it's funny, to think that you know your students well enough to know their ethics. how arrogant is that? extremely, i'm discovering. two of my kids - good, ethical students - basically sold each other out to me today, saying that the other one had been turning in work written by other students. so, joe-willy and jesus were arguing in front of me today, and i discovered that both of them have been.. well, cheating. and i know that some of my students cheat (WHY? IT'S A GOD-AWFUL EASY CLASS IF YOU DO YOUR WORK!!!), but i hadn't thought that these two did. not good to realize that you've been charmed into stupidity. it changed the way that i look at them, and i don't think they realize exactly how much it changed my perception. and it shouldn't, because they're the same kids. i just feel like i know them.. more honestly.. now. it certainly helped to cure my thirst for fresh coffee, that's for damn sure. every time i think that these kids are grown and are almost on the same level (even on the same level as my brother), something happens to remind me that they're just kids.

the good news about last friday. my student was back in class today, and he was bouncy to be back. yay! i did talk to him and he understands that not everybody has given up on him. also, my seventh-period class is pissed at the principal, because they found out about the stupid pass escapade (since it happened during their period, and one of them had detention tonight), and they were jumping to my defense all over the place... observe...

"you shouldn't let him talk to you that way!"
"well, he's my boss, and there are some things that you have to put up with."
"not that!!!"
"yeah, sometimes, that."
"you need to quit."
"i'm not going to quit. if i quit, i couldn't see you guys anymore."
"oh no! we'll come see you! we'll be at your house all the time!"
"nope, not gonna do it. i want to see you here." and so on, and so forth...

i wonder if my students know how much i love them. seriously, they keep me sane. gotta go.