My 7th grade English teacher (who’s name shall remain anonymous here) was somewhat of a “by the books” type person. I remember the first day of class. It was 6th period, the last period of the day. I hadn’t been able to visit the restroom the entire day. Those were the days of non-mini schools where we were forced to hike around all over the school to our classes instead of staying in our respective minischool pods…but more on that later. So in lieu of using the restroom, I decided to use my time more productively…like getting to class on time.
Anyways on that first day of class the teacher explained the rules to us. I didn’t bother listening since I usually had a habit of doing my work and following the rules without any problems. There was something about if you got in trouble, a warning would be your name would be written on the chalkboard. For each additional troublesome occurance, you’d get checkmarks by your name. This was standard operating procedures among junior high teachers. By the end of class I was sitting around finishing up whatever assignment had been given to me. I had the urge to visit the restroom. I went up and asked the teacher if I could. She said “no” and I returned to my desk.
At the end of class, she said something to the effect of “Ok, I’ve already written a list of people’s names on the board who haven’t obeyed the rules.” And my name was up there. For asking to go to the restroom! I could have done far worse. But somehow I got up there for bodily functions. Ok whatever.
Knowing that, later on in the year, when colds are common, I developed a hacking cough. I was pretty much coughing my brains out during English class one day. So the teacher says “Do you need to go to the restroom to get some water.” And I go. No names written on the board. Just the soothing taste of a refreshing beverage.
And I remember doing a report on music in the class. I used Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry in it. And then some Huey Lewis song. I think I was big into the Back to the Future movie back then. To play the music I used a tape recorder. I remember pushing “stop” instead of “play.” and the tape ejecting on me. As the class laughed at me, I looked over at the teacher and she was shaking her head and wrote something down on her gradepad. Ugh. I don’t think I made an A on that project.
Years later when I worked at Kmart, on a particular day I took a check from a customer. The name on the check I recognized. I told them my 7th grade teacher had the same name. As it turns out the customer was the ex-husband of my former English teacher. Interesting. I don’t know if she is still teaching or what. I guess I should have asked.
That’s what I remember from 7th grade English. Not any type of story or anything. Just a by the books teacher who doesn’t let you go to bathroom. English classes are just so overtly subjective anyways. You read whatever the school/teacher/board of education wants to you to read. They say it is great literature, but I’d tend to disagree.