March 29th, 7am Parent Meeting

Had my parent meeting this morning about Fred2's behavior.  He is the student who breaks into song at the top of his lungs just when I get everyone quiet.  The one who shoves all the desks behind him back causing chaos to the students sitting in those desks.  The one who I send out into the hallway just so I can complete the lesson without having to stop to deal with him every thirty seconds, then when he gets out there he keeps sticking his head in the window and tapping to get everyone's attention.  I LOVE his mother!  I think you will too.  This is what she told me.  "Let me just say that I am a mother who cares!  And I know how Fred2 can be.  You can't beat him here, but I can.  He knows he better treat you how he treats me.  I don't care how big he gets.  I don't care how wide he gets. (He is well over 6 feet and at least twice as heavy as she is.)  He knows I will punish him.  Here are my numbers.  If you have ANY more trouble out of him, just call me.  I will handle it right away."  All the while, Fred2 stood beside her without making a sound or moving an inch.  I immediately put her number in my speed dial.  Next time I have problems with him, I'll simply call her number, hand him the phone and just keep teaching.  She was amazing!

Of course, talk today centered around my student who was sent to the hospital yesterday.  The stories were so interesting.  I refused to talk about the incident to the students (mainly because I want to see how Fred3 handles it when he comes back).  But I heard so many stories today.  "He blew up the lab.  That's how come we can't go in there anymore."  and "He blew himself up!  He won't be back to school this year."  Won't they be surprised when he shows up tomorrow.  I'm thinking of calling him tonight and telling him to wrap his face up just to freak them out, but I don't want what happened to become a joke.  I want them all to understand just how serious the incident was.  It was just pure luck that I happened to be facing him when he mixed the chemicals together.  Had I been at another workstation with my back turned, who knows what might have happened.  I know they think I was being a bit overzealous by insisting that he go to the doctor to get checked out, when he only mixed a very small amount, but he is the type of guy who will pretend to be fine even when he isn't and I would not have been able to live with myself if he had any serious side effects from his experience.    There's even a good side.  Now the students will see why I stress safety first in the lab and the importance of following directions.  Even if no one else learned that lesson, I know for a fact that Fred3 understands it now.

I did tell the students that we would not go back into the lab for a while because their safety is my primary responsibility and I just don't feel that I can keep them safe in there.  (I will be so paranoid when we do get back in the lab, trying to keep an eye on every single student every single second.  Right now, my nerves can't handle that.)

Ended up having to work a baseball game, so got to leave school early to get to the game.  Our ballpark does not have lights, so our games have to be played early.  I really hate that small town schools are so desperate for supplies.  Ended up getting home at around 5ish.  Tired and hungry.  Be well, BlogBuddies!  Happy Friday Eve to you all!  Talk to you tomorrow.