Once they got involved, they had a habit of blowing things up and placing blame on the teacher.
They loved suspending teachers without pay and putting permanent notes in their files.
It’s how they controlled the teacher population.
I reviewed the parts of the valve and the specific sequence they’d need to follow to install theirs.
Here it is after one of my junior classes finished the project.
That way, if anything were missing, I’d know who was responsible.
We reused them every year until we couldn’t, at which point we’d get new ones.
The kids always got excited to do this project.
Previous juniors told me it was their favorite project of the year.
We just left the classroom, and every kid had his own valve.
After securing their stud pocket, they started the install.
One of the kids set up a practical joke on the best student in the class.
He did it by the tool crib while I worked one-on-one with another student 30 feet away.
I was told about it after it happened.
He pulled the box close to his groin and inserted himself.
He approached the other kid and asked,“What’s in the box?”
The kid responded,“It’s your tub/shower valve and all the trim.”
“What do you mean trim?
“the prankster asked.
“The handle, tub spout, shower head, shower arm, and face plate.
All the trim you’re gonna need to complete the valve.”
I’m confused.”
“Sure,“the kid said.
I took him to a remote spot in the shop, where I could still see the workstation.
By then, the prankster’s fair-skinned face was beet red, and he was starting to shake.
His prank was not so funny after all.
By that time, he looked like he was gonna cry.
He said he was sorry and that he’d never do it again.
I said,“Okay.
I hope you’ve learned an important lesson here.
Now, go back to work…”
I thought it was over, but it wasn’t.
Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental…
