It’s not uncommon for me to start going into school way before I’m required to, but the nice thing is that there are many other teachers who are there working on their rooms and getting things ready for the students. Misery loves company. It is, however, uncommon for me to go in on a Saturday and that’s what several of us did this weekend. Part of my reason for going in was personal: it helped me avoid watching Mallory pack up her things to take to college on Sunday. The other part was professional: I had over 800 books to distribute.
On my way home I noticed a kid standing near the road pretending to throw a bottle of Gatorade at my truck and I didn’t slow down too much, but enough to get a look in at him.
Apparently, he wasn’t pretending. He really did hit my windshield.
When I slammed on my brakes I noticed about 5 other people standing on their porch near where he was and when I backed up (there were no other cars coming either way) they were very concerned for me and said that he was a ‘thug’ and wasn’t allowed to play near their house. They also encouraged me to call the police, but he didn’t do any damage other than making my truck smell like a giant grape.
I rolled down the window and pointed at a young girl on the porch and said, “I know you. Mariah, right? From school.” and she nodded at me looking very sorry that this happened. She tried apologizing for the kid who had run off by now, but I didn’t ask his name.
I didn’t have to. Foolishly, he ran around the house and ended up in my line of vision and it was at this point that I considered getting out of my vehicle and screaming at him.
I’ve been teaching for twelve years. I can spot a junior high age kid from 100 yards away and this boy? He looked to be near that age. Using the old standby of raised-eyebrow-pursed-lips-and beckoning-finger, I summoned him to me and he instantly walked over to my truck where I proceeded to lecture him on the idiotic act he just committed.
Everyone gathering around us continued to berate him and encouraged me to call the police, but I declined. I did, however, demand an apology and refused to accept it until he looked me in the eye. Call it Old Teacher Trick or Powerful Mom Trick, but it’s the only way I would end this. Continuing to hold his gaze I asked, “Are you in junior high?”
“Almost. Yeah.”
“And you’ll be in 6th grade, is that right?”
“Yeah. How do you know?”
“And what school will you be attending?”
Surely, at this point, he was beginning to get scared and that’s exactly what I wanted. When he told me the name of his school I know that my whole face softened and a sly smile crept across my lips.
“Wonderful,” I said. “I teach there. See you Tuesday.”
There are teachers and then there are educators. Either way, I plan on schooling that boy this year.
August 21, 2006 @ 4:52 am | Filed under Education | Permalink |
Caffeinated Librarian Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 5:07 am
Hehehehehehehehehehe. And they say there’s no justice in the world.
deannie Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 6:39 am
muahahahahaha…you just made my day.
Hugs,
Julie Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 7:06 am
Bwahahahaha!! What a great read this morning. I bet he is dreading school this year! Good for you! Thanks for making me laugh this morning!
NursePam Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 7:15 am
HA! You go TeacherMomma! That boy has quite a year ahead of him ;^) Poor thing.
VENTL8R Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 7:30 am
He probably just crapped his pants when you said that and he will avoid you like the plague!
But you won’t let that happen, now will you?? Mmmm?
Jennifer Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 7:31 am
Way to go! He’ll thank you later right? ! LOL
jenni Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 8:10 am
Awesome.
Reminds me of the time I pulled the you-need-a-lesson-and-I’m-going-to-provide-it card with a kid who tried to discard his empty soda bottle in my front yard. I’m not a teacher yet, so it was clearly of trick of the Powerful Mom variety, and it worked quite nicely.
Applause to you, the 24/7 Mom/Teacher type. You do good work all day, everyday.
Suebob Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 9:09 am
You are The Goddess! I love the irresistible beckoning finger.
Ami Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 9:09 am
If only there were more teachers like you in the world! And I don’t just mean classroom/school teachers. :o)
Chrissy Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 9:22 am
Beautiful! Just Beautiful!
Jeff Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 9:57 am
Good job! You were lucky he didn’t just give you the finger and walk away. Apparently there IS hope for our kids after all!
JoAnn Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 11:03 am
Yeah, there will be one more “right” kid in the world! He doesn’t know what he’s in for. I can imagine you being the tough-teddy bear type!
aunt tea Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 11:06 am
you will likely be one of the most possitive influences in his life this year.
Tracey Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 11:10 am
Doesn’t it seem like we just left!?! And already we’re going back.
I hope that young man sees a lot of you this year!! A reminder of what he SHOULD be doing…
Happy Year!
