Delinquent boy! Is he teachable?

Andrew was immediately likable and as a substitute teacher I enjoyed his 'attitude' which he managed to keep in check.....only just! 

As Ralph,the self appointed leader of the grade 12 class, spoke out for the rest with the first question, "are you qualified to teach us English?" 

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 Andrew's sweet grin softened the shock and I was able to answer with a calm "yes, I've got a university degree and teaching diploma and have taught people like you for over 10 years." 

There was THAT telling moment of silence where we digested what was going on in the classroom and then we all settled down to a period of teaching weeks that still inspire me. They were a fabulous bunch.

Andrew however, it soon became apparent, was a serious delinquent. He was often absent, always visiting the headmaster in his office and he never did homework.

 He often completed work in class that amazed me and allowed me to encourage him and give him good marks. Best of all we 'clicked'. Gradually however his reputation was made to me by other teachers, "oh he's a lost cause' and ' juvenile delinquent" and 'he has a record at the local police station ....long as your arm."

That first grin of his still enchants me. It was a breath of fresh air on that first tough day!

His appreciation of poetry stunned the class with his first verbal contribution. Gradually everyone became used to his comments and his clever, sassy style won many of us over.

Then came the term in which a very important oral 'exam' had to be performed and tested. The results had to be sent in to the department of examiners to be part of the student's final English result.

He heard the announcement but then was apparently caught stealing a car radio and disappeared from school for a couple of weeks. When he reappeared I ignored the fact of his absence and took him aside and explained what needed to take place. "But M'am I've got nothing to say so mark me down as useless."

"I'm sure you're interested in something Andrew," I replied.

He looked me squarely in the eye, feeling my empathy and answered somewhat cockily, "yes..........crocodiles."

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I wanted to recoil as they truly are my worst creatures on God's earth, but I managed the teacher's stock reply "that's interesting Andrew. How did that come about?"

"My uncle, I'm staying with him now....just for a bit," he muttered shamefacedly, " has a small holding out in Apple Orchards and he has two crocodiles on his plot." The mere thought of someone keeping them as 'pets'  made me want to recoil even further. "Oh," I squeaked. Delighted by my paling face he jumped in for the kill, " I can do a 'show and tell' like at nursery school if you like."  I didn't like AT ALL, but the spark was back in his eyes and I realised that he had an affinity with these animals and probably a deep knowledge. "Yes," I said slowly "a 'show and tell' would be fine. Could you give me your uncle's phone number and we might just be able to arrange for some of the class and me to have a picnic on the plot and you can entertain us! Touche!" I thought.

His astonishment was palpable. I gently cuffed his shoulder as he gave me the phone number written on a piece of paper. "My uncle's a 'goodun', chat to him," he said with a semi stunned expression on his face.

And so it came to be. 

Two combi loads of enthusiastic teenagers, picnic baskets and blankets were packed. A teacher friend agreed to drive one of the school combi/busses and I was competent to drive the other. We travelled south for about 12 kilometres and turned off onto a dirt road that led us to a lot of rustic buildings. We parked and wound our way down to the dam where these ancient looking creatures lay half in the brown water. I had to swallow hard.

With the aplomb of an actor Andrew entered the fenced off area, a bit spindly for my liking!

He stood boldly astride, one foot on each of their broad gnarled crocodile backs.

"These are me mates..... Flossie, sexy girl that she is," drawing guffaws from the boys especially, "and handsome Freddy," catcalls came from the girls. Then he rose to the challenge and delivered a 15 minute expert speech on crocodiles in general and in particular the habits and breeding history of Flossie and Freddy.

He ended with a nimble leap off the crocodiles' backs onto the grass and with a gracious bow he said, " thank you kindly for your time," he had held us in rapt attention, "and now if Ralph would like to step onto their backs as I've just done, we're all waiting...."  Ralph, the captain of the rugby team got uncertainly to his feet but his 'face' was saved by Andrew's uncle who had been standing in the shade of a willow tree. He stepped out and started clapping loudly and we all joined in, actually stunned by the words and confidence generated by this 'new' Andrew who had earned our respect. "No, my boy," he said laughing, "that would be testing our crocs a tad too far."

We fell on the hotdogs from the picnic baskets, starved of course. An impromtu game of netball broke out which turned into soccer and they told jokes. It was with happy hearts that we all travelled back to school waving a truly fond farewell to the delinquent who had been given another chance.

He took it with both hands and matriculated at the end of the year. A highlight of my teaching career.

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