“YOU DO ICEBREAKERS WITH YOUR STUDENTS ON the first day
of school?” “Sure.”
“Why?”
“I like to get to know my students.” “What for?”
“Because I’m a teacher.”
“You get paid to teach government. The first, second, and third amendments to the Constitution. Stuff like that. Why don’t you just dive right in?”
“I teach students. Students are people, Ari.” “We’re not that interesting.”
“You’re more interesting than you think.” “We’re difficult.”
“That’s part of your charm.” She had an interesting look on her face. I recognized that look. My mom, she sometimes resided in the space between irony and sincerity. That was part of her charm.
