My Lost Soul

I have a student in class this semester, who is a repeat customer. He is a lost soul.

Rough family situation. Rough, in so many ways. . .

He is in my first hour class. He communicates very well with me. He can't get to school on time. He can't get up in the morning. He wants to do well, but he can't . . .

Today, our seniors had an "act of civil disobedience." My young gentlemen, did not participate, but he got caught up in it.

We had a late arrival day today. School started at 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. The seniors had a tailgate breakfast in the senior parking lot, with the intention of having the entire senior class arrive late to overwhelm the attendance system.

Well, my young buddy was arrive late, as usual. The security staff was lying in wait. He got caught. As he has had several tardies already, his punishment was a day of "ISS"--In School Suspension--a fate worse than death.

Of course, I would rather him be in class. He will gain much more by being in my room--even if he is a few minutes late. (Hell--I think I was late every day when I was in high school--but that is a story for a different day. Thank you Mr. Justice!)

Tomorrow, I will talk with the dean, who is a dear friend of mine. I will explain that is no punishment to remove my student from my class, but it is enough punishment to make him come to my room and work.

One of the things I think I am most effective at is reaching through to troubled young students and giving them the push (and sometimes the kick in the ass) that they need.

We'll see how this goes tomorrow. Please, Mr. Dean, don't stack the deck against this troubled youngster . . .