9/17/10

NOTICE OF INTENT














“You can’t just take my property,” an inmate says. “You’ve got to do a notice of intent.” He’s mad because I confiscated his clippers. I guess he thought I wouldn’t hear the buzzing noise.

“I’m not doing shit,” I respond.

“Then give it back!”

“No.”

“Then I’ll file a grievance.”

“At least you’ll be improving your writing skills.”

A few minutes later he’s begging me to give him a ticket.

“It’s a minor offense,” I tell him. “Violation of a Posted Rule: No personal property in the school building.” I rub my chin with my index finger and thumb. “I think I’ll pass.”

He knows that he’d get his clippers back faster if I filed the necessary paperwork. I’d rather hurt his pocketbook—no clippers, no clients, no income. Contrary to what he may believe, it’s not about his rights or my following protocol. He’ll receive his clippers on my terms.

Another inmate asks me for the meaning behind the word “morality.”

“It’s where you help the little old lady cross the street,” I answer, “before you steal her purse.”

For whatever reason, the youngsters in my classroom are upset and I don’t know why.

9 comments:

the walking man said...

And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Maybe they are seeing the light and not thinking it such a good thing Jim?

Charles Gramlich said...

MOrality is like pornography. You know it when you see it.

wallace woodman said...

I'm surprised that one of your students would ask about morality. I thought the most important thing in their lives was mo money, not mo-rality. Good call on the clippers, now he has to deal with the opposite of mo money. You have to deal with mo-B.S. for your efforts.

ivan@creativewriting.ca said...

Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 (Waters) 3:56

We don't need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.

We don't need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.

"Wrong, Do it again!"
"If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you
have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"
"You! Yes, you behind the bikesheds, stand still laddy!"

Anonymous said...

I am reminded when reading a post like this of a poster I saw of two young boys from India reading an Algebra book under a street light.
I give you credit. Though not as sarcastic as
Prof Ivan, I do believe you are the one who can communicate this to them. You have their attention. Enjoyed the read. MW

wallace woodman said...

Not to be off topic, but did you change your email address? I sent you an email, but it bounced back. Sorry to disrupt the flow of your blog.

eric1313 said...

Love it. Morality is at least knowing to bury your head when you know you should be ashamed of your self.

Never even thought about inmates making money from buzzing each others hair. Guess that's because it's the last place on earth I ever want to be so I think very little of it. Really, when i do think of it, I just think it would be a nice place to get a whole lot of writing done.

Erik Donald France said...

An especially wicked post today. I love it!

Lana Gramlich said...

I guess the truth hurts.