11/21/11

EXPENDABLE













Once a week I receive a classroom newspaper called “News for You.” It’s written at a third/fourth grade level and includes cross-word puzzles and worksheets. This week’s edition includes topics on world population and population growth in developing countries. One of the smarter prisoners glances at the headline and says, “Seven billion motherfuckers in this world and I get forty years in this bitch for killing one.”
 
The classroom fills with laughter.

“I guess we’re a developing country,” I observe.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” one of my slower students asks.

“We have too many low-level readers,” I answer.

“What he means by that,” another slightly smarter prisoner says, “is we have too many low-level …” and he emphasizes the next word “breeders.”

“Yeah,” the first prisoner responds. “And I rubbed out one of them.”

“Yeah,” his road-dog says nodding toward the slower student, “What the teach means is that a few less people like you would make this a much better place.”

A verbal argument ensues.

“That’s enough,” I say,  before requesting “temporary” silence for the duration of the class. I'm thinking: They'll have to continue this discussion out on the prison yard.

5 comments:

the walking man said...

If ever there needs be an example of idiocy in action...

Beth said...

I’m trying to imagine being at the bottom rung of the ladder in a world of seven billion people – can’t quite do it...

Charles Gramlich said...

the problem is he may have wiped out one of the few who were worthwhile.

Anonymous said...

Speakin of low lifes had a friend that got sent up river for scammin the insurance companies. They didn't take kindly to her frivolous use of a deactivated health care
card. Court orederd payback of all expenses and fines including conviction. Now she's munchin carpets on a regular basis not counting towards her gooooood time! Your stories always leave me a thinkin. Thanks for sharing. Huck :)

Anonymous said...

We are going to have to work on our disarming moves in training. Although, I think it would be better for me to hit them with a shovel. Enjoyed the read. MW