strange things

So one of my students shaved her head. Yup. I said her. She came to school on Monday and explained that whilst bored (she did not say "whilst"), she took a razor to the front part of her head "just to see what would happen" (duh). Upon realizing that the only way to 'fix' the mishap with the razor would be to shave everything off, she was Bic'd by a friend.

Now I wouldn't have trusted this said friend to do anything to my hair if I were the girl with partially shaved off hair. This other girl has a (gasp!) mullet! (Or, rather, a chicklet!). And so now she walks through the school looking really similar to a former pop tartlet who also must have had a moment of weakness to do such a crazy thing.

Yesterday I broke up what was the buddings of a fight during 4th period. Two boys, one a known gang member and the other a poor white kid with Coke bottle glasses. I don't know what they were so huffy about, but one minute they're talking poetry (seriously!) and the next I hear expletives in rapid succession and see blood begin to boil in both boys' eyes. I walked up to the students to try to separate them, which would have ended the problems. But, of course, the gang banger has to be tough and refuse my request. I walked to the other side of his desk to physically move it and while I was walking oh, one step, they both stood up after what must have been a nonverbal agreement to begin pushing each other and challenging each other with the oh-so-clever quip: 'I aint afraid of you, bring it...'

I did the only stupid thing I know to do and walked right in between the boys yelling to stop. I soon saw that my small frame was really no match for the two, so I yelled at another student to press the emergency call button which sends a message to the office. He complied happily (they are always bugging me to let them press the button). A few seconds later, they intercom back saying someone is on the way.

In the mean time, the boys and I went out in the hall to chill. I stood in the middle of the hall with either of them on one side of the hall. They were still challenging each other...'I aint afraid of you...' And then I saw the administrator. I explained the situation. I was shaking and pumped up (I hate when stuff like this happens in my room!) She took the boys and they were suspended for the rest of the day and today. I'm quite nervous to see how it will be tomorrow and sadly, I'm prepared to be called the B-word a few times.

I had a good time last night at the Honors Banquet. Every year the school honors the 9th graders who've maintained at least a 3.7 GPA all three years at West Lake. I had several of my 8th graders from last year and a few from my yearbook staff being honored, so I decided to go. It was one of the fine moments in a teacher's career where the positives show. It was nice to congratulate these students and many told me, "You're the best teacher!" when they hugged me. Tear. Sniff.

This week has been Teacher Appreciation Week. We had a nice PTA lunch on Tuesday and then we'll be treated to another catered luncheon tomorrow. I can't say I feel appreciated from most of my students as most of them are being really stupid and bratty. With only 19 days left (OH.MY.GOSH!), they are pretty close to completely shutting down and refusing to work. My plan to do poetry has been working, however, I'm not sure how much longer it will last.

I'm off to work on a 6 page paper. Yuck.