The Dreaded Deed

Well, I did it. There's no going back. The words cannot be rescinded, or apparently ignored. The time I feared would come at last has come at last. I told my students I would not be returning in the fall. You would have thought they had just learned that David Archuletta had not won American Idol. (Yes, they all came in this morning furious at the outcome.) Or maybe it was more of a "I think we'll cancel recess for the rest of the year" kind of reaction. (I actually told them that at one point this week . . . but only to prove a point about how American safety and personal rights have to be balanced.) However you look at it, they were not happy with me. I tried to reason with them . . . they wouldn't be in my class next year anyway. "But I was already planning to come and visit you next year!!!!!" Um, okay, but you'll have really great teachers next year. "What school are you going to? I'm coming with you!!!" Apparently my hesitation at telling my students that particular item of information was justified. I didn't want to think they would be distressed at me, but I've come to know my students fairly well the past year. And what, you might ask, prompted this sudden desire to divulge information? (I had at one point considered not telling them until like the last day of school.) We had a rockin' ukulele concert and the moment seemed to be very opportune. (I'll post more on the ukulele concert another day.) And so, the deed is done. There is no going back. I've potentially created non-stop havoc for the next two weeks. But, they'll get over it eventually! Or maybe they won't . . . I'm just so gosh darn lovable! ;-)