The Runner

At school I have a very favorable nickname, Mrs. Axel-Suck. Yes, I know, it is awesome. I've come by this name the good old fashioned way, I am a hard ass. I don't take shit and I don't give shit, I am not in the shit business. (Thank you Dad for that little nugget of gold!) If you are in the wrong, I will correct you. I also have a group of current and former students who would say I am their favorite teacher and still come visit me on a daily basis. This year in 4th grade, I am the "gifted cluster teacher." What that means, is any child in 4th grade that is identified as "gifted" is placed in my classroom. (You really want to learn more about that, email me.)

I have come to love and loathe the gifted child. Some of them are fantastic little people who want to learn everything they possibly can. Others know how smart they are, and realize how little they can do and still pass. I am probably too hard on my gifted students. I know their potential, and I know that they can do more than the status quo.

Yesterday I had my first runner. I've been a little hard on one of my students this past week or two. He is probably the smartest kid in my class, and is technically failing - doesn't turn stuff in, zones out. He is also one of the funniest kids in class and offers awesome insights in class discussions - when he is paying attention. Yesterday, he had it. During lunch recess, I found him and asked him to come into the classroom to finish a social studies test he'd only been working on for 3 hours, (it was 20 fill in the blank questions.) Deciding that he didn't want to do this, he told me he needed to go to the front office for something and he would be right back to class. I didn't see the kid for over an hour. 15 minutes into this kid being missing, I am on the phone with the front office letting them know that he never came back from recess. Secretaries, administrators, older brothers, all out around campus searching for the kid. All the sudden, a student said they saw him on the other side of fence of the school on the sidewalk.

This kid left school. Walked right out the front door. Seriously? Who does this in 4th grade?? They finally find him, about a mile away from school, put him in a car and drive him back. When the assistant principal questioned him upon return, she asked, "Did you know that leaving school is against the rules?" He replies, "I suspected as much." Are you kidding me?? I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or smack him upside his head.

All in all, he was gone for just under 2 hours. I know that him leaving and getting frustrated with school and life and needing a break wasn't my fault - still kind of crushing anyway. I do wonder if there was something I could have for seen about this situation. If last week you would have told me that this particular kid would pull a stunt like this, I'd never believed you. I am so thankful nothing bad happened to him and ultimately he was returned safe. It makes me think more about the kids I come into contact with on a daily basis - what do I really know about them? How can I make this world a better place for them? Am I teaching them what they need to know? I look at my kids, Abby and Noah, and pray that they never need to take a break like that, and will understand how to better handle stress and frustration. Weird day, strange experience. I'm glad it is over, and hope it NEVER happens again...