It's called insubordination

Yesterday was a Monday of a Monday.

There was a last-minute staff meeting after school so the principal could read the results of a survey we took months ago.

I had to make a doctor's appointment. The receptionist put me on hold for twenty minutes.

I needed to mail a phone back. After being transferred three times I was put on hold.

Once someone picked up there was another ten minute delay as the person on the other end of the line attempted to process my return label but was repeatedly kicked out of the system by Fed Ex. Then we got disconnected.

The highlight of the day was the return to my 7th period class of a kid who had been out on a two-day suspension.

I love it when kids get suspended. When they tell me why, and I always make them, it's with a mixture of shame and pride that speaks volumes about the criminal mind.

I was writing on the board when the kids began to file in. I spotted the recently sprung suspendee out of the corner of my eye.

"Gio!" I called, "Come here!"

He walked over.

"Why'd you get in trouble?"

I did little to hide the enthusiasm in my voice, eager as I was for some color to splash onto my day.

"I was standing in front of school after classes got out and didn't move when the security guard told me to," he replied.

I waited. And?

"That's it?" I said finally.

He nodded.

"I ignored him so they suspended me for two days."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes," he said, "It's called insubordination."

He could tell I was disappointed so he just shrugged and walked away.

Last year I had a student who stabbed another kid with a pencil. He got four days.

Of course I didn't know both sides of the story but Gio's punishment seemed to vastly outweigh the crime.

Gio's report stayed with me for the rest of the day. It was there when I was subordinate to the after school staff meeting, then to the doctor's receptionist, and then again to the phone company.

It didn't go away even after I finally began to unwind in blues guitar class and walked home feeling relaxed for the first time all day. I wondered, in that moment, what I would do if someone tried to tell me what to do.

I didn't wonder for long.