The Principal and The Boy With The Cell Phone

The Principal began his PD address with a story of the day he left his office.

"There was a day I had to leave my office to attend to matters on the third floor.  Since this does not happen very often I lost my way back.  While wandering the halls I came across a young Caucasian man leaning on window sill on a cell phone.  I asked the young man where he belonged and he told me to be quiet.  He was talking to his friend.  I repeated my request and again he told me to wait and asked me if I ever talked to friends.  He then went on to tell me to be respectful.  Finally he got off the phone and we could chat.  I again asked him where he belonged and he told me the class he should have been in.  I walked him back to class and told the teacher to let him in.  I waited at the back door and watched, ready to write the teacher up for not handling the situation properly.  I saw the teacher say something, saw the boy start to cry.I walked away.  Now I must decide whether to write the teacher up for verbal abuse or for not taking proper action or both.  Our students must learn to respect our authority and we must earn it and then demand it.  We as a staff have a long way to go."

I heard the story and wondered why the Principal did not confiscate the phone and take the boy to his office and call a parent.  At the very least I wondered why he did not bring the boy to the dean or guidance.  I wondered why the poor teacher was being dumped on again.  I wonder when the Principal will start earning the respect of the students and the staff.

Another Reason I Am Happy

I read the new class the riot act about cell phones and then caught a boy texting.  I got "Sorry, Mam" and he quickly put it away.  Everyone snickered at him for breaking the rule.  (These students usually don't break any rules.)  And, then, my phone rang.

I almost never get calls.  I was away two weeks and had a total of three messages waiting when I got home, so my phone ringing is not usually something I think about.  But, I leave it on because I worry about my dad and want to be in contact with him always.

I apologized to the class, explained my reason for having and answering the call.  They were sweet.  They said I was the teacher and didn't owe them any explanations.  I said I did.  There shouldn't be two sets of rules.  They then decided I was a cool teacher and they were happy to be where they were.