There’s this one class ninensei that’s just awful. They aren’t bratty like the ichinensei; it’s far worse. They’re sullen and deliberately rude.
There’s this one boy. He’s not the worst but he’s certainly one of the bad ones. Obviously ignoring the teacher. Talking. Sleeping. These behaviors may not sound too destructive, but he’s infuriatingly insolent. On Monday last week he was in the teacher’s room getting his hair sprayed. I don’t care if students lighten their hair but the school certainly does. If a teacher can tell, you get your hair sprayed black in the teacher’s room. It smells pretty awful all day.
I had to conduct speaking tests a couple days later. The room for this particular class was empty so I was using it.. Towards the end of the period, the bad class comes flooding in and making all their shouting surprised noises upon seeing me. And they’re trying to talk to me as I’m trying to talk to the shyest and lowest English level student.
Suddenly that bad kid drops a wad of aluminum foil on my desk and that’s the end. I shoot out of my seat, thrust it back at him and demand “What is this?!” with all doom and ferocity.
I can’t quite make out what it says. “It’s… bake.” Or something and he dejectedly moves to the corner of the room.
Later in the day, during his class, I notice that he’s acting all subdued and I feel triumphant. What a little anger will do to improve behavior!
As the students were leaving, I noticed a girl carrying a wad of aluminum foil. “What is that?” I asked her politely.
“Candy!” she grinned and I felt awful.
Apparently some of the students had baked something in the Home Ec. class or made candy in science class. I’m not sure which.
Maybe that boy had stolen someone else’s sweet and tossed it at me. Or maybe it was his but it tasted really bad and he didn’t want it. Or maybe he was trying to make amends in his own nonchalant way at an inappropriate time by giving me the treat he had made himself. And I rejected him.
Maybe I’m cold, heartbreaking meanie-head.