Frazz by Jef Mallett for March 11, 2016

Our planet.

I’ve loved this week, and I hate to throw shade, but . . . I spent two years working towards an “alternate route” teaching license for high school math (I had two engineering degrees + 30 years experience at the time, contemplating a change of career). Caulfield is disruptive because he’s clever, and the other kids respond positively, and they’re all good kids (because it’s a comic strip). I can tell you that all it takes is one kid being disruptive because he’s just a jerk, and NOTHING works. Doesn’t matter if the disrupting one is smart, or stupid, or clinically unhinged; once the group is randomly offtrack, it goes nowhere. Caulfield’s interruptions and metaphysical / multi-entendre questions lead everyone to think, mainly because Jef Mallet is writing them for the adult readers as much as for the characters.

The biggest problem I saw in school was that, because the adults have to suppress the jerks and troublemakers, they also wind up suppressing the clever out-of-the-box thinkers, who will have to go on to succeed DESPITE their education rather than HELPED by it.

OOOoooh, cursive writing. Where did she learn that?

After two decades teaching Special Education in a Middle School, I have seen my fair share (at least) of those aforementioned ‘jerks’. Their daily (hourly — minute-ly) shenanigans certainly do make for some ‘interesting’ lessons. That being said, and particularly for me this year with a class of students with Autism, I can cherish the growth that I have seen far more than suffering the fools. I too have my own version of Caulfield — a student whose intelligence is amazing, with a sense of humor and a sense of timing that would astound anyone. And, like Caufield does for Ms O, he makes sure that I am prepared.

Jef, This has been one of my favorite weeks.

Ride on!

No Canadians here? Red Green on makeshift repairs: “It’s only temporary if it don’t work.”

I spent four years in what would today be called an inner-city high school. Despite taking accelerated math classes, I found that everything was dumbed down. I never developed good study habits because I didn’t need to. Despite graduating in the top of my class, I was totally unprepared for college level calculus. This forced a major change in my career path.

Caulfield’s contribution to the week was good, Frazz was repetitive in the extreme.

Mrs. Olsen summed it up nicely. And many of your postings were enjoyable and informative. It’s been a fun week. Thank you, Jef — and posters!

An “A” grade all across the board!