Similarities and Differences

Discipline

Monday, August 21

I did not start this school year on a good foot. Friday was not a good day. My aunt is my boss, and that woman does not like me for whatever reason.

Today, at school, we had meetings all day again, but it was more relaxed than Friday. The middle school English department went outside around one o'clock. I had gotten solar eclipse glasses for Ava and I a few weeks ago.

Because it was cloudy, I don't know if the sky got darker because of the eclipse or the clouds. I mean, it wasn't a total eclipse. I could see the ring around the sun a little bit when the clouds weren't over the sun. I let my coworkers look through my glasses because I didn't want them to go blind. Honestly, we couldn't really see much, and I was pretty disappointed in my solar eclipse service. Granted, I didn't care that much.

Overrated. Sorry, to all of you who spent a lot of money on this, but it was really overrated here in Iowa.

The last meeting of the day was with our team. There are four teachers to a team. Each team has one teacher for the four core subjects, if that makes sense. For whatever reason, administration thinks that keeping groups of students with the same teachers is better for them. There are three teams per grade. My middle school is an eighth and ninth grade building.

My team is probably the most diverse team there is. We have an older guy, Brett Money as the math teacher. He's a very strict, but humorous guy. We have an Ariel Kanani. She's my age and has bright red hair, ironically. Also, she wore bright teal glasses today. She's the science teacher. She's preppy. The history teacher, Keegan Abbot, is a year younger than me, and he's from Oregon. He moved here last year. He's one of those people who always smiles, and doesn't like to stay on subject.

"So," Brett started off the meeting right away, "Steven Easton, tell us about yourself since you're new."

I hate being put on the spot. "Hi," I said shyly. "I'm Steven. I was born at a very early age." I looked at Keegan who just looked happy to be here. He had been friendly to me all day. "What about you guys?" I fought saying "y'all".

Keegan laughed a little. "Where are you from?"

"Alabama."

"I can hear it in your accent," Ariel said.

I smiled a little. "I know. I'm trying to sound more normal, but that's easier said than done. It used to be a lot thicker."

"When did you move up?" Keegan asked.

"June."

"Why Iowa?" Brett asked.

"The schools are better."

"Just a little," Ariel agreed.

I nodded, not wanting to say anything else. I didn't want them to know that Jen is my aunt because then they wouldn't think I was worthy of this job.

"I don't mean to start this off on a bad note," Brett then said, "but apparently we got most of the wild kids on our team. As you guys know, we've been warned about this class of 2022."

"Oh, great, I came just in time," I joked.

Keegan shook his head, sighing. "I think it'll be fine."

"The best way to discipline is following through with your threats, even if they aren't that extravagant. Once you got that down, the rest falls into place," I said, knowing this isn't my first rodeo.

Ariel raised her eyebrows. "You have some experience then?"

I nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"Care to elaborate?" Keegan asked.

I laughed a little, but there wasn't much humor in my voice. "So, I came from a really rough school, which meant that I had to figure out how to discipline, but I also had to make it clear to the students that I was disciplining them because they were better than what they were showing me. I also had to figure out how to show them that they could succeed if they wanted to. The graduation rate was pretty low at my school, and one of the few ways to get out of the poverty in that town was graduating, so..." I hope I didn't sound stuck up.

Brett pressed his lips together. "So, what were your methods of discipline?"

"If students didn't complete their homework or failed their homework, it was an automatic detention after school." I laughed a little. "After a few weeks, everyone did their homework."

"I don't know if you should do that here," Brett said. "I mean, it's up to you, but these kids are different."

Are they really though? I mean, maybe these kids have more money, but they still need to do their homework.

"I'll play it by ear," I told him. That's what I was planning on doing anyway.

"Did students like you as a teacher?" Ariel asked.

I sighed, missing my old school, wishing I was home where I was comfortable. "I think they respected me after they realized that I actually did care about them."

"Why did you want to teach in that rough of a school?"

"I didn't, but I grew up in that school, and when I was fresh out of college, that was my only offer."

"How'd you get a job up here?"

"Jen is my aunt."

Ariel and Keegan exchanged glances. Brett fought a glare it seemed.

"That's lucky," Ariel said shortly.

"Yeah," I said, feeling the embarrassment turn my face red. "Just try to look past that."

Keegan smiled still. "Well, hey, I trust Jen's judgment."

I smiled back. "Thank you."