Student teaching brings back memories of ludicrous days

After being out of high school for three and a half years, more than a few of my friends have decided to go back. One of them even decided to return to middle school. No, they are not completely insane-they are only halfway there. They have entered the world of student teaching.

A pair of these-one middle school music teacher-in-training and a high school math teaching trainee-are the most interesting to me. Both were extremely successful throughout high school and have fared exceptionally well in completing primary majors that do not have the word "education" affixed to them at top-tier colleges.

They are the kind of people that never seem to find their way to teaching for a variety of reasons, starting with the fact that they could make a lot more money elsewhere. As such, I found my friends' decisions to be quite refreshing. They are exactly the kind of intelligent, amiable people that I would want to teach the next generation of America's youth.

A couple of nights ago, I happened to speak to both of them about their student teaching experiences thus far. Since neither has even been in action for a month, I expected to hear tales of lesson plans and a few kids misbehaving. Instead, I was reminded just how ridiculous middle and high school can be.

The music teacher-in-training informed me that the other day one of her students called her "Stalin." The reason-the student did not think that as a student teacher that she should make the kids do any work whatsoever. At least it was a creative choice of dictator. But that was just the start of strange behavior she witnessed.

Earlier this week, an eighth-grade girl "started jumping around the room chanting 'bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy...' for nearly five minutes," according to a formerly aspiring music teacher now reconsidering her career choice. The girl then proceeded to claim that "she was too tired to stand up for choir."

Of course, the ridiculousness did not stop with the students. The administration at the school has shortened the break between class periods to an astounding two whole minutes.

My student-teaching musical friend noted that this was in response to the administration wanting students to spend more time in class and have shorter breaks. Of course, the administration also has informed teachers to be lenient on tardies-since it is physically impossible to get between some classrooms in two minutes and there is not enough time for students to go to their lockers or the rest room, which they need to do.

The math-teacher-in-training is still set on teaching high school kids how to do all things algebraic; however, he has also determined that college made him forget how bizarre things could be back in high school.

Apparently, his high school's principal starts off each day with a five-minute rant over the intercom, mostly focused on the dress code.

My friend's personal favorite of the performance is that the principal seems to have been taught incorrect meanings for a variety of words in the English language. He reports that the best example of this is when the principal warns students that they are not to be late for class "unless they have excruciating circumstances." But I mean, wouldn't most teachers excuse a kid for being late if he cut off his hand or something of the sort anyway?

All jokes aside, I must note that teaching is one of the most admirable, under-compensated and challenging professions out there, and I applaud anyone going into the field of education.

Now if y'all can just make sure the girl chanting "bouncy, bouncy, bouncy..." is not left behind.