Right after I posted yesterday, a student sent me this that her sister (also a teacher) had used on her blog. It made me laugh. So here's to all the teachers out there! Just duplicate this and hand it out next time you get The Question. (Because there will always be a next time.)
DID I MISS ANYTHING?
Question frequently asked by students after missing a class
Nothing. When we realized you weren’t here
we sat with our hands folded on our desks
in silence, for the full two hours.
Everything. I gave an exam worth
40 percent of the grade for this term
and assigned some reading due today
on which I’m about to hand out a quiz
worth 50 per cent.
Nothing. None of the content of this course
has value or meaning.
Take as many days off as you like:
any activities we undertake as a class
I assure you will not matter either to you or me
and are without purpose.
Everything. A few minutes after we began last time
a shaft of light suddenly descended and an angel
or other heavenly being appeared
and revealed to us what each woman or man must do
to attain divine wisdom in this life and
the hereafter.
This is the last time the class will meet
before we disperse to bring the good news to all people
on earth.
Nothing. When you are not present
how could something significant occur?
Everything. Contained in this classroom
is a microcosm of human experience
assembled for you to query and examine and ponder.
This is not the only place such an opportunity has been
gathered
but it was one place
And you weren’t here.
Poem written by Tom Wayman, a Canadian poet, and published in:
Wayman, T. (1993). Did I miss anything? Selected poems 1973-1993. Vancouver, BC: Harbour
Publishing.
1 comment:
Your last 3 posts have had me feeling empathy...and laughing! How discouraging to know that some bad habits are never going to disappear for some people! When one of my students (8 and 9 years old) misses a day, the spend the rest of the next day reminding me that they don't know what is going on because "I wasn't here yesterday!" and I often point out to them that when they miss, we keep going without them and they shouldn't panic, but will have to make up the work. It takes a while for the message to sink it! At times, it feels like a treadmill that will never end. Of course, when the going gets tough, I can always pull out the art supplies and pretend teaching is ALL about creativity and being inspired by my students. HAHAHAHAHA
How's that new grandbaby of yours?
And I loved the Flash Mob video! Thanks for sharing.
Lisa
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