A School Funny

Just got home from Back-to-School Night. You college professors, thank your lucky stars that you don't have to do this. I mean, it's fine to meet parents and all, but really, we end up teaching two full class days in 12 hours' time. It's exhausting. It's voice-depriving. And we still have school tomorrow.

Today one of our school board members was visiting campus. Halfway through 5th period, I hear someone walk up the metal ramp to my portable classroom, try the door, and leave. Background needed: my classroom door handle hasn't worked properly for a year and a half. It's latest trick is not opening when one pushes the handle down, so one must pull the handle up instead. I have a sign posted right by the handle that says "Pull Up," with a handy little arrow indicating the direction one should pull.

Now, I know -- quite well, in fact -- that people do not read signs, because almost daily, a student or I have to get up, interrupt our class, and open the door for some illiterate who can't work the door. Today was no different. The handle was jiggled, the footsteps retreated down the metal ramp.

I said under my breath but to my class, "Read the damn sign! Pull up!" Then I asked a student to go open the door and see if it was important.

My student opened the door, waited for the parties to walk back up the ramp, politely inquired as to the need, and proceeded to explain: "See, the sign says you have to pull up." My class and I were laughing silently yet hysterically.

Then in walked the principal and the board member.

I immediately began showing off my class's strengths. We discussed their performance on today's PSAT, and then I invited them to ask questions of the board member. They asked some wonderful questions. Why is the sound system we purchased for the gym still not installed after two years? (Hem, haw, electrical issues, we're still working on it.) What does a board member do, exactly? (Makes school policy, has to be voted in, goes around and visits campuses like I'm doing now. That's it? was the follow-up question.) Does the student board member have an equal vote? (In a word, no.)

I have to say, I was incredibly proud of this AP class. They asked their questions respectfully but honestly. They demonstrated thoughtfulness, but they were not afraid to ask their legitimate questions. After the principal and board member left, we had a good laugh about my student's comment regarding the door sign. I thanked him and complimented him on his very polite and respectful handling of the situation. After all, if the principal and school board member can't read a sign and work a door, we are in dire straits. I'm glad my class could remind the powers that be that they are accountable to more parties than just the voters.

Incidentally, I started to tell one of our A.P.s about the visit, and she replied, "Oh, yeah, I heard." I smiled and asked what she had heard. Apparently when the principal and board member left my classroom, they had no sooner reached the foot of my ramp before the board member turned to the principal and asked, "So what's going on with that sound system?"