Art Class

A short observation based my experience as a teacher covering for
an absent colleague; I thought it might amuse you.

This is what really happens in the classroom:

Crowded round tables
With projects spread out,
One boy flicks a ruler,
Others messing about.

‘Where are the pencils?’
‘Where is my work?’
‘I expect in your locker;
Please tuck in your shirt.’

Five minutes in
Noise settles to ‘Hummmmm…’
And gymnastic jaws
Chew…chew…chewing gum.

But ten minutes in,
‘Please keep down the noise,’
And I circle the room when
I witness the boys.

What to do with those boys
Who start up the show?
The gum wasn’t gum but
Ammunition to blow –
Pieces of paper
To target me later –

Through a disembowelled biro!