Note I found...

Smart Paul versus Dumbass Paul

One of the immature freshmen boys I have has been a real pain in the butt all year. He's always off task, is a constant distraction and intensely energetic. Even getting this kid to do something as basic as writing something down is difficult. With kids like this, you just try to limit the damage they cause in class. Yet you don't want to exclude them...you always offer the opportunity to improve and change. Each day they have that opportunity. Each day they chose to do well or not.

The kid tried out for basketball and made the team, but never got to play because he was ineligible. His coaches reported that he was a constant distraction and menace during practice.

The other day this kid, Paul, asked if I thought he was smart. I answered honestly and said, "I have no idea. You've never done anything to show me if you're smart or not. All I know is that you're immature."

Apparently he did some thinking about that. He went out and bought a notebook, started taking notes and participating. He even went as far as to reprimand other students, saying (without sarcasm), "Come on guys, we've got work to do!"

I complimented him, saying I was glad to have Smart Paul in class and hoped that we'd seen the last of DumbAss Paul. He laughed and said that DumbAss Paul was gone for good." I knew better.

It lasted a day and a half. Then he began his old behaviors. I could see him struggling to do well, struggle to pay attention and do what he knew was required to be successful. He seemed to enjoy his brief success and wasn't willing to let it go to waste without a struggle.

I said, "Hey, looks like an epic battle between DumbAss Paul and Smart Paul. Who's gonna win?"

He said, "Smart Paul, for sure."

"That's who I'm rooting for!" Several other students said the same.

It became apparent that Smart Saul was losing. I mentioned as much. He said, "That's OK. Baskeball Paul is gonna beat 'em both."

A short while later, Smart Paul was dead and buried. I asked what happened to Smart Paul, mentioned what I'd noticed. He said, "No worries...basketball Paul will win!"

I asked, "Yeah? How many games has basketball Paul played? You better come up with something better!"

Check Your Phone

I was giving instruction when I noticed a student texting on his cell phone. Since I was giving instructions to the class I didn't stop to tell him to stop texting. When I finished, he looked up and asked the very question that was the point of my instruction. I told him to check his phone.

He did.

A few minutes later he says, "The answer's not there."