Monday, March 15, 2010

The fire alarm

A lovely student pulled the fire alarm during the first five minutes of 8th period while I was in the middle of explaining tomorrow's open notebook quiz on Night.

Meanwhile, it's about 40 and drizzly outside. My coat is downstairs. My students begin screaming, as if school were just released for summer vacation. As we begin evacuating the building, I notice at least 15 students attempting to open their lockers to grab their jackets.

"Ladies, seriously? Would you stop to get your jacket if the building were really on fire?"
"Ummm duh, Miss! The rain will ruin my hair."

Duh. Why didn't I think of that?

We evacuate the building. Teachers are trying to crowd control and usher students onto the sidewalk. Finally, the signal to re-enter the building.

Great. How am I supposed to win my class back (when I hadn't even won them yet??)

Students re-enter class, complaining of course.

"Miss, my hands are cold, so I can't write."
"Sorry, D, my hands are cold too. We just have to deal with it, OK?"
Student grumbles and sits down.

"Miss. Is the building on fire? It smells like burning hair and gasoline."
"No, S, the building is not on fire."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."


Finally. Students re-seated. Notebooks out. Pens in hand. Taking notes on today's new vocabulary. We get through reading the words in context, defining them, and practicing writing the words in sentences.

Fire alarm. Again.

Really? Not again. I just managed to settle them down!

Students scream. Again. This is getting laughable. We re-evacuate the building. Now it's raining. Lovely! The fire truck turns the corner and the firemen nod at us. I nod back, sort of smiling and rolling my eyes. Students GO NUTS, thinking I have a crush on Mr. Joe Fireman.

Unbelievable. Can't anyone nod and smile anymore without people assuming you are attracted to that person?

Ten minutes later. The go-ahead to return to the building.

Students sit down. Bell rings. 8th period ends.

All I can do is laugh. Hopefully they'll remember what's on the quiz.

2 comments:

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