screamed to a student “Go around!” after he tried to take a shortcut through a hall he’s not supposed to go through. He must have heard only the last part (“around”) because all he did was turn around 360 degrees. I smiled and shook my head. I gave it a second shot: “Go around!” Again, he did a 360 degrees turn. I couldn’t believe this kid was doing this, knowing how intolerant I can be. But then I saw him grin… I just chuckled and let things be… he caught me in a good mood.

In the afternoon, a student was holding the bag used to collect the balls after lunch-recess is over. Since there were some minutes left for the bell to ring, he wanted to be creative with it. The usual, first he used it as a cape and wrapped it around his neck and walked like a super-hero, flexing his muscles. I looked away for one bit, and the next time I saw him, the net was wrapped around his head… he was an Arab. Crazy kid.

A bit later, I was lining up some students in a space between two buildings. It’s not a wide space, maybe six students can fit side by side. I had three lines side by side. A teacher decided to go through, walking between two lines. As she made her way through, I wanted to help so I said in a raised voice: “All right, kids, make way! Make way!” She turned around, smiled and said, “I’m not that fat, Mr. Quiterio!” It didn’t occur to me she’d take it personally. Women…

After school, a first grade student was walking with her older brother, who graduated from Jefferson a year ago. She asked if I still remembered him. I jokingly said, “Of course I remember him! I used to call his name all the time: ‘Omar, stop running! Omar, don’t kick that ball! Omar, stop beating up that kid!’” Without missing a beat she looked at me and said, “Yeah, that’s what he does at his new school.” Heh, lil girl…

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