The Things I Learned in Speech Class
In college I had Speech... most people did. I hated to stand in front of others and talk (Yes, that's changed now) and to make myself look more competent I always waited for Kory to speak.
Now Kory was, bless his soul, a great guy. He was possibly the only Emo kid on the conservative Christian campus, was quiet, but full of insight. The only problem? He was a terrible speaker. His five minute speeches dragged on to seven minutes and they were so awkward that you thought it had been fifteen. He was full of long, silent pauses, many 'um's and 'ahhhhhh's. I loved going after him because really - how could you look bad after that?
Fast Forward 7 years and here I am... still going after Kory. How could that be possible? you might ask. Well - Let's talk about Mrs. R. who came and taught art before me.
When I got the job I was walked around and introduced. Everyone was completely geeked to see me and to hear that I had a background in art. The teachers/parents were falling over themselves to tell me how wonderful it was that I was here and how glad they were that I was teaching art and that I actually knew what I was doing. They didn't tell me much of Mrs. R.
Mrs. R is now teaching Kinder classes. She was always a Early Elementary teacher, but she just happened to get the art job last year. Now, in talking to my 6/7th grade class I discovered the many ways that they tormented her. She is my Kory. First - the older kids did not do much 'art'. They did alot of coloring pages. They painted maybe once last year. They were constantly yelled at. They did very obviously BAD art things.... like making ceramics and then not firing them.
So I was talking with two kids, and it turns out that one of them (which didn't really surprise me) was one of her primary tormentors. The closet locks from the inside. So he and his friend ran in there and locked themselves in. (and his choice of friend doesn't surprise me either - the two of them are the closest thing I have to problem kids) The two of them ran out of the room after being held back from lunch for misbehaving. Then the whole class decided to mass protest and spent a class period being as obnoxious as possible.
Mrs. R left school half way through the year. A sub taught for the remainder.
So yes, now the kids all love me and in the hall way I get mugged by little hugs, high fives from the older kids, and cries of "Mrs. C! I'm working on an awesome drawing, do you want to see it?"
I have found my Kory.
Now Kory was, bless his soul, a great guy. He was possibly the only Emo kid on the conservative Christian campus, was quiet, but full of insight. The only problem? He was a terrible speaker. His five minute speeches dragged on to seven minutes and they were so awkward that you thought it had been fifteen. He was full of long, silent pauses, many 'um's and 'ahhhhhh's. I loved going after him because really - how could you look bad after that?
Fast Forward 7 years and here I am... still going after Kory. How could that be possible? you might ask. Well - Let's talk about Mrs. R. who came and taught art before me.
When I got the job I was walked around and introduced. Everyone was completely geeked to see me and to hear that I had a background in art. The teachers/parents were falling over themselves to tell me how wonderful it was that I was here and how glad they were that I was teaching art and that I actually knew what I was doing. They didn't tell me much of Mrs. R.
Mrs. R is now teaching Kinder classes. She was always a Early Elementary teacher, but she just happened to get the art job last year. Now, in talking to my 6/7th grade class I discovered the many ways that they tormented her. She is my Kory. First - the older kids did not do much 'art'. They did alot of coloring pages. They painted maybe once last year. They were constantly yelled at. They did very obviously BAD art things.... like making ceramics and then not firing them.
So I was talking with two kids, and it turns out that one of them (which didn't really surprise me) was one of her primary tormentors. The closet locks from the inside. So he and his friend ran in there and locked themselves in. (and his choice of friend doesn't surprise me either - the two of them are the closest thing I have to problem kids) The two of them ran out of the room after being held back from lunch for misbehaving. Then the whole class decided to mass protest and spent a class period being as obnoxious as possible.
Mrs. R left school half way through the year. A sub taught for the remainder.
So yes, now the kids all love me and in the hall way I get mugged by little hugs, high fives from the older kids, and cries of "Mrs. C! I'm working on an awesome drawing, do you want to see it?"
I have found my Kory.