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Chronicles of a High School English Teacher and the Smartass Students Who Made Me Question My Sanity

Bill Grant

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Published in You Suck Sir: Chronicles Of A High School English Teacher And The Smartass Students Who Schooled Him (Robin S Egg Books)

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<p> As a high school English teacher, I've had my fair share of experiences with smartass students. These are the students who are always quick with a witty remark or a sarcastic comment. They can be a challenge to deal with, but they can also be a lot of fun. Here are a few of my favorite stories about my smartass students. </p> <div class="story-container"> <h2>The Student Who Questioned Everything</h2> <p> I had a student named Alex who was always questioning everything. He was constantly asking "why" and "how" and "what if." He was a bright kid, but he could be very frustrating at times. One day, we were reading a short story in class, and Alex kept interrupting me with questions. </p> <p> "Why did the character do that?" he asked. "What if the story had ended differently?" "How could the author have made the story more believable?" </p> <p> I tried my best to answer his questions, but it was clear that he wasn't satisfied. Finally, I said, "Alex, I appreciate your questions, but I need you to let me finish reading the story." </p> <p> Alex sighed. "Fine," he said. "But I still have a lot of questions." </p> <p> I smiled. "I'm sure you do," I said. "That's what makes you a good student." </p> </div> <div class="story-container"> <h2>The Student Who Was Always Late</h2> <p> I had a student named Sarah who was always late to class. No matter how many times I talked to her about it, she just couldn't seem to get to class on time. One day, I finally lost my patience. </p> <p>"Sarah," I said, "this is the fifth time you've been late this week. What's going on?"</p> <p> Sarah shrugged. "I don't know," she said. "I guess I'm just not a morning person." </p> <p> "Well, you're going to have to start being a morning person," I said. "Or else you're going to start failing my class." </p> <p> Sarah rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she said. </p> <p> The next day, Sarah was late to class again. This time, I didn't say anything. I just sat down at my desk and started reading the newspaper. </p> <p> Sarah came in a few minutes later and took her seat. She looked at me expectantly. </p> <p>"Aren't you going to say anything?" she asked.</p> <p> I shook my head. "Nope," I said. "I'm done talking to you about your tardiness. You're either going to start being on time, or you're going to fail my class." </p> <p> Sarah sighed. "Fine," she said. "I'll try to be on time." </p> <p> And to my surprise, she was. For the rest of the semester, Sarah was never late to class again. </p> </div> <div class="story-container"> <h2>The Student Who Was Always Arguing</h2> <p> I had a student named Ben who was always arguing. No matter what we were talking about, Ben had to take the opposite side. He was a smart kid, but he could be very annoying at times. </p> <p> One day, we were discussing the topic of abortion. Ben, of course, was arguing in favor of abortion rights. </p> <p>"Abortion is a woman's right," he said. "She should have the right to choose what happens to her own body."</p> <p> I nodded. "I understand your point of view," I said. "But I also think it's important to consider the rights of the unborn child." </p> <p>"The unborn child is not a person," Ben said. "It's just a clump of cells."</p> <p> I shook my head. "I disagree," I said. "I believe that life begins at conception." </p> <p> Ben sighed. "Fine," he said. "But even if you believe that life begins at conception, I still think abortion should be legal." </p> <p> I raised an eyebrow. "Why?" I asked. </p> <p> "Because in some cases, abortion is necessary to protect the life of the mother," Ben said. "Or to prevent the birth of a child with a serious disability." </p> <p> I nodded. "Those are valid points," I said. "But I still don't think abortion should be legal in all cases." </p> <p> Ben shrugged. "Well, that's your opinion," he said. "I respect your right to have your own beliefs." </p> <p> I smiled. "Thank you," I said. "I appreciate that." </p> <p> Despite our differences of opinion, Ben and I had a good relationship. He was a bright and articulate student, and I always enjoyed talking to him. </p> </div> <div class="story-container"> <p> I've been teaching high school English for over 20 years, and I've had my fair share of experiences with smartass students. These students can be a challenge to deal with, but they can also be a lot of fun. They're always keeping me on my toes, and they always make me laugh. </p> <p> I wouldn't trade my smartass students for the world. They're the ones who make teaching so enjoyable. </p> </div> <div class="author-bio"> **About the Author** <p> Jessica Smith is a high school English teacher with over 20 years of experience. She has taught a variety of classes, including English I, English II, English III, and AP English Literature. She is passionate about helping her students learn to love reading and writing. </p> </div>