THE UNBEARABLE UNFAIRNESS
OF MISS ROANNA
-Miss Roanna
everyday, petty situations or decisions:
should I eat that last, very tempting slice of
pizza? The truth is, you can do without it.
It has been a while since I last wrote for the
sake of writing. Last time I “felt inspired” to
do so, I came up with a four page test for the
ninth graders in which I extended them a
cordial invitation to use their critical thinking
rather than their short term memory. I do not
dare ask how that went down. (Although, I
am afraid, I already know.)
I was made this invitation as an
opportunity to “speak” my mind. It
made me think about what it was what I
wanted, or needed, to write about. So
many possibilities. It blew my mind trying
to pinpoint exactly what it was I wanted to
address. It made me turn countless times
at night. It made me stare blankly out my
classroom window for minutes on end.
All it really got me was stressed, because
as it turns out I have nothing special to say.
But then, I realized what I had to do. I would
write this “column” as if I were giving my
students one of my -now- famous speeches.
If you were to ask anyone I have taught in
the last three years what it is they remember
the most about me, I would like to think
they would answer with one of my favorite
BE CALP S EP T IEM
IEMB
B R E 2 0 16
teacher like me. And without a moment’s
doubt, my answer is -and will always
be- YES. If that person is going to push
him out of his comfort zone and make him
realize that there is much more out there
than just what meets the eye, then yes.
phrases: “Life is unfair. Deal with it,” or
anything that has to do with Shakespeare
-because he is everywhere.I have been approached by many
a concerned mother asking me if
motherhood has made me soft