Tiggerlane Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 11:35 am
Fantastic! My best friend is a teacher - and I start teaching at our local college in a few days. She has often mentioned the “power” she feels…and here you have it!!
I’m anxious to know if you see him the first day of school…and how he reacts to you! Get get ‘em, Girl!
Dana Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 12:23 pm
I got scared just reading your lecture. I’m sure you’ll do a great job in educating this boy!
tanilan Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 12:40 pm
Go get him! That child needs a dose of Momma justice!
J to the Wall Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 2:19 pm
You HAVE to come check out all of my classes and see who he is! I will have ALL of the 6th graders by 2nd semester. I can’t wait to find out who it is…maybe I will just ask tomorrow on the first day of school…”Did anyone here throw something at a truck recently and then the driver had the gutts to come back and find you? Just wondering….so I can make your life miserable!”
Jen
JJ Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 3:21 pm
My son has been a teacher for two years.
The first year he tried reasoning with his kids.
The second year he perfected “the look.” It worked great.
He told me that he figured that since he always knew as a kid not to mess with me if I gave him “the look,” maybe it would work for him.
It did.
Chase Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 3:50 pm
I, for one, would NOT want you to raise your eyebrow at me and talk to me like that. It’d make me run, crying for momma!
Hahahhaha!! You’re too much!
Jill Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 4:09 pm
You go girl…sounds like a youth who needs both an educator and a caring momtype person for part of the time
Have a great week… see you on the 30th…
HUGS,
Jill
fizzle Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 7:21 pm
man, i’m glad you didn’t listen to the “he’s just a thug” and “call the police” cries. a sixth grader….already called a thug, eh? he still has a lot of room for a positive force in his life. thanks for stopping. he needed it and will benefit from someone taking the time to care. if even for a sixth grade school year, or a day…no idea where he’ll end up or what he’ll do, but it’s better than writing him off for gone already.
Janice Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 8:12 pm
God you remind me of my mother, who was a teacher…there’s just this “thing” about educators! The young man didn’t need a trip to the local PD…sometimes a rude awakening doesn’t work for some kids, what you will give him will awaken him to much more. Have fun with him!
DrumsNWhistles Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 9:59 pm
I love it! It wouldn’t surprise me to discover that this kid remembers this day for many, many years to come. I think the strategy of holding him accountable without punishing him with a trip to the local PD is one that tends to stick better in the mind of the kid who already knows they blew it.
Karen Rani Said,
August 21, 2006 @ 11:41 pm
OH SNAP!
OWNED.
Way to go, Mrs. Mocha.
Great teachers at odd time signatures Said,
August 22, 2006 @ 1:15 am
[...] They find opportunities for teachable moments in times where students misbehave. [...]
Ron Said,
August 22, 2006 @ 3:44 am
Bravo! MOCHA MOMMA - Big Bad Ass TEACHER! You handled that perfectly! Imagine the surprise when he realized you would be watching him until he left Middle-School!
PRICELESS!
Have a good first day of school.
Hugs,
Ron
Juli Said,
August 22, 2006 @ 6:18 am
I’m so glad he threw that bottle. It was the perfect introduction to his new life. You will be a positive influence, my guess his first and best. His life will be forever changed by this instance. He needed you and you needed another project. Good luck to both of you. I can’t wait to hear more stories about this young man. He will change before our eyes thanks to you. Great story.
jeankfl Said,
August 22, 2006 @ 1:05 pm
I can’t think of a better thing to happen to this boy than Mocha Momma!!! He will certainly, thank God, never be the same.. just soooo much better!
hugs..
Jeankfl
kate5kiwis Said,
August 23, 2006 @ 5:10 pm
>
OMG that is too funny.
what is it about teachers always bumping into students??
it nearly always happens whenever hubby and i are out together, we hear a “Hi, Sir!” and so hubby stops for a chat while i stand gormlessly beside.
it even happened in Heathrow customs last month.. 12,000 miles from hubby’s school !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
scary
Katy Said,
August 26, 2006 @ 9:08 pm
Hell yeah. They’re so sassy when they’re not in school. We should do a swap–you come to Little Rock, and I’ll go to Illinois. Our populations sound similar.
Katy
Mocha Momma » You Shouldn’t Mess With Me Said,
October 28, 2006 @ 3:14 pm
[...] When I showed mercy on a kid who threw a bottle at my moving car and vowed to do more than punish him. (Follow up to that: he transferred schools and I haven’t had a chance to make a connection with him.) [...]