Day One: August 26 2009

--First things first: it was utterly terrifying. Completely and totally terrifying. Talking in front of a group of strangers is one thing. Talking in front of a group of strangers who think that you're an adult in a position of authority is another thing altogether. I stumbled through the introduction to the first class, but by 4th period I pretty much had my footing. I mentioned my cat too damn often.

--For future reference, I teach three AP Government classes and three on-level Government classes.

--For the most part, we went over the syllabus and supply list, and everyone introduced themselves and said how they felt about "government." Some students interpreted this to mean government as an institution, while others interpreted it to mean government as a subject in school. Their responses to this question included:

"I think that government is a good thing, as long as leaders base their decisions on facts and science."

"I'm taking this class because I'm Vietnamese and my parents said they would stop feeding me if I didn't take an AP class."

"I normally like the government, but I stopped paying attention because I hate Obama."

[Half the class rolls their eyes]

"What? How come every time I say I don't like Obama it's gotta be a race riot?"

"I'm Will, and I'm unusually gifted at politics."

"I'm taking this class because I have a crush on Mrs. Blank."

--The teenaged son of a well known SMCM professor is in one of my AP classes.

--The perky girl continues her visits, but is constrained to handshakes

--When it was over, it wasn't as scary as it seemed at first. There were no big blowouts, disasters, or fuckups. Everyone seems to accept that I'm supposed to be there; that I'm an adult and that I'm qualified to instruct children. How weird is that?