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Date:         Fri, 9 Oct 1992 21:53:37 -0500
From:         Doris Smith <dorisann@TENET.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Thermodynamics
Comments: To: English Language Discussion Group <WORDS-L@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Comments: cc: Multiple recipients of list WORDS-L <WORDS-L@uga.cc.uga.edu>

Cranky is the way to describe the day, Karen.  Even my fifth period class
who gave me the gift of a nervous breakdown facsimile was quiet today with
mouths open as I was interrupted by a kid four times telling me that one
of his excessive tardies was "excused because it was a fog day."

"A what day?" I puzzled.

"A fog day.  I was late because it was foggy and they excuse fog days."

"Who is 'they'?"

"They excuse fog days and one of my tardies was a fog day so it is excused
and I don't need to come to your room Tuesday at 6:45 a.m."

"It is my considered opinion that you were tardy and you owe me 30 minutes
of your time Tuesday morning.  If you dispute that, feel free to take it up
with one of the Deans, as only a Dean can excuse a tardy."

"But it was a fog day....."

He left.  To return several minutes later waving a piece of paper in my face.
This piece of paper was from the Attendance Clerk and said, "Mrs. Smith,
if a student arrives at school before 7:40 we do not issue admits to
class; they report directly to class."

I read the note, looked at the SENIOR over the top of my round glasses,
and uttered in profound tones, "Yes, I am aware of this policy.  But it
has nothing whatever to do with your present situation."

"You said if I brought you a note...."

My  ordinarily loud and rowdy fifth period was absorbing every incredulous
word and not a sound was heard from them.  Well, yes, the one truly bright
light in the back was chuckling a bit and trying to hide it by pulling his
hair over his face.  Patiently explaining to foggy kid that what he needed
to help his case was an official note from one of the Deans excusing that
particular tardy.  He left.  I again began to instruct the fifth period
students on what we were going to do today.  After they told me what I was
saying when the foggy kid had come back in.  My memory was slowly
returning when the door opened.  Guess who came in with another piece of
paper.  This time it was an official "Admit to Class" form from the
Attendance Office.  It said "Chris was late due to fog."

I couldn't help it.  I laughed in his face.  I said, "Chris, this note
says in writing exactly what you have told me verbally.  If you want this
tardy excused, you need a note from a Dean telling me that Wednesday
morning the tardies were excused due to the fog."

"I won't be in your room Tuesday morning.  That tardy is excused.  It was
a fog day."

"I'll miss you.  And I'll send a referral slip to the Dean stating that
you refused to come to your assigned D-hall."

If you read this far, you deserve to know that public school teachers in
my school this year have very little time for teaching.  And also, there
were some scattered patches of fog Wednesday morning, but it was not a
"fog day," whatever that is.  At lunch I discovered that the Attendance
Office and the Dean's Office secretaries had had a ball with that kid, who
never did explain why he was in there for notes - they thought mean old,
dumb old Mrs. Smith had sent him.  I guess in a way I did.

I locked my door after his last exit.

doris smith (dorisann@tenet.edu)
 (in a fog)
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU