The First Day of Middle School
It was the first day of school. I was working as a substitute PE teacher at one of the largest middle schools here in Los Angeles. This middle school had several multi-story buildings and was spread out over several acres and was a logistical nightmare for new students (and unfamiliar substitute teachers).
On this first day, in PE, we were enrolling and checking attendance of the 40 or more students enrolled in each period and we were giving locker assignments. The 6th graders were living portraits of terror and frustration.
Many of these young boys had gotten lost and showed up late and scared. Some missed the orientation and some missed the instructions for how to use a combination lock. Just finding their way around this massive campus reduced many a young boy to tears.