August 09, 2002 - 4:13 p.m.

Wow, I empathize with every teacher I have ever had.

My first week has been one hell of a rollercoaster. The first day (Wednesday) was hell because I was new, they all knew I was new, and they all wanted to try me. I assigned them all seats; one girl refused to sit in her assigned seat. One guy told me that an example I used in class was "gay." Add to that the fact that this school operates on the block system, so I have to fill 90 a class each day, and it adds up to a hard first day.

Thursday I was pissed. I came in and told them that, basically, I was just itching to write someone up. That shut them all up. For that day.

Today was a soul-wearying hard day. I had forgotten how much high schoolers don't give a crap about anything you try to teach them. Plus, apparently, everyone had gone home and decided to try and figure out how to piss me off without blatantly breaking the rules.

I ended up giving one guy detention and sending a girl down to the office as they were yelling at one another across the room. I tried to just give the girl detention, but she wadded up the detention slip I gave her.

I don't want to do this for the rest of my life. Hell, I am wondering if I will make it through this year. Seriously.

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