Teacher: And so Class, use the word “rappel” in a sentence. Johnny, you go first.
Johnny: The teacher wanted us to use the word “rappel” in a sentence.
Teacher: Yes, go ahead.
Johnny: I just have.
Teacher: No you didn’t.
Johnny: Yes I did. The teacher wanted us to use the word RAPPEL in a sentence.
Teacher: That’s not what I asked.
Johnny: But it’s what you said.
Teacher: I’ve had enough of this nonsense. For homework tonight say how you feel about Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
The next morning Johnny handed the teacher a bunch of flowers.
Teacher: That’s not what I asked.
Johnny: But it’s what you said.
Johnny failed the subject. That was way back. These days Johnny lives a creative, flourishing life. The teacher’s dead. The rest of the class are sitting out life, waiting for it to start happening.
Weave a Web 
Just brilliant, Bruce!
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Thank you Chris. I had to look up the meaning of “rappel” so I’m not that clever!
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But you’re honest.
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Rappelling is a very good skill to have, especially if you’re stealing great pieces of art like Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
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It’s therefore a skill I must acquire.
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Definitely.
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She wasn’t a very good or imaginative teacher, really.
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The teacher was quoting verbatim a teacher I once had! Although the student was me only for the giving of flowers example!
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Johnny is an ass….but a creative ass.
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Agreed – I would have given him the cane in those can-giving days.
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That’ll learn him!
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I’m glad he didn’t allow the teacher to dampen his creativity or enthusiasm for life!
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I wonder if “Sit-down-and-shut-up teachers” are as common as they used to be?
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Probably not, but it’s still so easy to discourage a child.
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Brilliant! Unfortunately, there are too many teachers out there (any more than one is bad) who have tunnel vision and lack creativity themselves. And they pass it on!
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Omicron and tunnel vision are highly contagious. I trust you are well on the mend from the bug you had, Noelle.
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May you and I never be infected with the tunnel vision virus!
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I could see Johnny’s brilliance in his first response to the teacher…
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He needs it violently smacked out of him!
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maybe he’ll become an accountant…
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There’s a vacancy or two in Kamala Harris’ staff apparently.
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🙂
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I too, have suffered from this Teacher syndrome and was hoping in my blissful priviledged ignorance that Johnny was just a smart arse. The shoe was on the other foot as it turned out.
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I must admit that I’ve always had good teachers – some better than others, but all good,
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It’s kids like Johnny who end up ruling the world. Or in prison. It’s one of the two.
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I agree with your two options.
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