Fat School Confidential by Joe Rourke Read Free Book Online

his or her B.C. for an emergency session? Did I need to see a B.C.? Did I need to exercise with my students? Who was higher on the school’s food chain, Frank Mills or Sheila Skolnick? Would I make friends with any of the other teachers? With staff?
        In time, the questions would be answered. I had faith. I was ready to teach.
        But was I ready to learn?
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
    Let’s Begin With Gumby
     
        Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I got out of bed ready to take on the day.
        It was Monday, September the Twelfth, Two Thousand and Five.
        I was up well before the students and most of the staff. I showered, dressed, grabbed my messenger bag, jumped into my car and headed for the nearest Starbucks—some eight miles away in Kingsburg. Nearing the school again, I found the road partially blocked by what must have been fifty students. A few walked alone, in various states of physical ability and determination. Most shuffled along in pairs or in groups of three or four, prodded occasionally by a residential staff member. Their eyes vacant and staring at the ground, they seemed half-dead—as if they were super-sized zombies. Weaving around the students, I slowed down to a crawl. Staff herded them to the side of the road. Passing by, I noticed that they all were wearing iPods. No wonder the staff had to corral the kids. They couldn’t hear them.
        After ingesting possibly the worst tasting breakfast since going to summer camp with the Boys Club in fifth grade, I grabbed my books and supplies and rolling cart from my office and hustled towards Frank Mills’s office. Stepping inside, I found myself surrounded by teachers. I recognized Jack, but not the others. There must have been five of us in that tiny room—two females—one, a thin, pony-tailed blonde in a blouse and skirt; the other a bony brunette in slacks. Frank  entered, followed by a petite Latina woman in capris and a knit top. I gave up my seat for the Latina, while Jack slid over on the couch to accommodate the blonde. I leaned against the wall. After motioning Jack to shut the door, Frank started the proceedings.
        “ Good morning!”
        Sounding off with not quite as much enthusiasm, we responded in kind.
        “ I’m going to have to be brief with you. We have an interdepartmental staff meeting in a few minutes in the large classroom. First off, are we missing anybody?”
        Raising her hand, the blonde spoke.
        “ Sam’s finishing up with one of the new students.”
        “ Thanks, Joanie,” Frank replied, before turning to the rest of us. “Today should be fairly easy. Do your introductions, go over class rules and consequences, pass out syllabi, and so forth.”
        We introduced ourselves. The severe brunette was Theresa Brooke, a recent grad who was about to teach Science. The Latina was Linda Lopez-Davis, who was covering Spanish. The skinny blonde was Joanie Tepper—teaching Culinary. Her husband, Sam was the Fitness coach.
        With slicked back hair, the last teacher to identify himself had a certain air about himself—a been-there, done-that air about himself.
        “ Michael Strumm. American history, world history, and American government.”
        Why did he feel the need to rattle off each specific subject? Was he showboating, or was he listing specifics simply because he was an experienced teacher like me?
        Daniel popped his head into the room.
        “ Showtime.”
        So much for getting to know my fellow educators.
        The next meeting took place in the classroom adjacent Frank’s office. B.C.s, teachers, department heads and supervisors were all there. Daniel passed copies of student names. He then took a seat on a stool at the front of the classroom.
        “ To those who aren’t familiar with this, we go down the list of students and see how each of them is