Tipping The Right Fantastik

I must report on my latest most scathingly brilliant idea, which was to reward some kids in my advisory group who cooperated with the activity last time. I have 13 of them, but several were absent then, and I ended up with only 5 deserving a reward. For the past two weeks, I have been dropping hints that some would be rewarded. I wrote it on the board today. As the rewardees came in the door, I let them choose a brand new shiny mechanical pencil, and three packs of Sixlets. They seemed quite appreciative. A few others came out to the hall and said, "What's this?" And I said, "Oh, I'm sorry. You don't get one this time." They took it pretty well.

When the bell rang, I climbed up on my soapbox. "You might notice that some of you were rewarded for participation in the activity that was scheduled last time. If you weren't, you can do one of three things. You can hate me forever, you can decide to behave better this time, or you can think, 'Who cares?'. That is your choice."

As we began, the boy who last time stated his career goal as 'supermodel' took an attitude much like he has all the time. He dropped his survey on the floor, and told the girl in front of him to come get it. "She threw that booklet at me!" he stated indignantly. Which she had, because there was a desk between them, and she tossed it on his desk. The rest of the group hooted at him, "No reward for YOU!" He tried to justify his actions a bit more, then picked it up when told. Another minor glitch was a student who allegedly poked the girl in front of him with a pencil. I of course took her side, because he is a well-known scoffrule, and the kids sitting around them appeared to favor her argument. I came down hard on him, with the speech about 'Do you think it's funny, because I don't see anyone else laughing, and if you can not control your actions, I will send you out of here.' He seemed to receive the message.

After that, everything was hunky dory. We finished with four minutes to spare. The group did their part as instructed. I will take the subdued, resigned attitude over the smirking I'm-so-cute, and you-can't-give-me-a-grade-on-this insolence any time. In fact, after the first five minutes of crowd control, it was smooth sailing all the way. I may give them ALL a reward next time. Even Pencil-Poker and Surly Boy. Because they shaped up after the reading of the riot act.

In other news from Mrs. Hillbilly Mom's student-torture list...I saw a girl drawing in pencil on the desk behind her. In fact, I was standing right beside her and she continued. But it's not like Mrs. Hillbilly Mom to compliment the emperor on his new clothes. Instead, I cautioned two other classes of students not to mess with the artwork, because I had the artist later in the day, and I was planning to make a cleaning lady out of her. The suspense nearly killed them, because I wouldn't name names.

I met her at the door 5th hour.
"Umm...you left some drawings on a desk. Now you're going to clean all of my desks for me."
"Oh. I forgot about that. Who told on me?"
"No one. I was standing right beside you when you drew them."
"Oh. Sorry."
"Come in, and we'll get your cleaning supplies."
"All right."

She cleaned every desk with Fantastik. That stuff is fantastic, by the way. And smells OH SO ORANGE-Y. She didn't complain. She didn't act the martyr. She didn't spritz people with the cleaner. She did a good job. I complimented her on taking responsibility and accepting the consequences maturely.

I love the smell of Fantastik in the afternoon.