… And I don’t just mean they think I am mean or unfair.

It started with a student who thought it was cool to draw Swastikas on my desks. High schoolers are weird.

The first time it cropped up, it was a tiny little Swastika. I was faced with the dilemma: Make a big deal out of it and risk goading the Nazi in my class to continue, or just let it slide and hope the perpetrator will get bored after their graffiti failed to incite. Apparently, “letting it slide” only ensured that the Swastikas got bigger and more noticeable. Teacher Fail.

I started reading The Scarlet Letter with my juniors, and we were in the middle of an interactive discussion that involved me standing on a desk so I could see all of my students and command their attention. The question arose: “Is our Nation still based on religious principles like it was when the founding fathers created the Constitution?”

“What do you mean, Penrod?”

I tried to rephrase the question. “Like our flag, and when we say the Pledge of Allegiance,” I gestured to the flag which was in the upper right part of my classroom. I was holding my lesson plan in my left hand, so I indicated with my right.

“…How it says ‘One Nation Under God’…Why are you all looking at me so weird?”

Then Kendon* gives a sly smirk at my hand, which is still extended pointed at the flag.

“Maybe you ought not to use your hand like that.”

I draw my eyes in horror to the full-on “Heil” I’ve inadvertently got going on while the class bursts into hysterical laughter. I pull my hand down, and yank the lesson plan over my face to hide my blush.

I apologize repeatedly, promising it was completely unintentional (it was), and after a few more jokes and a minute of laughter, I am able to get the class back on track.

Here’s the thing: I am teaching The Book Thief to my Freshmen right now. It is a book about Nazi Germany. It is a book that portrays the humanity of the Germans in such a poignant, beautiful way. It shows the German people revolting, standing up to Hitler. It also portrays people that support him, but the book’s predominant message is actively against Hitler and his countless atrocities.

In an effort to get my freshmen to understand why something as terrible as the Holocaust could happen, and in order to help them understand that humanity still existed–even in Nazi Germany–I gave them a little background information on WWII. Which means that I had to discuss Hitler. My husband suggested that we watch a 30 second Youtube clip of Hitler speaking to understand what a gifted and persuasive orator he could be, why the Germans might have been duped into following him.

…Unfortunately, I accidentally left this window up on my computer, so as I am transitioning into a powerpoint on Puritan History for my juniors, they happen to notice when I go into “Hot Corners” a nice little video of Hitler speaking.

Kendon* about loses it.  The whole class is practically crying at this point, as I desperately grab my copy of The Book Thief, wildly insisting that I am not a Nazi, that we are reading “Anti-Nazi” Literature. My attempts are thwarted by an ill-timed yell from the back.
“Look at this! There’s a swastika on this desk! PENROD!”

Deal. Sealed.
As far as my first period Juniors are concerned, I am a Nazi.
*Facepalm*

*Dear Reader, you know me better than this, but nonetheless I feel the deep and heartfelt need to defend myself: I am not, nor have been, nor never will be a Nazi. Case Closed.

  1. Nov 28, 2012
    Regan Gull

    Possibly the funniest thing I've read in months. That is just too perfect.

    Reply
  2. Nov 28, 2012
    Jaime C

    High schoolers… what I want to know is, did you ever uncover the mystery swastika artist?

    Reply
  3. Nov 28, 2012
    Harley

    Hahahahahhahah. I want to be in your class. Your students love you

    Reply
  4. Nov 28, 2012
    Tracy Allen

    This blog makes me want to teach high school. So funny.

    Reply
  5. Nov 28, 2012
    Tayler Morrell

    I am so sorry Sierra (although I did have to hide back a chuckle). It's interesting to find what students leave behind on desks…a little annoying–no, really annoying–but funny, nonetheless. Last week, I had the desks in groups of 4-5 to play a review game before Thanksgiving. When I was fixing the desks after school, they said "*Jakes's girls." "We all love *Alex." "*Alex 4ever" and other things like that (name was changed). I remembered that it was group of 1 boy and 3 girls. I talked to that group yesterday, asking them about it, and we had a small laugh, but they promised not to do it again.

    Reply
  6. Nov 28, 2012
    Dianna

    Hey, I will volunteer to come to your class and bring the picture I have of my Nazi grandfather – swastika and all! So you are related to Kristy who is the great granddaughter of a Nazi. Tell them that and let it blow their mind. My dad was a Hitler Youth and my step-dad was a concentration camp liberator. Oh, the irony!

    Reply
  7. Nov 28, 2012
    Skyler Thiot

    I enjoyed reading this more than anything I have read in a long time.

    Reply
  8. Nov 28, 2012
    ktb

    I bet your students love you to death! What a fun day for them. Seriously, what do kids like more than making their teacher uncomfortable! hahah. love it!!

    Reply
  9. Dec 04, 2012
    Taryn

    Ohhh Sierra. 😉 Your whole blog has me in stitches most of the time. I regret that I'm unfortunately chuckling NOW as I read this post … but hey, keep your head up.

    It happens to the best of us. 😉

    Reply