A Sweet Note

My allergies are acting up pretty terribly so I feel like crud today. But then I got a note from Amanda:

to: Mr. Rice
From Amanda!

Best teacher ever!
Feel Better
I love you like
brother [then crossed out]
Dad!

More Classic David

In NYC, the kids are put through these stupid standardized tests that basically choose their future for them . . .even though the only thing they learn through them is how to take a damn test. But during the ELA test, there are three sections. A mutliple choice day, a listening day, and an essay day. The end of the day of the multiple choice, I was reminding them about the next day.

"And tomorrow is the listening section, where you will hear the golden, mellifluent tones of my golden voice pouring in your honey," I said and continued.

David raised his hand. I called on him, assuming he had a pressing question. "Mithtew Writhe, your catchphrases awe getting WEIWDER and WEIWDER!"

I stopped, taken aback. "I guess, so, Dave. That was pretty weird." I continued and he raised his hand again after a few moments.

"But jutht tho you know, it wath a pretty GOOD one!"

Wayback Diana

Diana was a cutie in second grade I didn't even teach. But she was in a friend's gifted class, and I liked messing with them. Any time I saw this amazing class, I'd just give 'em hell about being the worst people I've ever known. (It's what I do to good kids with senses of humor.) Diana would get mad and shake her fist at me, snub me in the halls, etc.

Until one day she came up and hugged me and of course I melted. Later she said, "Mr. Rice, you taught me an important lesson. Just because you hate someone at first, it doesn't mean you won't really like them later."