I just finished a 2-week subbing stint in choir teaching high school and middle school in a suburb of Flint. Let's call the district O'City Schools. Here are the funniest and most amazing things I heard from students.
Julie, a freshman who I also had last year when I subbed for the other O'City choir teacher for 8 weeks was rather disheartened that I put her on alto. She's a very sweet girl and I love her, but everyone can't sing soprano. She would be stronger on the alto part anyway. As it is, her voice is too immature to tell what voice part she actually is. I believe this was her last-ditch effort to get me to switch her to soprano:
Julie: "Mrs. Rodgers, can you tell me if something is weird?"
Me: "Maybe. What is it?"
Julie: "Low noises bother me, but really high ones never do. Like, high noises bother most people, but not me!"
Me with a completely straight face: "...Well, I don't know if that's strange. Really loud low bass bothers me, but high noises don't necessarily bother me unless it's nails on a chalkboard."
Julie: "Well, yeah, of course that bothers me, but really really high notes don't."
Me: "...."
Frank is a student who just moved to the school from a school up north. The culture is different here. He is a very polite, kind, friendly young gentleman so I was surprised when this happened.
Me: "How do you like it here at O'City so far? Are you ready to run back up north?"
Frank: "It's okay so far."
Me: "Yeah, Flint can be a little..."
Frank: "Stabby?"
Me: "Bwahahahahahahahahaha!"
Gina is a friendly and sweet middle school student in the 7th and 8th grade choir. She takes voice lessons and is an extremely strong singer, so I put her in the middle of the back row of the altos to help everybody out.
Gina: "Mrs. Rodgers, I was wondering if I could sit over there." *points to a seat by a friend*
Me: "Why?"
Gina: "It's really hard for me to get to my seat."
Me: "...Why?"
Gina: "There are a bunch of chairs in the way."
Me: "..."
Gina: "And when there are people in them it's hard for me to get to my seat."
Me: "I specifically put you in the back row because you're such a strong singer. It's so you can help everybody out."
Gina: "..."
Me: "It's a compliment."
Gina: "Well then can I at least sit on the end?"
Me: "No. Go sit down!"
This is just a lovely interaction I had with students in the 7th and 8th grade choir on my last day.
Kayla: "Hopefully you'll sub for us again!"
Me: "Yeah. Well, hopefully I get a job, but I'd like to see you again!"
Deanna: "Why? You don't want to stay with us?"
Me: "I love you guys, but I hardly make any money here."
James: "Oh yeah! How did your interview go?"
Me: "I didn't get it. Oh well, their loss."
Most of the class: "What?!" "No!" *other various outraged sounds*
Karen: "But wait, you can sing, play piano, and teach, all at the same time!"
Melissa: "And you're funny!"
I love those kids. That made me feel really good. :)
I unfortunately had one student at the middle school who made poor choices such as destroying her folder, refusing to follow directions, and being rude. James, who got into trouble on a few occasions with me because he's very loud. He's an awesome kid, but he's just so noisy!
Me: "Donna, please stop braiding Melissa's hair."
Donna: "I'm not braiding." *continues to braid*
James: "That is a braid. It's a fishtail braid!"
The boys in this class are very knowledgeable about braids. Liam was braiding Melissa's hair before the bell.
Donna: "Can I just go to the Responsibility Room? I hate it in here."
Me: "If I have to send you down there, I will write you up again."
Donna: "Nu-uh. You just going to let me go. Mrs. Smith says..."
James: "Hey! I'm sick of you disrespecting the teacher like that! She ain't done nothin' to deserve it and you just keep mouthing off to her!"
Donna: *scoffs*
The entire class: *applauds and cheers*
Me: "Wait, who are you clapping for?"
Class: "James!"
Me: "Okay." *smiles*
