Did I make you this way?

When I met my batch of students this year back in September, I must admit that a part of me was disappointed. The previous school year, I had a group of students that were incredibly funny, entertaining and- above all- weird. I had kids that talked to themselves, a few that had the mannerisms of members of the Red Hat Society, and some homos-in-training.

So, much to my chagrin, this year's class did not seem to cut it upon our meeting. I found them meek, too quiet, and a bit baby-ish.

How things have changed.

I don't think I have ever had to deal with such an awkward group of people in my life. This is coming from someone who did gymnastics as a kid. AND band. AND went to puppet camp.

(Note to self and readers: Blog about puppet camp in the near future.)

My kids are totally nuts. Yet, it took some time for this to come out and- as many coworkers have commented- it appears to be my fault. I don't necessarily run a rigid classroom. I'm strict, but not in a totally authoritarian sense. Sprinkle in some sass, sarcasm, energy and (yes) flamboyancy, and there you have it- Mr. Vest. I am told that I make my kids weird. Bring that shit on, bro.

I mean, how many teachers have their students asking them if they made out with anyone the previous weekend (previous post)? Or are proposed marriage to? How many have their students begging them to stop everything and vogue in the middle of a lesson about perpendicular and parallel lines? You KNOW I let them.

Letting them be their awkward and kiddish selves makes my job fun. If not, there would be no sense in getting up in the morning (except to stalk the streets of Chelsea in search of my boyfriend, Andy Coopy).

I look forward to seeing their further evolution into weird kids. That was my persona in school and I turned out okay.

RIGHT?!