these are some things

i get to learn:
sometimes my job feels like a fantastic book club. we learn from each other. this week, Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Insightful Student A: "But why did Janie wait 20 years to say how she felt? That bothers me. Doesn't that make it her fault in a way?"

and a few days, few chapters (few lifetimes) later...

Insightful Student B: "This is the first time Janie is actually listening to her gut and trusting herself. And standing up for herself. She's stronger than before because now, when she feels like something isn't right with Tea Cake, she says something and she doesn't feel bad about how she feels."
Insightful Student C: "And that's why Tea Cake is different from Logan or Jody. Even though they fight, they're learning how to communicate. With Jody, she was never brave enough to stand up for her feelings, and he never valued her feelings anyway."

i get to teach:
walked by Ignorant Student A's desk and noticed that she had taken another girl's quiz from the turn-in box (to copy from). I took the other girl's work off her desk. Gave ISA a death stare, and continued my rounds.

A few minutes later, I watch from across the room as ISA goes back to the inbox, fumbles around noticeably, trying to act as if she has understandable and acceptable intentions, and grabs another quiz from the box and takes it back to her seat.

I walk over. Grab paper.
Me: "No. No, no, no. I don't know what you think you're doing, but it's not cool." Walk away.

ISA: "But, uhhh... Ms. I... isn't this w;kjdajiebelivkemalie (nonsensicle babbling, trying to make it sound like there is a justifiable reason for what she was doing)

Me: "Stop it. Stop. Don't try to cover it up. Just do better. Do better."