"I got no homework."
"Why not?"
"1 didn't do it."
"Why?"
"I just didn't."
"How do you expect to pass?"
"I'm supposed to accelerate at my own speed. I'm supposed to compete with myself. Well, I'm not so hot!"
Why do I bother? Because I feel something in him that is worth saving, and because once he wrote me: "1 wish I could believe you."
Not that he's in class much; he keeps cutting to be with Grayson. I don't know what goes on down there. After the scandal about custodial misuse of funds, I look upon the whole Basement with a wary eye. There was, of course, a directive: STUDENTS ARE NOT TO USE STAIRCASE WHICH TERMINATES IN THE BASEMENT.
All staircases but one terminate in the basement.
But whenever I feel too frustrated to go on, I find an unexpected compensation: a girl whose face lights up when she enters the room; a boy who begins to make sense out of words on a printed page; or a class that groans in dismay when the end-of-period bell rings.
In order to remember the rewards when the going gets rough, I've made out a list of Debits and Credits:
DEBITS
Ferone (still unreached)
Eddie Williams ( " " )
Harry Kagan ( " " )
McHabe (!!!!!!)
Mild bladder symptoms (This is an occupational disease: there is simply no time to go to the bathroom!)
Clerical work piling up, up up!
Nov. Faculty Conference:
problems of overworked teachers, overcrowded classrooms, dropouts, integration, teachers' strikes, salary raises, teacher training, building scandalswere all "postponed for lack of time"just as they were in Sept. and Oct.
Lunch hour at 10:17 A.M.
Not enough books, chalk, time to teach, endurance ...
Etc., Etc., Etc.!
CREDITS
Jose Rodriguez no longer signs "Me"!
Vivian Paine losing weight; likes herself better.
Lou Martin, in the midst of clowning, raises a hand to answer a question!
Four kids took out public library cards for first time!!!
I may look forward to retirement after 35 years of service; at 70 it's mandatory!
Yes, Mother still sends me gory clippings. At the same time, she inquires delicately whether or not there is a young man in my life. I tell her there are many. Over a hundred.
I'm glad Suzie liked my birthday present. It's delicious to shop for a little girl of two. And please stop remonstratingI may be a teacher, but I'm not that poor!
Tell me about your Thanksgiving. I was supposed to have dinner with Paul, but how can you wish on a turkey wishbone with a man who is capable of correcting a love letter?
Love,
Syl
P.S. Did you know that a third of all New York City teachers are substitutes?
S.
40. From the Suggestion Box
I suggest they do away with graff and coruption and make a school where we don't have to stand up in Assembly and Lunch! We should have a sit down strike but there's no place to sit, Ha-ha, joke!
Lou Martin
1. I like the way you "put it over" (Julius Ceazer)
2. Open School is a farse!
3. You didn't have to hush it up we knew all about it.
A. Why she tried to kill her self!
1. Misunderstandings of feelings between pupils and teachers.
2. Misunderstandings of feelings between children and parents.
Teenager
You never call on me and if you do it's very seldom.
Cutter
Most fellows dislike their teacher not because the teacher is good or bad but just because the teacher is a teacher. You are different because you don't treat us like a teacher. Now coming down to the human side of things, you for one don't look like an old hag but beautiful every day. It slays me! Never in my life did I feel this in school. The way you walk up and down the isle really sends me and I hope you take it in the right spirit.
In these "distressful times" when any day the whole world can just as soon "blow up" I enjoy "poetry". The way your tone of voices make it sound in changing it to sadness or happiness or whatever it is suited for, depending on the "poem". I went to the school "librery" to look for more "Frost" but it was closed.
Chas. H. Robbins
If you could only be a man instead of a female I would say the only decent teachers in this school are you and Mr. Grayson and he's not even a teacher.
Rusty
I don't like the way you read, too emoting, and over our heads.
Yr Emeny
You gave me the courage to read a book.
Reader
When he said the fault dear Brutis is not in our stars meaning we got only ourselfs to blame he wasn't a color person.
Edward Williams, Esq.
Don't ever change! There is a pleasing way in your manner of dressing (red suit) & shape. With you I could spend a whole day with nothing but English.
A Bashful Nobody
For my money you stink.
I never in my life used to have use for poems but when you read it aloud it makes the words come true. If every one would read it the way you do no one would be left hating poems. Can you recommend another poem?
Jose Rodriguez
I have a math teacher for English and a typing teacher for Eco and you for Home Room and for French they keep changing around. I'm willing to do my best if they would only meet me 1/2 way.
A True Pupil
Too much homework but I don't mind I don't do it anyway. And I'm possitively not writting any more for you.
What I like about you is you're brainy. In a nice way. I wish I could have you always but have to quit and go to work so must say a sincere goodbye.
Dropout
If other teachers would be young and sexy looking like you they wouldn't have to snoop around and make trouble for couples that go steady. Snoopervisers make education hard to learn.
Linda Rosen
Have Monday Orals on Tues. and Thurs. too. It breaks a lot of us out of our shyness when speaking in front of a crowd.
Mark Anthony
I suggest more quiet classrooms because I like to sleep a lot.
Dead To The World