A Curious Girl: Mr. B's moment of sweet-indigo fame

Well I finally got my final experiment for biology set up today. Hope it doesn't dry out. It shouldn't. Hope there are some decent results...

This afternoon, as I was setting it up, Mr. B (my form tutor and cat hating biology tutor!) took a class for a test... they were so noisy! I hate to sound old fogeyish, but I'm sure my class were never that rowdy. From what he was saying, though, it sounded like they were an exception. So perhaps I'm not going 'Good old days' before my time.

You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders - Everyone's Free to Wear Sunscreen.

After the lesson, he got some students to stay behind. Phew, does this man ever stop? By this time, I've almost finished weighing the cress. Behaviour, detentions... blah... then he's on to the last one. I think he's still talking to the girl, but a quick glance around comfirms that he's discussing matters with a boy, his voice lowered. Can hardly blame him, it's hardly right to let another curious student hear those private matters.

It becomes pretty plain (yes, I was listening) that the boy's been having trouble. He really doesn't get on with the rest of the class. Mr. B asks him who his friends are, if he'd like to be in their class instead - promises to consider moving him. In a way, Mr. B's words sort of reminds me of my Year 7/Year 8 teacher, or the Head of Lower School. My form tutor years 7/8 was great... I'd forgotten about this, but I really felt safe around her, despite not really being friends with anyone in my class, I was really glad to have her as my teacher. I could cry in front of her. But Mr. B... this isn't a boy in his form. He's my form tutor, so that can't be it. He's not his head of year, either - just his science teacher, the man who sees him for about four or five hours a week maybe to teach him about forces and cells and acids and alkalis. Not to talk to him about whether he gets on with his form and if he'd be better off with his friends.

They discussed the boy's temper - he said he wasn't that violent, he managed to hold back and not strike out mostly. Mr. B said he was probably doing better than he gave himself credit for. How many times do you hear teachers say that? The boy mentioned that he'd been insulted, and it didn't bother him much any more - presumably to assure Mr. B that he was keeping hold of his temper. Mr. B told him that he shouldn't try and stop being bothered by insults - insults bother you when you know who you are. But you shouldn't strike back - you should pity the people that insult you, for their narrow-mindedness. By this point, I'm boggle-eyed. Well, not quite, because I have my back to them, I'm clearing up my rubbish and getting my petri dishes set up. But what he's saying is true. You need the self-confidence to not believe insults... and the self-respect to not react to them.

Eventually, the boy left, leaving Mr. B to make a couple of remarks to me and the technician about how he's so glad he's not a child any more, and that he grew up miles away from the nearest village, so he's independent. And that now he's a teacher, he's more of a social worker... and that maybe he should have become a social worker, perhaps he would have got some teaching done then! I'm a bit lost for words. Not sure whether to tell him I what I'd thought of what he said. Despite the fact that I was in the same room, to imply that I not only heard but was thinking about what he said didn't seem quite right somehow.

But let's just say, I'm proud of my form tutor. I always knew the misanthropism was a front! :) Nah, I always knew that he was essentially a good person, especially when he gives away that he occasionally strokes that cat he hates. (Also that he doesn't take my sarcasm seriously, and even reciprocates in kind!) It's just nice to see in action.

What else did I do today? I missed my driving lesson. *sigh* I missed last weeks because the demisters broke. I missed the week before's because of Bath. I missed today's because Carolyn was late, and after ten/fifteen minutes we gave up on her, and I walked down to the shops with Chris and Sara. Found a lovely dress but it didn't quite fit... it's a shame, but hopefully I can find another like it - I know what I'm looking for now. I doubt it'll be as cheap though - Ł5!

Ooh yes... and James has a fancy dress party on Saturday! Mwahahahaha.

I'm going to wish him ii tanjoobi desu! (thanks Erin!)

Random word for today:

<< last entry ... next entry >>
top of page

Give food for free.